Overcoming
three early turnovers, the Steelers confirmed their new strong character
under Tommy Maddox as they registered their third consecutive come from
behind victory over the Browns. Maddox led his team from a seventeen point
deficit to a 36-30 win just in the nick of time, with just under a minute
remaining.
The Browns came into the
game with their first choice quarterback Tim Couch out with injury. Kelly
Holcomb came in as the replacement and immediately hit top form. Anyone who
thought that he would be rattled by the Steelers' defense were soon put in
their place. Holcomb quickly took his team to a 14-0 lead with a one-yard
touchdown run by running back William Green and a 32-yard touchdown pass to
wide receiver Dennis Northcutt.
Northcutt’s touchdown
was set up when Antwaan Randle El muffed a punt and the Browns recovered.
However, Randle El rebounded to return his next punt 66 yards for a touchdown
to reduce the gap to 14-7. It was the longest postseason punt return in Steelers'
history and the first-ever punt return for a touchdown in the postseason by
a Steeler.
Despite this setback,
the Browns increased their lead to 24-7 on a 31-yard field goal from kicker
Phil Dawson in the second quarter and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Northcutt
in the third.
Tommy Maddox, who threw
for a team postseason-record 367 yards and three touchdowns, connected with
Plaxico Burress for a six-yard touchdown pass with under four minutes left
in the third quarter to close the gap to 24-14.
A
22-yard touchdown pass from Holcomb to Andre Davis increased Cleveland’s
lead to 33-21 after the Browns failed on a two-point conversion attempt.
The Steelers refused to
quit, and with 5:30 remaining in the game, Maddox led Pittsburgh on a 10-play,
77-yard drive, including a five-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward that made
the score, 33-28.
The Steelers' defense
then stopped Cleveland allowing Maddox to lead his team 61 yards in 1:41,
finishing with a three-yard touchdown run by Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala.
Randle-El then completed a pass to Jerame Tuman for the two-point conversion
to give the Steelers a 36-33 lead with 0:54 left in the game.
The Pittsburgh defense
then held the Browns final drive to ensure the Steelers progressed to a divisional
playoff matchup in Tennessee. Now, that's another heartbreaker.
The Top 10 Steelers vs Browns games
Steelers/Browns
Record
Tommy
Maddox in action against the Browns, September 2002
