Just one week after the Cleveland Browns gave their fans reason for hope and optimism, they returned their fans to the feelings of humiliation and embarrassment. The defense's inability to stop the Steelers running game, the Browns own struggles running the ball and the multitude of dropped passes by Cleveland receivers resulted in a 7th straight loss to the Steelers 27-7 Thursday night.

It's one thing to lose, it's another to be pulverized. The Steelers ran for 303 yards against a Browns defense that quite frankly looked beaten and demoralized. Not only were the Steelers blowing the Browns defense off the ball and opening up huge holes for Steelers running back Willie Parker, when the Browns had chances to tackle they were horrid doing so. Due to the Browns inability to stop the run the Steelers converted 10-16(63%) of their 3rd downs and had the ball for 17 minutes and 34 seconds longer then the Browns. The Steelers 528 yards of offense comes just one week after the Browns defense yielded 417 yards to the Chiefs. It is apparent that this defense is just bad right now and so is the scheme. Anyone else think Michigan State made a wise move by not hiring defensive coordinator Todd Grantham?

Perhaps the young players the defense has been relying on all year, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, Daven Holley, Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson are hitting the proverbial wall? It would make sense and would give some rhyme and reason as to why this defense has taken a nose dive the last month.

Offensively the concern for the Browns was 1st time starting QB Derek Anderson, ironically he was probably the only thing offensively they didn't have to worry about. Thought the offensive line did a very good job keeping the Steelers blitz and pressure off Anderson, he was not sacked, but could not run block to save their lives. The Browns were only able to muster 18 yards on 11 carries, having been out gained by the Steelers running attack by 285 yards.

The Browns offense was also victimized by dropped balls. No less then a half a dozen balls that Anderson threw were dropped, Dennis Northcutt leading the was with at least 3. The offense was not able to find a rhythm all night and was fighting an uphill battle all evening. One player that did make a difference and dropped no passes was veteran WR Joe Jurevicius. JJ caught a season high 7 passes for 111 yards and has become Anderson's favorite receiver. Is there any question why? He catches everything he throws him.

It looked as if the Browns offense was going to be held with out a Td for the 3rd straight game against the Steelers, but Anderson hit Braylon Edwards for a 45 yard TD with 5:20 to play in the game. It was the first TD the Browns had scored in their last 3 games against the Steelers., a stretch in which they have been outscored by them 92-27.

Head coach Romeo Crennel got a reprieve this week after his team's comeback against the Chiefs, but he will be under fire again for another loss to the Steelers and another loss to an AFC North opponent. The Browns are now 1-10 under Crennel against AFC North opponents and if they fail to beat the Ravens in their next game will have lost every divisional game in a season for the 1st time in club history. Even under Chris Palmer's 1999 expansion team the Browns won a divisional game.

Crennel does not have an excuse in QB Derek Anderson, far from it. He looked poised and looked like he had started 100 games in the NFL, not his first. Anderson completed 21-37 passes for 276 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. The Browns had no running game, but Anderson still was able to make plays in the passing game and get the offense a score and save it from a shutout. The Browns will have some serious questions at the AB position and would be wise to see even more of young Mr. Anderson. Those covering the game had nothing, but praise for Anderson and how poised he looked playing against a very tough Steelers defense on the road.

The only question that remains now is what's next? The Browns defense held them in games early in the year, but has given up 24 points or more in 5 of their last 6 games. The offense has scored 44 points in their last 4 games and is as consistent as mud. The kicking game, Phil Dawson in particular, is good one week and bad the next.

If the Browns lose to the Ravens and go defeated for the 1st time in their franchise history against division foes should Romeo Crennel keep his job? Would a 1-11 record against those same rivals be enough in 2 years to say he is the man to lead this team from the abyss it has found itself in? He has a vote of confidence from G.M. Phil Savage, perhaps that will be enough to save him, it's evident his performance should not be.

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