PITTSBURGH - When a team unleashes a whipping on its biggest rival, like the Steelers did to the Cleveland Browns with their 34-23 victory Sunday at Heinz Field, its offense is going to attract a lot of attention.

That's doubly true when its rookie quarterback puts up big numbers like Ben Roethlisberger did when he completed 16 of 21 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown, as well as staking Pittsburgh to a 27-13 halftime lead.

The Steelers defense posted some good numbers of its own after it allowed the Browns to convert only 2 of 12 third-down situations.

While it wasn't horrible when their opponents converted 14 out of 50 third downs into first downs in the first four games of the season, some of them came when the Steelers had their foes in a third-and-long corner and allowed them to keep drives alive, drawing the ire of head coach Bill Cowher.

Cowher relished Sunday's numbers, however.

"We were very efficient," he said. "We got a little bit lax in the third and fourth quarters, but certainly that was a big key.

"If you look at the first half, I think that third down was the telling tale in the red zone on both sides," Cowher added. "(The Browns) got down there and were able to kick field goals. We got down there and were able to score (touchdowns)."

In that first half, the Steelers denied Cleveland a first down on all five third-down situations it faced. On two of those occasions, Pittsburgh held the Browns to field goals after they had driven deep into Steelers country.

With a third-and-9 at the Pittsburgh 11 in the first quarter, Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia completed a pass to wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, but Steelers linebacker James Farrior brought down Northcutt after only four yards. Cleveland coach Butch Davis then sent out kicker Phil Dawson for the chipshot field goal.

The Browns started a long second-quarter drive at their own 10-yard line that took them to the Steelers' 16 for a third-and-7 before defensive end Aaron Smith pressured Garcia into throwing an incompletion toward Northcutt. Dawson did the honors, but Pittsburgh held a 24-13 lead at that point.

Farrior said it was the consistent pressure the Steelers put on Garcia that helped to frustrate Cleveland's attempts to move the ball far enough on third down.

"We kept pressure on him all day, and he never had a chance to get in his rhythm," the linebacker said.

Fellow linebacker Clark Haggans agreed with that assessment.

"We were just trying to put pressure on him and were just trying to make him make errors and make him worry about people coming at him rather than seeing upfield routes," he said.

"They did a good job of bringing the heat," Garcia said. "It was somewhat difficult all day, as far as being able to step back in the pocket. It just wasn't happening."

The rush on Garcia was vital, but the secondary also played a big role, Farrior said.

"The coverage has been great, and our DBs have been doing a good job of staying with the receivers," he said. "(Opponents) are going to make some plays. We just have to rally back and keep them from scoring."

One of those times occurred when another long Browns drive came to a head in the fourth quarter with a third-and-goal at the Steelers' 7-yard line. This time Garcia found Andre' Davis for a touchdown.

"We all know we didn't play our best today and we know we have a lot of room for improvement," Farrior said.