Cleveland Browns Strategy and Personnel

Derek Anderson, not Brady Quinn, was the starting quarterback when the Browns were beaten 27-14 in Pittsburgh on Oct. 18. Anderson was 9 of 24 passing for 122 yards, with one touchdown pass and one interception. Anderson was benched a month ago.

This will be Quinn's 11th NFL start in three seasons and his first against the Steelers.

Quinn has not thrown an interception since the third quarter of the game against the Ravens on Nov. 16. He has thrown 126 straight passes without being picked, and in that streak has thrown seven touchdown passes -- four in Detroit and three Sunday in the 30-23 loss to San Diego.

In the three games he started this season before being benched, he threw one touchdown pass and three interceptions.

"I think I've grown the whole season," Quinn said. "The whole team has. Since that point in Detroit, last week, this week, again we're progressing and maturing and making some strides."

Quinn has been inconsistent despite being protected. He completed 6 of 14 after throwing an interception in the Baltimore game Nov. 16 and was 15 of 34 for a mere 100 yards in the 16-7 loss in Cincinnati on Nov. 29. He was 21 of 33 for 304 yards against the Lions on Nov. 22, and 25 of 45 for 271 yards against the Chargers. The Browns lost all four games.

Whether Quinn has done enough in the current streak to show he should be the quarterback in 2010 and beyond is an open-ended question. Despite the long streak without an interception, Quinn has been up and down in his overall performance.

"Really, what I'm looking for right now is the next game," coach Eric Mangini said. "That to me is the most important thing because it can be up one week and down the next week. You need to see the consistency, not just from the quarterback position but from all of these positions."

--CB Eric Wright missed practice with a recurring hamstring injury.

--DE Kenyon Coleman missed practice with a knee injury.

--FB Lawrence Vickers missed practice with a hamstring injury.

--RB Jerome Harrison was limited in practice because of an illness.

--WR Brian Robiskie was limited with a toe injury.

GAME PLAN: Teams have taken advantage of the Steelers being without Troy Polamalu by running a spread offense. The Browns could do the same Thursday night.

The emergence of rookie Brian Robiskie (four catches vs. the Chargers) and tight end Evan Moore (six catches for 80 yards vs. the Chargers) gives Quinn more weapons than Derek Anderson had when the Browns played the Steelers in October. Quinn completed passes to nine players in the San Diego game.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:Browns C Alex Mack vs. Steelers NT Casey Hampton. Mack has improved over the last six games. He said the game has slowed down for him. Hampton can be overpowering, but Mack is a strong center who can get a push on running plays and keep Hampton from collapsing the pocket.

Browns LB David Bowens vs. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall is difficult to take down once he gets going, and it does not take long for him to get up to full speed. Mendenhall rushed for 62 yards on 17 carries the last time the Browns and Steelers played.

INJURY IMPACT: Cornerback Eric Wright did not practice Tuesday because of a hamstring injury. He did not practice the Friday before the Browns played the Chargers, but he started that game. The news is not as encouraging on end Kenyon Coleman. Coleman has not practiced or played since spraining his knee in Cincinnati on Nov. 29.