However, this team is still the Cleveland Browns and both attempts went awry as the Browns had to settle for a 21-21 season-opening tie against the Steelers in a rainstorm in Cleveland.
The Browns were led on offense by Jarvis Landry's seven catches for over 100 yards with Tyrod Taylor rushing for 77 yards with a touchdown passing and rushing.
The defense was led by Myles Garrett's two sacks, two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss as Garrett harassed Ben Rothlisberger all afternoon.
The now 0-0-1 Browns will travel to 0-1 New Orleans next week to meet the Saints in the Superdome.
Brownie Bits
1) I have to be honest ( like that is usually an issue), I'm disappointed.
This was a winnable game and the Browns blew multiple opportunities to win it.
Some of that is on Hue Jackson and some of that is on Tyrod Taylor.
The most notable of these came late in regulation when Taylor, who frustrated me much of the day with a refusal to throw downfield, forced a throw downfield that was intercepted.
Nothing in these conditions could be considered a guarantee, but it foiled a chance to win in regulation.
2) Give Taylor credit though for his 24-yard touchdown run that saw him not avoid contact and do what it took to score as he wound his way through Steelers to the end zone.
It's OK to have questions about Tyrod Taylor's throwing and even OK to wonder about his decision-making (which was not supposed to be an issue), but don't question his effort or toughness.
3) What was most frustrating about Tyrod Taylor wasn't the constant checkdowns for short gains, which is a trademark of Browns quarterbacks through the year ( #BrownsCheckDown), it was the poor decision making late in regulation and overtime that killed me.
Tyrod Taylor was brought to town because he was safe and reliable and keep the Browns in games while Baker Mayfield learned.
With a 15 of 40 passing day, safe and reliable aren't the terms that I would use for his performance.
Now, let's keep in mind, the first game in the system, bad weather and offensive line play that was less than good, Taylor has some excuses.
Next week in New Orleans, most of those will not exist.
4) One final Taylor note, I have a few people on my Twitter feed that are Bills fans and I was struck by many of them saying during their blowout loss to Baltimore that "at least we still don't have Tyrod Taylor". This even though Taylor led Buffalo to their first playoff appearance last season since 1999.
5) The offensive line didn't give Taylor a lot of time as he was sacked seven times and committed four false starts, but the red flag to me was that second-round pick Austin Corbett was inactive after playing a lot during the pre-season.
Has Hue Jackson soured on Corbet already? Could that affect this shotgun marriage with John Dorsey as Corbett was the first pick of the second round?
6) Had to like the performance of the defense for the most part, although I was far from thrilled with the Browns allowing over 100 yards to James Conner on the ground.
Other than a 67-yard touchdown pass from Ben Rothlisberger to Juju Smith-Schuster, the Browns managed to keep the Steelers from stunning them with the big platy as has happened so often in the past.
Perhaps some of that was the field conditions, but the Browns took away some things that Pittsburgh has used successfully and it'll be interesting to see if things change in the rematch in Pittsburgh later in the season.
7) Two interceptions for rookie cornerback Denzel Ward in his debut and that alone was impressive,
but what I was even more impressed with was his coverage on Antonio Brown throughout the game.
Yes, Brown did beat Ward for one touchdown and finished with nine catches for 93 yards, but Brown didn't have the usual massive game against the Browns.
To me, that might be the better sign that Denzel Ward just might be a really good one.
8) And then Myles Garrett arrived.
Garrett wasn't perfect as his roughness call in the first half allowed a Steeler drive to continue that would result in a touchdown after the Browns had held on third down and it was Garrett's block in the back on Joe Schobert fumble recovery/interception return in overtime that added distance to the Zane Gonzalez field goal attempt that T.J. Watt blocked.
However, he showed why he can be such a dynamic force as he stripped James Connor of the football with Jabrill Peppers scooping the fumble and being knocked out at the Pittsburgh one.Garrett would later knock the ball from Ben Rothlisberger that the Browns recovered and stuffed Connor on a key third down.
Garrett played every down (As did Denzel Ward and Joe Schobert), showing that he can play the run and be a three-down lineman, although it would be nice if the Browns could rest him here and there!
Two sacks, two forced fumbles and he drew two holding penalties as well. Look out AFC Central opponents, Myles Garrett is ready to give Pittsburgh and Baltimore quarterbacks a taste of what they have been doing to the Browns for years.
9) And who made the punishing hit on Rothlisberger that caused the popup to Joe Schobert in
overtime?
Genard Avery, who of all the players that the Browns selected in their draft, was my favorite (as far as value) swooped in and nailed Rothlisberger.
What I liked best about Avery at Memphis (Remember I watch a lot of AAC) is that he makes plays that mean something.
What I mean by that is the Browns linebackers for years have been players that accumulate high tackle numbers, but they do that by tackling downfield after too much yardage had been gained.
Avery looks to have the potential to be more of a disruptive presence than Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert, and Jamie Collins.
Every defense needs a stay at home, solid tackling type-three of them can be a bit of overkill.
10) I was all prepared to write something nice about Jabrill Peppers after his near score, but then he calls for a fair catch in overtime with no Steeler within 10 (maybe even 15) yards of him.
That costs field position and when you have a journeyman quarterback and the pouring rain- field position becomes even more important than usual.
Peppers offered later that he wanted to make sure he caught the ball and I can see that, but he was drafted and bragged about as this "electric " playmaker that was great with the ball in his hands.
One doesn't make plays calling for a fair catch.
11) Emmanuel Ogbah injured his ankle and left the game,
Ogbah would return, but today Hue Jackson said Ogbah was going to miss some time.
Ogbah has struggled to stay healthy and yet Ogbah was given as one reason that the Browns didn't draft Bradley Chubb (Denzel Ward is looking good so far) or pursue Khalil Mack.
Ogbah missed six games last season and will miss more this season and the Browns have attempted to add plenty of depth on the defensive line so it could be worse, but still, there is some concern.
12) Step forward or step back?
Befitting a tie, I think it's a parallel step.
I saw some good things and some bad, but if really pressed- I'll select a small step forward.
I still wonder about a lot of issues (especially Hue Jackson) still, but you had to like the comeback and the toughness shown against a team that usually kicks sand in their face.
Next week will tell a lot against a New Orleans team that gave up 48 points, but scored 40- Answers to come..
Next time, I'll be working on the past boxing weekend and the boxing challenge.
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