CLEVELAND -- If the Steelers had any more missing elements in their defense, they could have called Horatio Cane for a crime-scene investigation. No interceptions. Almost no fumble recoveries. No big plays. And, worse, no shuddering, highlight-film, Richter-scale hits from Kendrell Bell, who has been nearly as absent as Steelers victories the past seven games.

	Kendrell Bell goes airborne to stop Browns running back James Jackson short of the end zone. (eter Diana, st-Gazette Click photo for larger image.

But, on a day when the season was just about ready to be bagged and pushed into Lake Erie, the Steelers made up for their season-long deficiencies with one grand defensive effort, the kind they used to get when they ruled the division. And they did it against a Cleveland Browns team that, in the past two meetings, had treated their defense like one of those EZPass booths on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

When it was over, after the Steelers managed to breathe for another week with a 13-6 victory that was as ugly as it was satisfying, the damage sheet looked like this:

Three recovered fumbles.

Two interceptions.

One goal-line stand.

And a signature Bell hit, just when they needed it most.

"A great play ... a helluva play by him," said inside linebacker James Farrior, one of the defensive stars. "I saw the running back go up in the air and I saw Kendrell just smash him."

The play in question came in the third quarter, with the Steelers holding a 10-6 lead and the Browns already 13 plays into a 16-play drive that took them to the Steelers' 1. On second down, Browns running back James Jackson took off and leaped over the middle of the line, trying to get to the end zone.

Instead, he was met in midair by Bell.

"I anticipated he was going to jump," Bell said. "I saw him get ready to take off."

Jackson never got any farther, and neither did the Browns.

The collision did more than knock Jackson backward. It energized the Steelers' defense, gave them life in a season that has slowly sucked the energy from their collective soul.

"It gave me juice," Bell said. "It puts you where you want to be mentally. When a team member does that, you get hyper-excited."

And so it was that the Steelers responded with their biggest defensive stand of the season. On third down, Jackson tried again from the 1, this time off right tackle. Again, Bell stopped him, with help from Farrior and linebacker Jason Gildon.

When the Browns declined to attempt a field goal on fourth down and instead tried for a touchdown -- "I was surprised they went for it," defensive coordinator Tim Lewis said -- cornerback Chad Scott tripped up receiver Dennis Northcutt after a reverse handoff from receiver Quincy Morgan at the goal line, finishing off the stand.

"You are in the game the whole game and you realize that you are one play away from either tying the score or even going ahead," said Browns receiver Andre Davis.

Just one play.

One big play by Bell.

"It's funny, we worked on our goal-line defense during Friday's practice and we weren't very sharp," Lewis said.

But, during the game, the Steelers responded when necessary, something they didn't do during a seven-game streak in which they were 1-6. And it was Bell, who has been coming off the field in third-down situations, who made the biggest play of all, something he hasn't done much of this season, either.

"A lot of teams don't give him opportunities to make those plays because they're aware of him," Lewis said. "We came back with an inside fire zone [blitz] a little later and he got [Jackson] one more time on second-and-1 and it lost 3 or 4 more. People don't let him do that anymore."

The Browns had another chance on their next series, moving to the Steelers' 6 after a 16-yard pass to Jackson and a 14-yarder to receiver Andre Davis.

But on third down, Farrior, who finished with a game-high 14 tackles, pressured Holcomb to hurry a throw for Davis in the end zone, and safety Brent Alexander intercepted.

On their next possession, Bell came through the line on the play to which Lewis was referring, dropping Jackson for a 2-yard loss. Two plays later, backup nose tackle Kendrick Clancy recovered a Jackson fumble at the Steelers' 26, leading to Jeff Reed's 46-yard field goal.

All told, the Steelers finished with five takeaways, nearly half the total they managed in the first 10 games (an AFC-low 11).

In the previous four games, they did not have an interception and managed only one fumble recovery.

"The only thing missing from our game was hitting people hard," Bell said.

Part of the reason is Bell's limited time on the field. He was an every-down player, moving to the right rush end position in the dime defense. But, after getting two sacks from that spot against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bell never showed any more production and was eventually replaced in that defense.

Asked if he is disappointed with a reduced role, Bell said, "Somewhat, but I'm a team player. Whatever is best for the team. I have no problem with that."

Against the Browns, Bell delivered the hit that has been his signature since the day he leveled Jerome Bettis in training camp as a rookie.

"It gave us a big boost," Farrior said. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

Better sooner than later.