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The Steelers took an early lead over the Cleveland Browns and never looked back as they got the Mike Tomlin era started with a 34-7 win on the road.
“Needless to say we were very excited about our performance today,” said Tomlin, who was presented with a game ball by the team in the locker room after the game. “I thought the defense got it started with some turnovers early. The offense capitalized. I thought it was a team effort. I appreciated the effort of the men. They respected the process of getting ready for this week and they let their actions talk.”
They dominated in all three phases of the game, as the defense forced five Browns turnovers and added six sacks.
Ben Roethlisberger completed 12 of 23 passes for 161 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes. The offensive line, playing their first regular season game as a unit, allowed just one sack and opened the way for Willie Parker to gain 109 yards on 27 carries.
Browns quarterback Charlie Frye struggled, completing four of 10 passes for 34 yards and an interception, before being replaced by Derek Anderson.
On special teams Jeff Reed added two field goals and rookie Daniel Sepulveda gave them great field position with his punts.
On their opening drive Cleveland went nowhere as Jamal Lewis was hit by James Harrison for a two-yard gain and then Frye’s pass to Joe Jurevicius was incomplete. On third down, it went from bad to worse for the Browns when Frye was sacked for a five-yard loss forcing a punt.
Punter Paul Ernster, who was signed late in the week because of an injury to Dave Zastudil, mishandled the snap, getting it away for only a 15-yard punt to their own 32-yard line. Four penalties on the play against the Browns, two that were declined, gave the Steelers fantastic field position on the Browns 22-yard line for their opening drive.
Roethlisberger came out firing hitting Santonio Holmes for a 15-yard gain along the right sideline. Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller for a four-yard screen pass and then made the Browns pay for their mistake with a five-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead.
The defense stepped up again for the Steelers on the next drive when Deshea Townsend intercepted Frye’s pass and returned it 21 yards to the Browns 17-yard line. The Steelers converted the turnover into a 26-yard field goal by Jeff Reed, extending the lead to 10-0.
The Browns were able to get something going on offense on their ensuing drive, but just when they got moving, mistakes and the swarming defense shut the door on them. On third-and-two Kellen Winslow was called for offensive pass interference, negating a first-down pass to Jurevicius. The Browns were then faced with third-and-12 and James Farrior made them pay for their mistake when he sacked Frye for an eight-yard loss.
A quick three-and-out by the Steelers gave the Browns another shot, but again they would be haunted by mistakes. Lewis went off left tackle for a two-yard gain, but was hit by Farrior and forced a fumble. Bryant McFadden recovered and put the Steelers back in the driver’s seat on the Browns 40-yard line.
Roethlisberger went for the quick strike to try and take control of the game and was right on target. He hit Holmes right down the middle of the field between two Browns defenders for a 40-yard score and a 17-0 lead.
It was the defense’s turn again and they continued to stymie Frye and the Browns offense. After two short gains, Clark Haggans was all over Frye for a three-yard sack, the third one of the game for the defense.
With a strong lead and things definitely going their way the Steelers took a chance on offense on their next drive. Faced with a fourth-and-one at their own 48-yard line they went for it. Roethlisberger went up the middle for a two-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Holmes went 11-yards on a reverse, fumbling out of bounds at the 39-yard line. They weren’t able to capitalize though, and Sepulveda’s punt hit around the two-yard where it was kept out of the end zone by Nate Washington and downed by Heath Miller to bury the Browns deep in their own territory.
The Browns weren’t able to go anywhere and the Steelers got the ball right back in their hands. But it wouldn’t be for long. Parker fumbled and the Browns got their first break of the game when Antwan Peek recovered it.
Frye continued to be hounded by the defense. On second-and-10 Harrison sacked him for a five-yard loss. Not to be outdone, Ike Taylor added a 10-yard sack on the next play as the Browns let one of their few opportunities in the first half slip away. It would be Frye’s last opportunity of the day, as he was replaced in the next series by Anderson.
Anderson completed a nine-yard pass to Braylon Edwards and Lawrence Vickers added a four-yard gain on the ground. Lewis added a four-yard gain and Anderson found Joshua Cribbs for seven yards. Anderson went over the middle to Winslow for 18 yards, but the momentum would soon die.
Ryan Clark hit Anderson, getting credit for a sack on the 12-yard loss and Aaron Smith recovered.
The Steelers and Browns exchanged possessions, with the black and gold going into the half with a commanding 17-0 lead.
The second half started off with a bang for the Steelers. Roethlisberger hit Miller for a short pass and then Ward for a 24-yard catch and run. Parker broke free for a 22-yard gain to the Browns 18-yard line. Parker came right back with gains of seven, four and two yards, to give the Steelers the ball on the five-yard line. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians promised to go more to the tight end in the passing game and did so when Roethlisberger found rookie Matt Spaeth in the end zone for the touchdown, giving the Steelers a 24-0 lead.
When the Browns got the ball back they had new life in them. Anderson completed a 30-yard pass to Winslow and a 22-yard strike to Carter. He came back to Winslow for a 20-yard gain to the Steelers four-yard line. Vickers punched it into the end zone for a one-yard score to get the Browns on the board, 24-7.
It was right back to work for Roethlisberger and company who answered the Browns score with an eight-play, 64-yard drive that culminated in another touchdown by a tight end when Miller pulled in a 22-yard scoring strike, stretching the lead to 31-7.
A torrential downpour greeted the Browns on their next drive and the only thing that got moving were fans to the exits.
With a big lead the Steelers were able to play the weather game and keep the ball on the ground. They took the ball 72 yards on 13 plays and looked to Reed again, who hit a 31-yard field goal for the 34-7 lead.
The rains slowed some, but things kept slipping away from the Browns. Anderson completed a 21-yard pass to Edwards who then fumbled and rookie cornerback William Gay recovered.
Charlie Batch came in at quarterback and handed off to Najeh Davenport three times, but they came up a yard short and had to punt. Sepulveda hit another big one, placing the ball right at the Browns five-yard line where it just died in the grass.
It didn’t take long for the Steelers to get the ball back. Taylor picked off Anderson on a pass that was thrown right at him, allowing Batch to come in and run out the clock for the win.
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