GAME: Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, September 09 - 1:00 PM EST
SPREAD: Cleveland 4.5 TOTAL: 37
In 16 years under Bill Cowher, the
Pittsburgh Steelers, were among the league's most successful franchises. The franchise hopes the success will continue under new coach Mike Tomlin.
The Cleveland Browns, , meanwhile, are trying to avoid a fifth straight year at the bottom of the AFC North.
The Tomlin era begins Sunday at Cleveland, as the Steelers look to continue their dominance of the Browns.
Tomlin took over as head coach in January, joining Cowher and Chuck Noll as the only Steelers coaches in the last 38 years.
Cowher had been the face of the franchise since 1992, leading Pittsburgh to 10 playoff appearances, eight division titles and a Super Bowl championship in 2005.
However, Tomlin does not want his team living in the past.
"I like this team because they are right-minded and they are focused on the things that matter,' Tomlin said. "That is the quality of our work, the quality of our preparation.'
Pittsburgh is hoping to build on a successful second half from last season, with a healthy quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leading the way.
After starting last year 2-6, the Steelers rallied to win six of their final eight games and finish 8-8 - tied with Cincinnati Bengals for second place in the AFC North.
Before the 2006 season, Roethlisberger was in a motorcycle accident and had an appendectomy. He then got off to a horrible start, throwing seven interceptions without a touchdown in his first three games. He compiled a 1-6 record to start the year, after leading Pittsburgh to 22 wins in his first 25 career starts.
He finished the season with 3,513 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, but also an NFL-high 23 interceptions.
"I'm just trying to go out and prove to myself that I can do it, that my career's not over and last year was just a fluke,' Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger is joined in the backfield by Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker, who rushed for 1,494 yards and scored 16 touchdowns last year.
Parker had one of the best games of his career in the Steelers' 27-7 win over the Browns last Dec. 7, rushing for a career-high 223 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts.
The Steelers have won seven straight games over the Browns, and 17 of the last 20 meetings in the series. They are also 7-1 all-time at Cleveland Browns Stadium, winning six straight there since a 23-20 loss Sept. 17, 2000.
The Browns went 4-12 last season for their fourth consecutive last-place finish, a span in which they have gone a combined 19-45.
They enter 2007, though, with more depth up and down the roster and increased talent at the skill positions.
Cleveland had the league's second-worst rushing offense - 83.4 yards per game - last season, but added Jamal Lewis, who gained 1,132 yards in 2006, despite playing with painful ankle spurs in Baltimore.
Lewis, who had offseason surgery, signed a one-year contract that could be worth $3.5 million if he reaches performance incentives.
"I am smarter now, more patient with my running style and I am much wise," he said. "That's what a veteran offers to a team and to this position.'
Lewis had an impressive training camp, but much of the focus for the Browns had been on the starting quarterback competition between Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and first-round pick Brady Quinn. Coach Romeo Crennel even flipped a coin before one preseason contest to determine the starter.
Crennel has named Frye the starter for the opener, but also said the position will be evaluated on a weekly basis.
Frye went 4-9 as a starter last season, throwing for 2,454 yards, 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
"I think I'm a lot more poised and my game management is better,' Frye said. "It comes from experience and being pushed by other guys. You make sacrifices and those sacrifices end up helping your game out.'
In his only start against the Steelers last season, Frye was 17-for-27 for 224 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in a 24-20 home loss on Nov. 19.
The Browns have opened the season at Cleveland Browns Stadium every year since it opened in 1999, but are just 1-7 in those games.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has won four straight season openers - tied with THE Atlanta Falcons for the longest opening-week winning streak in the NFL.
