In Command

Just two games into the season, and the Steelers are in command of the AFC North. The Brownies, in full recognition of their plight and playing desperately last night, put up a fight.

But at no point did Joey Porter's Pit Bulls feel the Steelers were in danger of losing the game.

The weather conditions made for a visually entertaining game, but Browns' QB Derek Anderson seemed to let the wind and rain bother him more than it bothered unflappable Ben Roethlisberger.

Willie Parker gained 105 yards on the ground, while Federal Penitentiary alumnus Jamal Lewis never got untracked. Behemoth defensive tackle Shaun Rogers of the Browns had some disruptive moments, but on the whole, the Steelers controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage. Santonio Holmes, who must be a nightmare to cover, displayed sure hands as he made some clutch catches in traffic and continued to establish himself as an elite receiver in the National Football League.

The defense was the difference. The Steelers' defense flew to the ball and played with an intensity that never allowed the Browns to establish any sort of consistent momentum. The Steelers' defense is better than the Brown's. As predicted here last week, the black 'n gold defense really did Hustle & Flow to the ball.

The 0-2 Browns are in a serious hole, and the talk in Cleveland surely will turn to Brady Quinn possibly supplanting Anderson as the starting quarterback. Plus, there surely will be muttering about Romeo Crennel's job security and the possibility of bringing Bill Cowher in as head coach next year. The postgame radio talk shows in Cleveland must have been a lot of fun. Well, all of that's their problem, not ours. It's much better to be a Steelers' fan today.

And the Bengals suck. Still.