[
](http://www.steelers.com/adPromo/clickThrough/processClick.io?adPromoID=95922)
STEELERS at BROWNS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009 KICKOFF 8:20 P.M. CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM
Steelers (6-6) vs. Browns (1-11)
*
Date: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. (ET)
Site: Cleveland Browns Stadium (73,300) • Cleveland, Ohio
Playing Surface: Grass
TV Coverage: NFL Network (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2)
Announcers: Bob Papa (play-by-play) Matt Millen (color analyst)
Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)
Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)
Spanish Radio: Grupo Radio Acir (Mexico City) 88.9 FM
A Look at the Coaches
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall Regular-season Record: 28-16 (.636)/third season
Regular-season Record at Pittsburgh: 28-16 (.636)/third season
Playoff Record/Years: 3-1/two years
Cleveland Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini
Overall Regular-Season Record: 1-11 (.083)/first season
Regular-Season Record at Cleveland: 24-36 (.400)/fourth season
Playoff Record/Years: 0-1/one year
Series History
Series History: Series began in 1950
Overall: Pittsburgh leads 60-55
At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 38-21
At Cleveland: Cleveland leads 34-22
Neutral Sites: n/a
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Oct. 18, 2009 (in Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 14
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 2-0
*(postseason record included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 60-55 (including postseason)...the Steelers have won the past 12 games versus Cleveland dating back to their last loss to the Browns on October 5, 2003 at Heinz Field (33-13)...Pittsburgh has won eight straight games in Cleveland and is 9-1 against the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium since the Browns re-entered the league in 1999...QB Ben Roethlisberger has a perfect 10-0 record against the Browns and has thrown 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his 10 starts against Cleveland...the Steelers 31-0 victory over the Browns during the 2008 season-finale was the fourth shutout against Cleveland in the past 10 seasons, including Sept. 12, 1999 (43-0) at Cleveland, Oct. 22, 2000 (22-0) at Three Rivers Stadium and Dec. 24, 2005 (41-0) in Cleveland...RB Willie*Parkerhas rushed for 100-plus yards in six of his eight career games against Cleveland, including his past five contests...Cleveland has not won the season series against the Steelers since defeating Pittsburgh 23-9 at Three Rivers Stadium and 27-7 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1988...Pittsburgh owns a 51-24 record against the Browns since the 1970 NFL merger, including a 32-6 mark in Pittsburgh.
Steelers-Browns Connections
Steelers-Browns Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Browns and the Cleveland area. Steelers with direct ties to the Browns and Cleveland/Ohio include assistant head coach/defensive line coach John Mitchell, who began his NFL coaching career as the Browns' defensive line coach from 1991-93. Linebackers coach Keith Butlercoached the Browns linebackers from 1999-02. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arianswas the Browns' offensive coordinator from 2001-03. Offensive line coach Larry Zierleincoached Cleveland's offensive line from 2001-04. Steelers DE Nick Easonplayed with the Browns from 2004-06. Steelers players from Ohio include QB Ben Roethlisberger (Findlay, played at Miami, Ohio), LB James Harrison(Akron, played at Kent State) and LB Andre Frazier(Cincinnati, played at Cincinnati). WR Santonio Holmesplayed at Ohio State. CB Anthony Madisonspent a part of this season on the Browns' active roster.
Browns with Steelers/Western Pennsylvania connections include LB Arnold Harrison, who was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2005. He spent time on the team's active roster and practice squad from 2005-09. OL Hank Fraleyplayed collegiately at Robert Morris and originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent. CB Hank Poteatwas drafted in the third round (out of Pitt) of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Steelers, where he played from 2000-02. Running backs coach Gary Brownplayed at Penn State (1987-90) while assistant strength and conditioning coach Alan DeGennero attended Pitt and worked with its football's conditioning program. Strength and conditioning coach Tom Myslinksiplayed for the Steelers for three seasons (1996-97, 2000) and was an assistant strength coach at Pitt.
*
What To Look For
PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES
• The Steelers look to improve to 61-55 all-time (including the postseason) against the Browns.
• Pittsburgh looks for its 13th straight win over the Browns and its 19th win in the last 20 games (including playoffs) against Cleveland.
• The Steelers look to improve to 52-24 (including playoffs) against the Browns since the NFL merger in 1970.
• The Steelers look for their ninth straight win on the road versus the Browns.
• The Steelers have the potential to post a 3,000-yard passer (Roethlisberger – 3,145), 1,000-yard rusher (Mendenhall – 887) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Holmes – 987, Ward – 922) in the same season. The only other time in team history this occurred was in 2001 (Kordell Stewart – 3,109 passing yards, Jerome Bettis – 1,072 rushing yards, Plaxico Burress – 1,008 receiving yards, Hines Ward – 1,003 receiving yards).
PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES
LB James Harrison
• Needs two sacks to move into ninth place on the team's all-time sack list ahead of Ernie Holmes (40.0). Harrison currently has 38.5 career sacks, including a team-high 10 this season.
WR Hines Ward
• Needs one 100-yard receiving game to tie the team's all-time record held by Hall of Famer John Stallworth (25). Ward currently has 24 career 100-yard receiving games.
• Needs 78 receiving yards to give him 1,000 yards receiving on the year, marking the second straight year he would accomplish the feat. It would also give him his sixth career 1,000-yard receiving season, the most in team history.
QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Needs 369 passing yards to surpass his single-season career high. He currently has 3,145 passing yards in 2009 and his personal best is 3,513 yards passing in 2006.
• Needs one 300-yard passing game to break the team's single season record. He currently has four 300-yard passing games this season, which is tied with Tommy Maddox (2003) and Neil O'Donnell (1995).
RB Rashard Mendenhall
• Needs 113 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season, which would mark his first career 1,000-yard rushing season of his career.
TE Heath Miller
• Needs 46 receiving yards to break his single-season career record for yards (566 in 2007). Miller currently has 521 receiving yards in 2009.
WR Santonio Holmes**
• Needs 13 receiving yards to give him 1,000 yards receiving on the year, which would mark his first career 1,000-yard season.
