No matter how it’s measured, Cleveland can not beat Pittsburgh.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for two touchdowns in a Steelers offense that is increasingly wide open, as Pittsburgh got the benefit from a questionable first down measurement and defeated their rival Cleveland on Sunday 27-14. It was their 12th win in a row against the Browns, their oldest rival in the league.

Roethlisberger, who is the league’s second rated passer and is on pace to have his best season statistically, went 23 for 35 for a total of 417 yards for the second 400 yard game of his career. Hines Ward caught eight passes for a total of 159 yards and scored a touchdown, receiver Santonio Holmes caught five passes for 104 yards, and Heath Miller, tight end, had his fourth touchdown catch in three games.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers coach said about Roethlisberger, he has total command of our offense. In six games, Roethlisberger has thrown 10 touchdowns and a total of 1,887 yards. It’s very fun to watch.

The turnovers weren’t so great to watch. Each team had four, including two each late third quarter within a 1:25 span.

The Steelers out gained the Browns 543 to 197 yards, but by the third quarter Pittsburgh only had a 17-14 lead. They may not have even had the lead were it not for the first down they were given after it appeared that Roethlisberger, on a quarterback sneak on fourth down, had been stopped a few inches short from the 14 yard line of Cleveland during the second quarter.

On tv replays it appeared that the football was short of the yard stick on the play where Roethlisberger attempted to lure the Browns defense offside before he slammed headfirst into the center of the defense. The Cleveland players began yelling and started to run off the field. However Walt Anderson, referee, surprised the teams when he signaled the first down.

Roethlisberger said, the play was close and we just got lucky.

Max Starks, tackle, said, I saw the Cleveland players all arguing and yelling. But the referee definitely knows the rules a lot better than me. If he says it was a a first down, then it was a first down.

Obviously the Browns didn’t think so.

David Bowens, linebacker said, he made that call. We have to just live with it. I’m not sure if he gave an explanation. All I know is he said first down. That was it.

The angle on TV may have been deceptive, according to Anderson. He said, if the angle had been shot from the opposite side, it may have looked like the ball was further advanced from the stake. He was certain it was the correct call.

Two plays later an apparent touchdown pass of 13 yards from Roethlisberger to Ward got overturned after the replay. As Ward tumbled out of bounds the football came loose from his hand. The Steelers had to settle for a field goal.

Due to the questionable first down ruling, Cleveland trailed in the game 17-14 instead of a tie after they had scored just their fourth offensive touchdown in 12 games, 11 which they have lost, on a one yard pass from Derek Anderson over to Lawrence Vickers early third quarter.

Anderson went 9 for 24 for a total of 122 yards.

Anderson said, we try not to lose each time we go play here, referring to the 1-9 record of the Browns playing at Heinz Field. We’ve put in tons of hours. It’s frustrating. Every week is frustrating.

Pittsburgh, who won their third consecutive game, made it a 24-14 game when Roethlisberger connected with Ward on a 45 yard pass and a 21 yard pass to Mike Wallace before Rashard Mendenhall had a touchdown run of 2 yards.

Miller said, I don’t think we have played our best football yet. That is pretty comforting. We have a few wins without playing at our best.

The other score of Cleveland’s came on a kickoff return of 98 yards by Joshua Cribbs late second quarter, following touchdown passes of Roethlisberger to Miller from 8 yards and Ward from 52 yards. Cribbs went untouched as he ran down the sideline of the Steelers to score his eighth rick return, a club record, with six of them being off of kickoff returns. It was his third one versus Pittsburgh.

Cribbs said, I heard from 1,000 Cleveland fans back home saying, return it for me. I got up to play this game.

After a flurry of turnovers, a field goal of 39 yards was kicked by Reed. Cleveland than gave up the ball again when Ryan Clark intercepted an Anderson pass. It was the fourth turnover of the game and their 32nd turnover in 12 games.

In the first half from the wildcat formation Troy Polamalu intercepted a pass from Cribbs.