CLEVELAND - The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't changed a bit under Mike Tomlin. In their first game in 15 years without iconic coach Bill Cowher stalking the sideline, the Steelers looked the same while smashing and slapping around the Cleveland Browns — again.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) talks with coach Mike Tomlin as they leave the field at halftime of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ken Blaze)

Ben Roethlisberger threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Pittsburgh rolled to a 34-7 win in Tomlin's NFL coaching debut and embarrassed the Browns, who had a disastrous season opener at home.

Willie Parker rushed for 109 yards as the Steelers started the Tomlin Era with the kind of bruising victory that typified Cowher's tenure in the Steel City. Cowher went 21-5 against the Browns, but Tomlin did something his iron-jawed predecessor couldn't: beat Pittsburgh's bitter rival in his first meeting against them.

Cowher, who left the Steelers in January to become a TV analyst, lost his first game against Cleveland after replacing Hall of Famer Chuck Noll in 1992.

However, Tomlin had his first win all but locked up after the first quarter, when the Steelers pounced on mistakes by the bumbling Browns to open a 17-0 lead.

By the end of the third quarter, the Steelers led 31-7 and disgusted Browns fans fled to the exits as a steady rain further dampened what they had hoped would be a better beginning for a team that has had just one winning season since 1999.

That year, the Steelers stomped the Browns 43-0 in Cleveland's expansion return, a thumping that led to rookie quarterback Tim Couch being handed the starting job before he was ready for it.

The Browns, who have lost eight in a row and 14 of 15 to Pittsburgh, could be faced with a similar decision.

Coach Romeo Crennel benched starting quarterback Charlie Frye in the first half. Frye went 4-for-10 for 34 yards, threw an interception and held the ball way too long while be chased by the Steelers.

Derek Anderson came in and didn't do much better, but he did throw a 1-yard TD pass to Lawrence Vickers to avoid the shutout.

And while their team was being dismantled, Browns fans periodically broke into chants for rookie Brady Quinn, who was designated the team's No. 3 quarterback but could soon be elevated to No. 1.

The Browns had five turnovers and allowed six sacks.

Roethlisberger went 12-of-23 for 161 yards. He threw two TD passes in the first quarter and two more in the third quarter for the Steelers, who started last season 2-6 and missed the playoffs one year after winning the Super Bowl.

The Steelers took advantage of a comical opening sequence by the Browns that set the tone.

On fourth down, newly signed Cleveland punter Paul Ernster, replacing injured Dave Zastudil (back), let the first snap he handled slip through his hands before scrambling to get off a 15-yarder.

Cleveland was whistled for four infractions — two holds, an illegal formation and having a man downfield — on the play and the Steelers took over at the Browns 22. Four plays later, Roethlisberger hit a leaping Hines Ward, who had beaten rookie Eric Wright, in the back of the end zone.

Frye gave the ball right back to the Steelers, throwing the ball directly to cornerback Deshea Townshend, who returned it to the 17. Roethlisberger was sacked and the Steelers had to settle for Jeff Reed's 26-yard field goal.

Jamal Lewis, who signed with the Browns as a free agent after seven seasons in Baltimore, helped the Steelers open a 17-point lead. After his fumble, Roethlisberger found a wide-open Santonio Holmes for a 40-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, Roethlisberger hit rookie Matt Spaeth for a 5-yard TD and later hooked up with Heath Miller from 22 yards.