Sports (washingtonpost.com)

Two-Minute Drill
Browns, Steelers Exchange Early Blows

The Washington Post
Monday, Nov. 15, 2004, Page D10

Unable to Keep Pace, Rams Hang On for Win | Star of the Day
By the Numbers | Quotable | Sunday's Best | Looking Ahead

Talking trash wasn't enough. The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers decided to trade punches.

Less than an hour before yesterday's game, Browns running back William Green and Steelers linebacker Joey Porter squared off and wildly swung at each other near midfield.

The altercation resulted in both being ejected before the opening kickoff and added another chapter to the NFL's nastiest rivalry, which had lost some of its snarl the past few years.

"We're getting it back," remarked Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney.

As the teams were going through pregame drills, Porter and Green got into a heated exchange in front of the Browns' bench. Seconds later, they were throwing overhand rights, uppercuts and roundhouse lefts before being separated.

"I've never been a boxing referee," Steelers running back Jerome Bettis said. "It was weird. It was just one of those unfortunate things. Emotions boiled over."

Porter landed one of his blows to Green's face, bloodying his lower lip.

Tensions between the teams were riding high following comments Browns defensive tackle Gerard Warren made in the days leading up to the game. Warren threatened to go after Pittsburgh rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's head.

The NFL warned Warren on Friday that any unnecessary roughness could result in a suspension.

Warren's remarks had players edgy as they took the field.

"You could see something coming," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said.

-- From News Services

Unable to Keep Pace, Rams Hang On for Win
St. Louis Rams tackle Orlando Pace was ejected in the third quarter of yesterday's game against the Seahawks for making contact with an official.

Pace was kicked out with 5 minutes 11 seconds remaining in the quarter at the end of a play that ended up with a lost fumble by Marshall Faulk at midfield. Replays appeared to show a Seattle player pulling Pace off the pile when Pace ran into side judge Don Carlson.

Pace is a five-time Pro Bowl player. Right tackle Grant Williams moved to Pace's left tackle spot and Blaine Saipaia took over at right tackle, taking his first snaps of the season.

St. Louis won the game, 23-12.

-- From News Services

Star of the Day
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw for five touchdowns and 320 yards as Indianapolis rolled to a 49-14 victory over Houston. It was the third time this season and fourth time in the past 12 months that Manning has thrown for that many scores in a game.

By the Numbers
4: Sacks by the Cardinals' Bertrand Barry. Arizona had six total against Giants quarterback Kurt Warner.
13: Consecutive pass plays called by the Rams to open their game against Seattle. They completed 10 of them.
34: Points scored by Carolina in the second half against the 49ers.
55, 83: Length of punt returns for touchdowns by Detroit's Eddie Drummond during an overtime loss to the Jaguars.
11-5-89: The only other time an NFL game ended in overtime on a safety, as was the case in the Bears' win over Tennessee.

Quotable
"When you make about 500 yards of offense, you probably ought to win and we didn't."
Kansas City Chiefs Coach Dick Vermeil, whose team finished with 497 offensive yards but committed four turnovers and was penalized 12 times in a 27-20 loss to New Orleans.

Sunday's Best
Top Rushers (by yards)
186: Derrick Blaylock, Chiefs, 33 carries, 1 TD
176: Shaun Alexander, Seahawks, 22 carries
145: Ahman Green, Packers, 21 carries
144: Fred Taylor, Jaguars, 23 carries
139: Marshall Faulk, 18 carries
127: Deuce McAllister, Saints, 16 carries, 1 TD
119: Curtis Martin, Jets, 28 carries, 2 TDs
108: Tiki Barber, Giants, 21 carries, 1 TD

Top Passers (by yards)
363: Daunte Culpepper, Vikings, 27 of 44, 4 TDs
334: Billy Volek, Titans, 27 of 44, 2 TDs, 1 INT
320: Peyton Manning, Colts, 18 of 27, 5 TDs, 2 INTs
303: Jake Delhomme, Panthers, 19 of 34, 3 TDs

Top Receivers (by yards)
167: Joe Horn, Saints, 5 catches, 1 TD
148: Drew Bennett, Titans, 6 catches, 1 TDs
141: Nate Burleson, Vikings, 11 catches, 1 TD
132: Brandon Stokley, Colts, 5 catches, 2 TDs
123: Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers, 6 catches, 3 TDs
121: Eddie Kennison, Chiefs, 7 catches, 1 TD
118: Alge Crumpler, Falcons, 4 catches, 1 TD
109: Jimmy Smith, Jaguars, 7 catches, 1 TD

Looking Ahead
Indianapolis at Chicago. Peyton Manning takes his 31 touchdown passes into the Windy City, where the Bears are sporting one of the top defenses in the NFL under first-year coach Lovie Smith. Chicago has won three straight games for the first time since 2001.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati. Can Ben Roethlisberger, left, make it eight straight victories to begin a career and two in a row against a division opponent on the road? The Bengals have won three of their past four and are 3-1 this season at Paul Brown Stadium.

San Diego at Oakland. Coming off a bye week, it might just be another Brees for the Chargers against a struggling Raiders team.

New England at Kansas City. Monday nighter is certain to feature plenty of offense as the Super Bowl champion Patriots look to outscore a desperate Chiefs team, which will be playing for its postseason life.