PITTSBURGH — The Browns’ 2009 winning streak is over at one game.

Pittsburgh’s dominance of Cleveland is alive and well, and in no apparent danger of ending anytime soon.

The Steelers (4-2) committed four turnovers, which allowed the Browns (1-5) to hang around into the fourth quarter, but they were never in jeopardy of losing the lead or the game. The Steelers’ 12th straight win in the rivalry came 27-14 Sunday at Heinz Field.

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“It’s always hard to swallow this one,” fullback Lawrence Vickers said. “People in Cleveland would love to beat Pittsburgh.”

The latest defeat was different than many of the others in Pittsburgh’s 18-1 run against Cleveland.

The Steelers didn’t pound the ball on the ground for record yardage, like Willie Parker did in 2006. They didn’t shut out the Browns, like they had in 2005 and ’07. They didn’t use a Ben Roethlisberger comeback in the fourth quarter, like they did in 2006 and ’07.

This beatdown was all about breakdowns.

The Browns lost coverage on Pittsburgh’s best receivers on numerous occasions, allowing Roethlisberger to throw for 417 yards — second most in his career. He went 23-for-35 with two touchdowns, an interception and a 113.6 rating, as he improved to 10-0 against Cleveland.

“He’s in total command of the offense,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s fun to watch at times.”

“He frustrates a lot of defenses,” coach Eric Mangini said. “That’s who this quarterback is.”

When the Browns would blitz, Roethlisberger would quickly find a receiver running wide open. When the Browns would drop eight in coverage, he’d wait awhile for a receiver or tight end to break free. With linebacker Kamerion Wimbley out with the flu, he had even more time than usual.

The Steelers had 10 plays of 20 yards or more — nine passes and a reverse — for 297 yards. They also had two 19-yarders. Receiver Hines Ward had eight catches for 159 yards.

“When I caught it there was nobody around,” he said of his 52-yard touchdown.

That also applied to Santonio Holmes (five catches, 104 yards) and tight end Heath Miller (five catches, 80 yards, touchdown).

“I don’t think our zone integrity was too good today,” cornerback Eric Wright said. “They found the big holes and we gave up big plays.”

And once again, the Cleveland offense didn’t make nearly enough big plays or prevent the devastating ones.

A heavy dose of Joshua Cribbs at quarterback in the Wildcat formation — 13 of 51 plays — provided a spark in each half, but Cribbs threw a first-quarter interception in the red zone that led to the first Steeler touchdown. The offense managed just seven points, and Cribbs scored on a 98-yard kickoff return.

In six games, the Browns have scored four offensive touchdowns. They had four turnovers Sunday.

“Two things we can’t do, and we talked about it a lot, are turnovers and big plays,” Mangini said.

Cribbs’ interception from the 14 deprived the Browns of the chance to take an early lead and establish some momentum. On his second straight pass attempt — second of the season — he was pressured by LaMarr Woodley and picked off by safety Troy Polamalu, who undercut Chansi Stuckey.

Derek Anderson’s interception from the Pittsburgh 31-yard line with 4:21 left in the fourth quarter eliminated the possibility of an improbable comeback. He scrambled left, but instead of turning upfield he threw across his body for Mohamed Massaquoi. The pass was well underthrown.

“Looking back on it, stupid play,” said Anderson, who lost two fumbles on sacks as running back Jerome Harrison didn’t pick up the blitz. “There’s no excuse for it, it can’t happen.”

Anderson went 9-for-24 for 122 yards, an interception, a touchdown and a 51.0 rating. In the last two games, he’s 11-for-41 for 145 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He’s been the victim of 15 drops. His season rating is 41.6, worst in the league.

“I’m not looking to make a move, no,” Mangini said when asked about changing quarterbacks. “I think we had a lot of opportunities today. We’ve got to be able to keep moving forward to where we’re capitalizing, pushing those opportunities.”

The Browns cut the lead to 17-14 after three passes to Massaquoi gained 60 yards and Vickers caught a 1-yard touchdown. The Steelers answered immediately to go up 24-14, then the game got ugly despite perfect conditions.

After a Browns punt, Brodney Pool intercepted a Roethlisberger overthrow. The next four possessions ended with fumbles — two by Anderson and one each by Parker and fellow running back Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers re-established normalcy with a six-minute drive and 39-yard field goal with 5:42 left.

The Browns’ lone win under Mangini was a hard-to-watch 6-3 triumph last week over Buffalo. Despite being outgained 543 to 197 Sunday, he insists his team is growing.

“I see progress each week,” he said. “It’s a process, it takes time. That being said, if a few things would’ve been done differently, it’s a different outcome.

“What I like is the guys keep playing. There’s never a sense of ‘Here we go again.’ It’s not like that in the locker room, not like that on the sideline, not like that during the week.”

The fans probably have a different reaction. They haven’t watched a win over Pittsburgh since Oct. 5, 2003.
Call it the Dirty Dozen.

“It’s not the same,” left guard Eric Steinbach said. “I don’t care if it was 30 in a row, we’re starting fresh this year.”
With a stale result.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.