May Be Unfair To Call Him Interceptaverde

Some of the Pittsburgh media had referred to him during the week as Vinny Interceptaverde.

And a group of Steelers’ fans Saturday behind the Browns’ bench at Three Rivers Stadium held up a banner saying the same thing about Cleveland quarterback Vinny Testaverde.

The media and fans had plenty of ammunition coming into the first playoff game between these longtime AFC Central Division rivals. In their two regular-season wins over the Browns, the Steelers had intercepted Testaverde six times.

But even though the Steelers got two more picks in their 29-9 playoff victory over the Browns, Testaverde may have been victimized more by his teammates than the Steelers.

Four dropped passes - two by rookie Browns receiver Derrick Alexander, and one each by backs Leroy Hoard and Earnest Byner - pulled the plug on two of Cleveland’s first three offensive drives.

And by the time the Browns got their fourth offensive possession, the Steelers were leading 17-0 and had Testaverde right where they wanted him.

“Once we got up on them 17-0,” said the Steelers All-Pro cornerback Rod Woodson, “we were able to open up our whole can of worms on defense. We were able to use our whole scheme and do a lot of different things. And it worked out for us.”

Woodson said the Steelers knew they had Testaverde in a no-win situation. “It’s definitely a lot more fun for a secondary when you know the other team has to pass the ball,” he said.

Free safety Darren Perry got one of Pittsburgh’s two interceptions Saturday, giving him four against Testaverde and eight this season.

“Anytime this defense gets an offense in a situation where we know they have to throw the football,” Perry said, “that’s to our advantage. We’ve got guys who can rush the quarterback, and we’ve got guys in the secondary who can cover.

“We just knew that if we didn’t give Testaverde and the Browns any big plays, they’d have a hard time coming back against us.”

The Steelers’ second interception was by cornerback Tim McKyer just 36 seconds before halftime. McKyer returned the ball 21 yards to the Browns 6, and three plays later the Steelers scored for a 24-3 lead.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher said McKyer’s interception capped “one of the better halves of football that I’ve been around since I’ve been in coaching.”