BALTIMORE (AP) -- Kordell Stewart has already taken the first stride toward redeeming himself for a disastrous 1998 season.

Seeking to do the same thing, Scott Mitchell took one giant step backward.

Coming off a season in which he threw 18 interceptions and only 11 touchdown passes, Stewart flashed the form he showed in years past when he picked apart the Cleveland Browns last weekend in Pittsburgh's 43-0 rout. Stewart passed for one score, ran for 33 yards and a touchdown and did not throw an interception.

"He's committed to turning things around," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said.

Stewart hopes to continue his comeback Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, who received a dud of a debut from Mitchell in a 27-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

The Ravens obtained the 6-foot-6 quarterback from the Detroit Lions to run new coach Brian Billick's wide-open offense. Mitchell did more harm than good against the Rams, going 17-for-40 for 188 yards with two interceptions for a 44.6 quarterback rating.

To put that number in perspective, consider that Stewart finished 13th in the AFC last year with a 62.9.

Mitchell, coming off a year in which he lost the starting job after the second week of the season, is already facing the same questions he heard in Detroit. He offered no excuses.

"I'm the guy who orchestrates the offense and we didn't do a good job, so I think that falls on my shoulders," he said. "I'm not going to point the finger at anyone but myself. I didn't get the job done."

Case in point: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis caught more passes than Pro Bowl wide receiver Jermaine Lewis. Ray Lewis had an interception to go along with his 14 tackles; Jermaine Lewis, the team's most serious deep threat, didn't have a single reception.

"The bad side is I have to wait a week to go out and play again," Mitchell said. "The good side is that I get to play again, and I can't think of a better way to do it than to go out and play Pittsburgh."

Mitchell might consider the adage about being careful what you wish for. The Steelers totally dominated the expansion Browns, allowing only two first downs and 40 yards of offense.

"I certainly think the situation in Cleveland, them being an expansion team playing their first game, had a lot to do with it," Cowher said.

The Ravens performed like an expansion team in their first game under Billick, who was particularly irritated because a majority of his players failed to show the emotion they displayed during a 4-0 preseason.

"Physically, it wasn't bad. We just need more intensity, it's as simple as that," Billick said.

That shouldn't be a problem Sunday. If the Ravens can't get motivated for their home opener against an AFC Central rival that is 5-1 against Baltimore over the past three years, then Billick might be facing a difficult season.

"We're going to be fired up, back on grass in open air, the way football should be," Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden said. "Pittsburgh and Jacksonville are two teams I get up for, because we haven't had much success against them. Especially Pittsburgh, because they really think they're a tough physical team. They are, but I think we match up well against them."

The defense will have more to contend with than just Stewart. Jerome Bettis gained 89 yards on 18 carries last week, and backup Richard Huntley set career highs for receptions (five) and touchdowns (three).

"Jerome is a good running back, so I have to pick my spots and take advantage of every snap when my turn comes," Huntley said. "When my time comes I have to prove I can do the job."

Bettis, however, might be reluctant to leave the field. Although he's still not quite fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the preseason, in five games against the Ravens he's rushed for at least 100 yards four times.

PITTSBURGH Season schedule and results

BALTIMORE Season schedule and results

September 12 @Cleveland W 43-0 September 19 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET September 26 Seattle 1:00pm ET October 3 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET October 10 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET October 17 @Cincinnati 1:00pm ET October 25 Atlanta 9:00pm ET November 7 @San Francisco 4:15pm ET November 14 Cleveland 1:00pm ET November 21 @Tennessee 1:00pm ET November 28 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET December 2 @Jacksonville 8:20pm ET December 12 Baltimore 1:00pm ET December 18 @Kansas City 12:40pm ET December 26 Carolina 1:00pm ET January 2 Tennessee 4:15pm ET

September 12 @St. Louis L 10-27 September 19 Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET September 26 Cleveland 1:00pm ET October 3 @Atlanta 1:00pm ET October 10 @Tennessee 4:15pm ET October 21 Kansas City 8:20pm ET October 31 Buffalo 1:00pm ET November 7 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET November 14 @Jacksonville 4:05pm ET November 21 @Cincinnati 4:05pm ET November 28 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET December 5 Tennessee 1:00pm ET December 12 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET December 19 New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 26 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET January 2 @New England 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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