Steelers Will Feel at Home Again in Playoffs : AFC: Foster ties record with 12th 100-yard game as Pittsburgh defeats Browns, 23-13.

The Pittsburgh Steelers rushed into the playoffs Sunday on the strength of a record-tying performance by running back Barry Foster and an outstanding series of defensive stands.

Foster’s 12th 100-yard game helped the Steelers defeat the Cleveland Browns, 23-13. The Steelers finished the regular season 11-5, their best record since 1979.

Foster gained 103 yards in 26 carries and scored a touchdown, and Bubby Brister passed for a touchdown as the AFC Central Division champion Steelers scored touchdowns for the first time since Dec. 6. The Steelers are assured of their first home playoff game since 1982 and only their second in 13 seasons. They will play the winner of one of next weekend’s two AFC wild-card games on the weekend of Jan. 9-10.

The Steelers probably would have been forced into a wild-card game had they lost to Cleveland.

“We didn’t let the frustration of the last couple of weeks get to us,” said Bill Cowher, the 10th NFL coach to win 11 games as a rookie. “There have been a lot of questions about this team, but we dealt with adversity just as we have all season--with determination.”

Foster broke the 100-yard mark on a nine-yard gain with 34 seconds to play after cornerback D.J. Johnson recovered Mike Tomczak’s fumble at the Steelers’ 15. Foster tied Eric Dickerson’s 1984 NFL record of 12 100-yard games, and finished with a Steelers’ team record 1,690 yards.

Foster, who gained at least 100 yards in all eight home games, was resigned to settling for 94 yards until the Browns’ third turnover.

“I didn’t think I was going to get it,” he said. “When we got the ball back, it was kind of chaotic out there. . . . Everybody wanted me to have the record. The Browns knew I was going to get the ball, but everybody on the line was determined to get the job done.”

The Steelers, completing their first 11-victory season since they were 12-4 during their last Super Bowl season in 1979, took a 17-3 lead, then turned the game over to their defense.

Brister, subjected to heavy criticism after consecutive losses to Chicago and Minnesota, played his best game since the Steelers last made the playoffs in 1989. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 223 yards, including 11 of 13 during the first half after receivers dropped his first two passes.

“There were a lot of non-believers that I could get it done, but with a little time and protection I can do it with anybody,” Brister said. “It’s tough not taking a snap for 10 weeks like I did, then having people expect you to not miss a beat.”

The Browns (7-9) blew one opportunity after another.

“If we had just scored when we got inside the 20, it would have been a whole different ballgame,” Brown running back Eric Metcalf said. “We settled for field goals when we should have scored touchdowns.”

Cleveland drove 90 yards in 17 plays during a drive that consumed 11:06 of the second quarter, but had to settle for Matt Stover’s 22-yard field goal.

The Browns made it 17-10 on Tomczak’s 38-yard touchdown pass play to Michael Jackson on the second play of the second half, but Rod Woodson later intercepted a Tomczak pass after the Browns drove to the Steelers 14.

The Browns, losing in Pittsburgh for the third consecutive season, moved from their 40 to a first down at the Steelers’ seven early in the fourth quarter, only to again settle for a 22-yard Stover field goal.

With a chance to get to within three points, the Browns drove the Steelers’ four in the final two minutes, but Tomczak fumbled with 1:09 to play.

“It’s been like that all year,” center Jay Hilgenberg said. “We put together long drives, but we get no touchdowns.”

Pittsburgh used 17 plays over 8:43 for Gary Anderson’s third field goal--a 28-yarder that bounced off the left upright and over the crossbar--with 2:35 to play to make the score 23-13.