The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t have picked a better time to work Ben Roethlisberger back into the lineup. The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, probably couldn’t have picked a worse time to indoctrinate rookie Colt McCoy into the NFL.
Roethlisberger returns from his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy Sunday as the Steelers host the Browns at Heinz Field in an AFC North Division matchup.
Using the NFL’s No.1-ranked scoring defense and a ground attack led by Rashard Mendenhall, fill-in quarterback Charlie Batch almost got Pittsburgh (3-1) to the bye week undefeated until a last minute touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to T.J. Houshmandzadeh gave Baltimore a 17-14 win over the Steelers two weeks ago.
Still, Pittsburgh came away with victories over Atlanta, Tennessee and Tampa Bay, clubs who have a combined record of 10-1 against the rest of the league, and now Roethlisberger has had two weeks of practice to prepare for his 2010 debut against the struggling Browns.
Pittsburgh has dominated Cleveland (1-4) of late, winning 12 straight until a 13-6 defeat last Dec. 10. The Steelers have won nine of the last 10 at home in this series and Roethlisberger is 5-0 with a 101.5 passer rating here against Cleveland.
Pittsburgh has used a strong dose of Mendenhall in the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s absence, and the third-year back has responded with 411 yards, a 4.6 average and four TDs.
Roethlisberger hopes to bring back a potent air attack that has been averaging just 136 yards per game – last in the NFL - behind Batch and opening day starter Dennis Dixon.
He should have plenty of room to work in the Cleveland secondary, which ranks 29th in the league in yards per pass attempt (6.9) and has surrendered eight TDs.
The Browns won’t be a pushover, however. Cleveland has had fourth-quarter leads against the Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs and Ravens and led in the third quarter against the Falcons last week. Those clubs are a combined 14-4 this season.
The Browns beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Week 4 for their lone win.
The Falcons’ game was up for grabs until Jake Delhomme threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by defensive end Kory Biermann with four minutes left that sealed the Browns’ 20-10 defeat.
McCoy, a third-round pick, is likely to get the starting nod with Delhomme and Seneca Wallace nursing ankle injuries. The NCAA record holder among quarterbacks with 45 career wins at the University of Texas, McCoy will need to pool all of that experience to survive against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has allowed just 12.5 points per game, is fourth in the NFL in total defense (289 ypg) and tops in rush defense (62.3 ypg) and yards per rush (2.6). In addition, Pittsburgh ranks second in turnover margin (plus-7) and has 11 sacks, including three by outside linebacker James Harrison.
Cleveland will hope to establish a running and short-passing game with Peyton Hillis, who is nursing a thigh injury but expected to play. Hillis has 350 yards, a 6.4 yards-per-carry average, 20 receptions and four touchdowns this season.
The fourth-year back rumbled for 144 yards against the Ravens and 102 in the win against the Bengals.
Joshua Cribbs, who ran for 89 yards in the win over Pittsburgh last season, will likely get extended time in the Browns’ Wildcat offense to help limit any chances for rookie mistakes by McCoy.