November 14, 2005
PITTSBURGH -- Charlie Batch improvised a 1-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter, and his passing led to another score before he left with a broken right hand. The Pittsburgh Steelers withstood their second quarterback injury in three weeks to beat the rival Cleveland Browns, 34-21, last night.
Whatever the Steelers lack in quarterback quality -- and, with a 7-2 record that ties them with the Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC North lead, it's not much -- they're making up for it with depth.
Tommy Maddox replaced Batch to run a time-consuming offense in the second half, and college quarterback-turned-receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a 51-yard scoring pass to Hines Ward on a reverse early in the third quarter to put the Steelers up 24-7.
Randle El also lined up under center and scooted for a 12-yard run later in the third quarter.
Batch was hurt on his touchdown run with six seconds left in the first half, the Steelers out of timeouts and both teams scrambling to line up after Pittsburgh had drove to the 1-yard line. Without waiting for a play call, Batch lined up the offense and scored himself before the Browns' defense was set up.
Ward had eight catches for 124 yards to give him 543 receptions for his career, breaking Hall of Famer John Stallworth's team record of 537.
Cleveland 7 0 0 14--21
Pittsburgh 0 17 7 10--34
First quarter Cle--Droughns 5 run (Dawson kick), 9:53.
Second quarter Pit--Bettis 1 run (Reed kick), 8:20. Pit--FG Reed 42, 2:11. Pit--Batch 1 run (Reed kick), :06.
Third quarter Pit--Ward 51 pass from Randle El (Reed kick), 13:19.
Fourth quarter Pit--FG Reed 33, 14:48. Cle--Bodden 59 blocked FG return (Dawson kick), 4:23. Pit--Haynes 10 run (Reed kick), 1:53. Cle--Bryant 9 pass from Dilfer (Dawson kick), :21. A--63,491.
Cle Pit
First downs 16 25
Total Net Yards 303 382
Rushes-yards 19-61 41-159
Passing 242 223
Punt Returns 0-0 3-16
Kickoff Returns 7-119 3-52
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-9
Comp-Att-Int 17-34-1 18-27-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-11 0-0
Punts 4-37.0 2-43.5
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 9-75 4-30
Time of Possession 23:37 36:23
Rushing--Cleveland, Droughns 17-56, Dilfer 1-5, T.Smith 1-0. Pittsburgh, Staley 17-64, Haynes 9-41, Bettis 9-28, Batch 3-16, Randle El 2-10, Maddox 1-0.
Passing--Cleveland, Dilfer 17-34-1-253. Pittsburgh, Batch 13-19-0-150, Randle El 1-1-0-51, Maddox 4-7-0-22.
Receiving--Cleveland, Bryant 5-82, Droughns 4-67, Northcutt 4-31, Edwards 2-64, T.Smith 1-9, Heiden 1-0. Pittsburgh, Ward 8-124, Wilson 3-48, Randle El 2-19, Staley 2-16, Haynes 2-10, Kranchick 1-6.
Missed field goals--Pittsburgh, Reed 44 (BK).
