Steelers win despite giving up 3 defensive touchdowns.

[Mike]

The Steelers would host the Browns in an opening day AFC North battle. Steelers would grab the early lead driving down the field and ending with a Rothlisberger TD pass to Steve Breaston for a 7-0 lead. Steelers would shut down the Browns offense and get the ball back and start driving down field only to see Ben throw a bad pass to CB Joe Haden who would race 58 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Steelers would again drive down the field only to see Ben throw another bad pass right to Joe Haden who this time would go 80 yards for another Browns defensive TD. At halftime despite leading in total yards 279-7 the Steelers trailed 14-7. Steelers would drive down field again but settle for a FG to cut the margin to 14-10. Another defensive stop would get the ball back for the Steelers only to see Ben throw another bad pass this time to MLB David Harris who would go 31 yards for the Browns 3rd defensive touchdown of the game and a 21-10 lead. After a defensive stop the Browns would get the ball back and actually muster a little offense as Cutler rolling out to his right would find a well covered Josh Morgan but lay it in there for a 40 yard completion. Toby Gerhart would later punch it in for a commanding 28-10 Browns lead. Coach Mike had seen enough and figured this game was lost so give some young guys a chance. Ryan Lindley would enter the game and immediately started throwing darts all over the field to the likes of Shorts,Hemingway and Ryan. The defense continued their stellar effort .Ryan Lindley led 3 long touchdown drives in the 4th quarter capping it off with a 33 yard touchdown pass to HB Mendenhall for a 31-28 Steelers leads with about two minutes left in the game. Browns would get one last shot but rookie MLB Robertson would step in front of a Cutler pass and make the interception. Steelers would then pound the rock down field ending with a kneel down at the one yard line . Lindley was excellent in relief going 16-25 for 208 yards and 1 TD. Steelers would outgain the Browns 529 to 78 as the defense even with a lot of new young faces played extremely well. Rookie 5th round pick LOLB Rashard Hartley had 4 sacks and had this to say after the game. I know my coach was kind of against the league moving to a 5 round draft but he had a big smile on his face after this game and I personally would like to thank the commish because if not for the extended draft I wouldn't be a Steeler and probably would be an unsigned FA or sitting on some teams bench . Germaine Odrick in his first game back after missing all but 4 games last season had 10 carries for 49 yards including a 22 yard scamper at the end of the game for a first down to give the Steelers the win. The Steelers will host the Colts next week and questions remain on who will be the starting QB . Is this the end for Ben? Will Breaston or Bowe be in the starting lineup? Stay tuned!!!!!