By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 9, 2006
The Steelers had three days to prepare for Thursday night's game with the Cleveland Browns. Coach Bill Cowher didn't give his team any days off, and his practices were intense.
Cowher did a nice job of out-coaching Cleveland's Romeo Crennel (join the crowd, Bill). The Steelers are the better team. But they also were more ready to play and won handily, 27-7, at Heinz Field.
"I thought the best thing we did this week was to go outside and practice," Cowher said after the 6-7 Steelers won their second consecutive game and recorded their fourth win in five games. "We practiced Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. It made it a pretty normal week.
"I thought we played with that type of energy tonight. The way the guys responded to the short week, the way that we practiced, even on Monday, it didn't surprise me the way we played."
Cowher didn't want to wear out his players after last Sunday's easy home win over Tampa Bay, but there's something to be said for hard work.
Let's be realistic. The fact the Steelers are now playing their best football of the season, with their three most recent wins coming against the Browns (twice) and the Buccaneers, is hardly coincidental.
The Browns are a bad football team. If you thought Tampa Bay was terrible, get a load of the Browns. They don't know how to win, and some of their players appear to have lost interest.
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