Timely Tirade Helps Steelers Beat Browns : AFC: Linebacker Greg Lloyd inspires teammates as Pittsburgh rallies and ends up in the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense didn’t get going until Greg Lloyd got mad.

The Steelers, motivated by Lloyd’s expletive-filled halftime tirade, kept their playoff hopes alive on Neil O’Donnell’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Eric Green to beat the Cleveland Browns, 16-9, Sunday.

The victory, coupled with the New York Jets’ loss to the Oilers gave Pittsburgh the AFC’s sixth and final playoff berth. The Steelers will play Kansas City Saturday at 9:30 a.m. PST.

The Steelers ended a seven-quarter streak without a touchdown on Green’s 14-yard catch with 7:16 remaining. Until then, Pittsburgh had managed only two Gary Anderson field goals.

“Lloyd came in at halftime and was like a caged animal,” center Dermontti Dawson said. “When a leader like him speaks the truth, you’ve got to respect what he says and respond. He was the key to us winning.”

After Lloyd’s outburst, the Steelers fought off a 9-3 deficit, a two-game losing streak and an offense that hadn’t scored a touchdown since Dec. 19 to beat Cleveland (7-9) for the 20th time in 24 games at Three Rivers Stadium.

Lloyd said he challenged the Steelers’ offense--held without a touchdown for the third time this season in a 16-6 loss to Seattle last week--to win the game. Lloyd did his part by forcing two of the Browns’ four fumbles.

“I didn’t give a jack if anybody got (mad),” Lloyd said. “They were messing with the playoffs, messing with my money. We were sitting back playing their style. (The Browns) weren’t ready to play. They were playing just well enough not to lose.”

Lloyd said some Steelers acted as if “they were thinking about getting on a plane after the game” and not the playoffs.

“I told them to step it up,” he said. “I’m out there busting my rear, and we’ve got guys on (offense) who were 100% healthy sitting back. That may cut it in high school, but it won’t cut it here. I told the offense they had to spark something.”

O’Donnell, despite being sacked seven times, was 22 of 39 for 226 yards, with Green making six catches.