BROWNS 33, STEELERS 13

Man, did that feel good!

I hope you were able to see that game, because otherwise you might not have believed it. Tim Couch lit up the Steelers’ secondary with a near-perfect first half. The offensive line held the blitz at bay. William Green wore down their defense and gained 115 yards. Anthony Henry held Plaxico Burress to one catch all night, and Hines Ward caught just two. The defense harrassed Tommy Maddox, swarmed the ball carriers, and in fact played even better than the offense.

The playoff loss is avenged. Tim Couch achieved poetic justice. Butch Davis beat Pittsburgh for the first time in six tries. It was the Browns’ most lopsided victory since 1994, when they had five wins by 20 points or more.

Sure, there were lapses. Northcutt’s over-eager muff of a bouncing punt. Couch’s third quarter interception into double coverage. Daylon McCutcheon’s missed tackle of Ward that helped set up Pittsburgh’s only touchdown.

But each of them had more good plays than bad in this dominating victory. How dominating? If you saw William Green’s last carry, when he broke through a crevice at right guard and dragged Brent Alexander most of 26 yards downfield, that summarizes it better than I could. Nonetheless, here are some stats to drive the point home:

–The Browns controlled the ball for 84% of the fourth quarter.

–Couch’s QB rating: 111.3. Maddox’s: 29.2.

–Receptions by wide receivers: Browns 16, Steelers 6.

–Despite losing yards seven times against Pittsburgh’s daunting run defense, the Browns still managed eight first downs on the ground.

–Cleveland was penalized just twice, compared to ten for the men in black.

Now we know what this team can do. Fears of an early tailspin are put to rest. At 2-3, the Browns have no reason to abandon hope for improving on last year’s playoff run, which ended on the field that became the site of yesterday’s triumph. Had they hung on last January, they would have faced the Oakland Raiders. Next week, the Browns will get that same chance.

If this young squad can settle into the type of consistent effort we saw last night, the future could be bright indeed. Are the Browns only good with their backs against the wall? Can they win at home? Will the quarterback controversy distract and divide the team?

Let’s leave these questions for another day. Today is for celebrating. The top picks, Couch and Courtney Brown, displayed the finest combined effort of their careers. The young defense derailed the NFL’s best (in yards per game) passing attack. The pundits and prognosticators were flat-out wrong:

— ESPN’s seven “experts” all picked the Steelers.

–“Hate to break this to everyone, but the Browns will not win tonight.

They’ll lose because they’re playing Pittsburgh and a herd of rampaging wildebeest could not change their fortunes against the Steelers.

That’s not opinion.

It’s fact.” — Patrick McManamon, Akron Beacon Journal

–“Nothing in me gives me the slightest reason to believe the Browns have a chance in hell. Oh, they may score late in the fourth quarter, when the game’s out of reach, but it’ll be too little, too late.” — Doc Gonzo, Bernie’s Insiders

Well Doc, heal thyself.