CLEVELAND - Browns coach Butch Davis said it was a game of third-down conversions. His Cleveland team made few. The Pittsburgh Steelers made many.

So, perhaps, it could be said this was a game of creative offense vs. no offense.

The Steelers won 23-20 here yesterday, opening a 11/2 -game advantage over Cleveland in the AFC North standings.

The Browns owned a 7-0 lead after just eight plays, courtesy of an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown by Dennis North-cutt. And they were up 14-3 after a 63-yard pass from Tim Couch to Quincy Mor-gan ignited a scoring drive.

Then nothing. Nada. Zip.

From the 12-minute mark of the second quarter until the 51/2-minute mark of the fourth quarter the Browns managed just two first downs and saw eight of 10 possessions end with either a punt or a turnover.

It was during that same stretch that the Browns picked up the bulk of their 11 penalties, several rubbing out healthy gains.

“It was our inability to get [Pittsburgh] out on third downs, giving up big plays, and then our struggles offensively on third down,” Davis said. “We lost our composure defensively. We didn't get enough hits and we didn't get enough pressures.

“And I'm certainly disappointed in the number of penalties, especially the ones that negated big plays.”

Instead of building on that early lead before a crowd of 73,718, the Browns suffered from two Couch interceptions and a lost fumble when the quarterback dropped a snap from center. They suffered from another pathetic rushing display - 14 carries for 36 yards. And they suffered from having plays like Couch's 28-yard hook-up with Morgan to the Pittsburgh 25-yard line called back because of holding.

The Steelers ran 85 plays, gained 391 yards, had 25 first downs, converted on 10 of 20 third-down plays and got 111 yards from Amos Zereoue, the only one of their top three running backs who was healthy and active for the game.

The Browns ran 42 plays for 193 total yards, had nine first downs and converted on two of nine third-down attempts.

“Whatever Pittsburgh did worked and whatever we did, well, we didn't get anything done,” said Cleveland receiver Kevin Johnson. “They ran some good stuff, executed it well and kept converting. We didn't make plays.”

Said Northcutt: “They kept us off the field. We only ran 18 plays in the first half. I mean, we can make plays and score points, but you have to be on the field to do it. .”

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh threw about everything in its playbook at the Cleveland defense. Tommy Maddox was at quarterback, of course, and completed 23 of 42 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. But the shifty Antwan Randle El completed two passes and two other Steelers also took direct snaps.

The visitors, who won their fourth straight game to improve to 5-3, ran reverses, draws, screens, misdirections, shovel passes and leaned on Zereoue for 29 rushes.

“They have a lot of versatile guys and did some tricky stuff,” Couch said of the Steelers.

Strong safety Earl Little took that as a compliment.

“They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us and I take that as them having respect for our defense,” Little said. “The game was for the division lead and they know we have playmakers on defense. It was like a playoff game and they pulled out all the stops.”

The Browns, on the other hand, just stopped.

It remained a close game only because the Steelers cooperated by missing two field goals and twice turning the ball over on downs.

First, though, Pittsburgh erased its early deficit via two Maddox touchdown passes. The Steeler lead grew to 23-14 when Todd Peterson finally found the range for a pair of field goals.

An acrobatic catch by Morgan - four receptions, 98 yards - produced a 31-yard scoring play that pulled the Browns only to within 23-20 because Phil Dawson's extra-point kick missed with 4:32 to play.

But that was Cleveland's last gasp before falling to 4-5.

“I just went up there and took it from him,” Morgan said of his great catch against well-positioned Steeler defender Dewayne Washington. “When the ball's in the air like that you have to think that it's yours.

“But Pittsburgh was able to control the ball after that just like they'd done the whole game. Give them credit. We had some bad penalties on crucial plays, like that catch of mine at their 25. And we can't afford those things against a good team. But they kept us off the field.

“I don't know how many plays we had, but I know it wasn't many. Usually, when the game's over, I'm exhausted. This time, I feel like I could go out there and play another game.”

First Published November 4, 2002, 12:36 p.m.