European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Steeles Over by Dave Goldberg Pitts Burgh a the Pitts Burgh Steeles did what they had to do to beat the Cleveland Browns who did eve sible to beat themselves. The result sunday a 17-7 win by theste Elers to ensure themselves the easiest possible Road to the super bowl. It s a trip the franchise has t taken in is years. Pittsburgh won sunday on the Arm of Neil o Donnell and the Back of Barry Foster who ran for 106 Yards despite two broken Vertebra. They also got plenty of help from the Browns who had three turnovers and 10 penalties for 96 Yards including two that led directly to two Pittsburgh touchdowns in the first Quarter. We re not going to say we re not the Best. When you be won you be won a Pittsburgh linebacker Greg Lloyd said. The win Pittsburgh s seventh straight left the Steeles at 12-3 and clinched both the acc Central title and Home Field advantage for the conference playoffs. In six of the last seven years the acc team wit the Home Field advantage has gone on to inside track title the super bowl. The Steeles themselves were the Lone exception two years  10-5 is in the playoffs As a  s a distinct advantage to being Home. There s a Energy we Drew from the Crow today Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said of the 60,808fans, the largest crowd Ever at three Rivers. Sunday s could be divided into two distinct parts the first Quarter when the Steeles jumped o Donnell to a 14-0 Lead and out gained Cleveland 155-14, and the final three when Pittsburgh sat Back an watched Vinny Testaverde and the Browns self destruct time after time. The self destruction actually started on the game s first Possession when Cleve land s Benny Thompson jumped offside on chargers finally win acc West by Barry Wilne Reast Rutherford . A after a 6-0 Start was followed by five losses in eight games the san Diego chargers actually found themselves training to make the playoffs. All they really needed though was a taste of the new York  the formula that got them off to More on nil pages 32,36-38 such a Quick Start the chargers beat the jets 21-6 sunday and clinched the acc West  got an extra Bonus hours later when Miami lost putting san Diego 10 5 in position to secure a Bye for the first round of the playoffs if it beats Pitts Burgh next  you remember at the beginning of the year nobody expected us to do much not since Day 1," said Stan Humphries who threw for three touchdowns As the chargers broke a two game slide. Infant most people picked us to finish last or next to last in the acc West. But nobody in this locker room paid any attention to any of that and we went out and did what we knew we could do. We accomplished what we knew we could  achieved their second division Crown in three years after failing to to Dothe last two weeks. Humphries hit Mark Seay for a 2-Yardjre, then connected on 44 and 60-Yard ads with former jets receiver Tony mar tin. And the defense led by pro bowl linebacker Junior seau and defensive tackle Shawn Lee held the jets 6-9 to243 Yards Only 76 on the ground. This feels great. We re sky High said eau who played with shoulder neck and knee problems yet led the Charger with 11 tackles. It will make for a Shorter trip  a punt on fourth-and-1 from the Browns 45 giving Pittsburgh a first Down. On the next Plav o Donnell foun Yancey Thigpen deep for a 40-Yard touchdown pass As the Ball went right through the hands of Cleveland safety Ste Vonmoore. It continued on the second series when an interference Call on Don Griffin set up a 1-Yard to run by Foster. Then it was Cleveland s time to figure out ways to lose on offence including an interception Testaverde threw to Gary Jones to deprive the Browns of an almost sure Field goal another interception by Chad Brown that set up Pittsburgh s other score a 49-Yard fourth Quarter Field goal by Gary Anderson Tjie Ball was wet said Testaverde who was 21 of 42 for 250 Yards\.y. A taunting penalty on Rookie Derek Alexander that stopped Cleveland s opening drive of the second half jus when the Browns seemed to have momentum. They had scored to close the first half the stars and stripes ports december 20 1994 Page 40 on a 14-Yard to pass from Testaverde to Mark Carrier and the Alexander had just caught a 14-Yard third Down pass to the Pittsburgh 39 when he Drew the Flag by spiking the Ball near Lloyd. They were out there staying stuff but i was t taunting Alexander said. Twas definitely a crucial play in the game. It killed a drive. It pushed us  o Donnell who hit five of his first six passes finished 10-of-18 for 175 Yards and Foster carried 32 times. Two san Diego s David Griggs left and Dennis Gibson team up to Stop the jets Johnny Mitchell for a Short gain sunday. A the chargers head Home to play the acc s Best team. But the Steeles Al ready have secured Home Field for the conference playoffs and might rest som of their key people late in the game. Pittsburgh is a great team seau said and we want to prove we Are on their level. That makes it a big  Humphries big game he was 19-for-26 for 280 Yards was reminiscent of his play in the six game winning Streak and of the Way he helped san Diego make turnaround from an 0-4 Start in 1992. That season the chargers became the first team to lose its opening four games and then win its division. I think the 0-4 Start we had two year Sago really helped us out a Little bit this season he said. We came Back then and we knew we could come Back now the jets had no such comebacks in them. Since they led Miami 24-6 in the fourth Quarter of a Battle for first place on nov. 27, they have scored 26 Points in13 periods. They lost All four games to slide to the Bottom of the acc East. In the second Quarter against san Diego they lost quarterback Boome Esiason with a concussion. Seau knocked out Esiason with a shot to the head. Esiason had just released the Ball an was off balance when hit. He stayed on the ground for several moments then walked slowly to the Bench. Soon after he headed just As slowly to the locker room and did not return. After Boomer went Down we were real spotty on offence coach Pete car Roll said. The defense Hung and Hung and Hung and we continued to come up with  As they always seem to in december they Are 8-25 since 1986 in the final month of the year. I m tired of it. 11 years linebacker Kyle Clifton said. It s frustrating. It s disappointing. 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