GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: PITTSBURGH (0-0) at CLEVELAND (0-0)

NFL: PITTSBURGH (0-0) at CLEVELAND (0-0)

<h3>Tomlin makes coaching debut for Steelers</h3>



Pittsburgh (8-8) at Cleveland (4-12) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- For the first time in 16 years, there willbe a new coach patrolling the sidelines for the PittsburghSteelers.


Mike Tomlin, the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator lastseason, makes his head coaching debut when the Steelers opentheir 75th season against the Cleveland Browns.


The 34-year-old Tomlin is the 16th coach in Steelers' historybut only the third since 1969. He follows Chuck Noll and BillCowher, both of whom won Super Bowls and became synonymous withsuccess in the Steel City.


Cowher ended a 15-year run when he resigned in January, lessthan a year after guiding the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowltitle. Cowher compiled a 161-99-1 record in Pittsburgh.

Chosen over offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensiveline coach Russ Grimm, both longtime members of Cowher's staff,Tomlin had been the NFL's youngest coach until the OaklandRaiders tabbed 31-year-old Lane Kiffin.


With the Vikings, Tomlin directed a defense that ranked firstagainst the run last year, yielding just 61.6 yards per game.However, Minnesota was 31st against the pass.


The Steelers are looking for a bounce-back season as theyendured numerous injuries in their Super Bowl defense andmanaged only an 8-8 finish. The Steelers did win six of theirlast seven games to reach .500 after a 2-6 start.


Pittsburgh also is hoping for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger toregain his form of two years ago. The youngest quarterback towin a Super Bowl, the Miami of Ohio product suffered anear-fatal motorcycle accident in June 2006 when he wasn'twearing a helmet.


Roethlisberger underwent seven hours of surgery after sufferingmultiple facial fractures. He also underwent emergencyappendectomy surgery on September 3 and missed the season openeragainst the Miami Dolphins.


Despite his health issues, Roesthlisberger returned in Week Twoand started the Steelers' last 15 games. Early in the season,he had trouble with interceptions, throwing 17 in his first ninestarts. He improved in the second half, tossing only six inPittsburgh's last six outings.


During the 2005 season, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to theirfirst Super Bowl title in 26 years as a 23-year-old.Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl despite being the sixth seed inthe AFC.


Cleveland has shown little progress under coach Romeo Crennel,who is beginning his third season. The team regressed lastyear, going 4-12 after winning six games in Crennel's firstyear.


The Browns hope Jamal Lewis, signed as a free agent in March,can boost a running game that ranked 31st last year. CharlieFrye begins the season as Cleveland's starting quarterback butrookie Brady Quinn could push for the job.


The Steelers have won seven straight against the Browns and are14-2 against their division rivals since Cleveland returned tothe NFL in 1999.

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 0
CLEVELAND 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 0
CLEVELAND 0 13:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON CLE 22 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
HINES WARD 5 YD PASS FROM BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(JEFF REED KICK)

PITTSBURGH 7
CLEVELAND 0 11:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
CLEVELAND 0 10:47 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON CLE 17 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL FG PIT
JEFF REED 26 YD

PITTSBURGH 10
CLEVELAND 0 8:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 10
CLEVELAND 0 8:47 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 27 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 10
CLEVELAND 0 4:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 19 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 10
CLEVELAND 0 1:39 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 10
CLEVELAND 0 1:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON CLE 40 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
SANTONIO HOLMES 40 YD PASS FROM BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(JEFF REED KICK)

PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 0:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 17 17
CLEVELAND 0 0 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: PIT - TD, HINES WARD 5 YD PASS FROM BEN
ROETHLISBERGER (JEFF REED KICK),
3:11. Drive: 4 plays, 22 yards in
2:01. Key plays: Ernster 15-yard
punt plus 10-yard defensive holding
penalty on Browns' Harrison to
Cleveland 22; Roethlisberger
15-yard pass to Holmes to Cleveland
7. PITTSBURGH 7-0
PIT - FG, JEFF REED 26 YD, 6:07. Drive: 4
plays, 9 yards in 1:54. Key plays:
Townsend 21-yard interception
return to Cleveland 17. PITTSBURGH
10-0
PIT - TD, SANTONIO HOLMES 40 YD PASS FROM BEN
ROETHLISBERGER (JEFF REED KICK),
14:02. Drive: 1 plays, 40 yards in
0:07. PITTSBURGH 17-0</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 14:24 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 39 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 12:33 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 10:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 2 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 9:43 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 49 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 8:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 7:42 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 43 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 17
CLEVELAND 0 6:34 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 13 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH AT CLEVELAND
NOTE: DEREK ANDERSON REPLACED CHARLIE FRYE AT
QUARTERBACK.</div>