Couch leads Browns to win over Pittsburgh

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Oct 6, 2003 by Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- Tim Couch did what Kelly Holcomb couldn't do nine months ago -- preserve a big Cleveland Browns' fourth-quarter lead in Pittsburgh.

Couch threw for two touchdowns and ran for another before halftime in his second start since last season, and the Browns took advantage of three Tommy Maddox turnovers to end a six-game losing streak to their biggest rivals, beating the Steelers 33-13 Sunday night.

In essentially a must-win game, the Browns (2-3) shook off the absence of the injured Holcomb and two tough losses in Pittsburgh a year ago to beat the Steelers (2-3) for only the third time in 16 games.

Browns coach Butch Davis finally beat the Steelers for the first time in six tries as Cleveland won in Pittsburgh for only the sixth time in 33 tries since 1970.

Maddox led both Steelers comeback wins against the Browns last season, including a 36-33 playoff win in which Pittsburgh trailed 24- 7 late in the third quarter. But his own mistakes prevented him from mounting a rally this time, and so did the Browns' excellent coverage against Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. The AFC's top receiving duo had only three catches between them until late in the game, and Maddox was lifted after going 11-of-24 for 136 yards.

Maddox's fumble on the Steelers' third play from scrimmage led to Phil Dawson's 19-yard field goal and a 10-0 Browns lead. Early in the third quarter, Daylon McCutcheon stepped in front of a Maddox pass intended for Jerame Tuman and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown and a 30-10 Browns' lead. Of Maddox's eight interceptions this season, three have been returned for touchdowns and a fourth was returned to the 1, leading to another touchdown.

Cleveland's offense was the NFL's third worst statistically going into the game and Pittsburgh's defense was the second best, but it looked the other way around as Couch won his sixth consecutive road start.

Couch, who was 20-of-25 for 208 yards, completed three passes of 18 yards or longer on the Browns' opening 81-yard drive, including Quincy Morgan for 32 yards, before finding Andre Davis wide open over the middle for a 6-yard touchdown.

Maddox, whose two interceptions led to Titans touchdowns the week before in a 30-13 loss, then was stripped of the ball by Courtney Brown on Pittsburgh's third play, leading to Phil Dawson's 19-yard field goal and the 10-0 lead. The Browns settled for the field goal after having a second-and-goal at the 2.

Davis' 61-yard kickoff return set up Couch's second touchdown pass of the half, a 9-yarder in the rear of the end zone to Kevin Johnson with linebacker Kendrell Bell in coverage. Nose tackle Casey Hampton blocked Dawson's extra point attempt.