Does this sound familiar? The Cleveland Browns failed to cross midfield Sunday until a long kickoff return in the fourth quarter.

        The Browns (2-6) clearly missed injured quarterback Tim Couch in their 22-0 shutout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, resembling the Bengals' futile offense in their first six weeks of the season — before Sunday's 31-21 win over Denver.

        With Couch out for the season and the Bengals revitalized by their first win, the 1-6 Bengals are suddenly 2 1/2-point favorites to beat the 2-6 Browns next Sunday in Cleveland.

        Couch's replacement, Doug Pederson, had only one full practice last week, so the Browns often started drives by running Travis Prentice on first down and, sometimes, second down. But he was held to 48 yards on 14 carries.

        Pederson, who had thrown one pass all season, was 9-of-20 for 61 yards and three interceptions as the Browns were held to 104 yards and five first downs. Pittsburgh also held a nearly 2-to-1 edge in time of possession.

        “I was comfortable with what we were doing, we just couldn't get anything going,” Pederson said. “I don't know if that was the new guy in the huddle or what.”

        “We didn't make one play go our way or have one break go our way,” Browns coach Chris Palmer said.

        The Steelers, who beat the Bengals 15-0 last week, converted four Browns breakdowns into scores for their second straight shutout.

        “We were talking about it (a shutout) in the second quarter, we were talking about it in the first quarter,” defensive lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen said. “And we can't let it drop off.”

        Jerome Bettis ran for 105 yards on 33 carries in his third successive 100-yard game and Kris Brown kicked five field goals.

        Bettis' 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter made it 10-0 and followed a 54-yard punt return by rookie Hank Poteat and a debatable roughing-the-passing penalty on linebacker Jamir Miller.

        Steeler starter Kent Graham was pulled midway through the second quarter after going 3-of-12 for 46 yards, with Kordell Stewart coming on to lead all but one scoring drive. Stewart passed for only 74 yards, but was mistake-free, then was told by coach Bill Cowher he will start Sunday in Baltimore.

        Cleveland ....... 0 0 0 0— 0

        Pittsburgh ....... 3 10 3 6—22

        First Quarter

        Pit—FG K.Brown 44, 1:50.

        Second Quarter

        Pit—Bettis 1 run (K.Brown kick), 7:41.

        Pit—FG K.Brown 20, 1:54.

        Third Quarter

        Pit—FG K.Brown 31, 7:43.

        Fourth Quarter

        Pit—FG K.Brown 26, 12:00.

        Pit—FG K.Brown 33, 1:34.

        A—57,659.

        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

        RUSHING—Cleveland, Prentice 14-48, Pederson 2-4, White 2-0, Northcutt 1-(minus 3). Pittsburgh, Bettis 33-105, Fuamatu-Ma'afala 1-20, Stewart 6-15, Huntley 4-5, Edwards 1-(minus 2).

        PASSING—Cleveland, Pederson 9-20-3-61, Wynn 1-3-0-2. Pittsburgh, Graham 3-12-0-46, Stewart 7-13-0-74.

        RECEIVING—Cleveland, Prentice 3-8, Northcutt 2-22, Johnson 2-5, Shea 1-21, Jackson 1-5, Campbell 1-2. Pittsburgh, Shaw 3-60, Burress 2-25, Edwards 2-15, Hawkins 1-16, Ward 1-5, Huntley 1-(minus 1).

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