A three-game winning streak, a victory over the Steelers and a third-string quarterback named Duck Hodges and playoff implications all tilted the field into the Browns favor and after they took a 10-0 lead, the tide seemed to have turned.
Seemed is the keyword as the Steelers would score the next twenty points, control the line of scrimmage and take advantage of two vital Baker Mayfield turnovers to drown the Browns playoff hopes at the confluence in Pittsburgh 20-13.
Kareem Hunt caught a second-quarter pass from Mayfield and ran it in from fifteen yards out for the only Cleveland touchdown in the defeat.
The defeat may not have mathematically eliminated the Browns from the final wild card at now 5-7, but it virtually did so at two games out with four games remaining.
Cleveland will host Cincinnati, who won their first game of the season yesterday, in the first of two games against the Bengals in the final quarter of the season.
Brownie Bits
1) The Browns actually did their job for about a quarter and a half as they scored their only touchdown, ran the ball with authority, and had their receivers involved in the game for the only period of the game. And then, And then?
2) Along came the Steelers who, severely undermanned, began to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football.
Backup running backs like Kentucky rookie Benny Snell started to move the chains with unspectacular runs, but his gains were large enough to keep Pittsburgh's rookie QB Duck Hodges in positions where he wasn't stuck in third and long.
Running games can be successful even when you aren't ripping off fifty-yard runs and Pittsburgh proved it again against the Browns.
3) And then there was the offensive line, which saw backup Justin McCray, who is an underrated player when he is positioned at guard, but in typical Browns fashion, has been forced to play tackle most of the year due to lack of other depth.
Greg Robinson missed the game due to concussion protocol placement, so McCray was again shoehorned in a position where he is overmatched.
At least McCray has something to excuse his play, Chris Hubbard is a natural tackle and he is an absolute disaster.
If John Dorsey doesn't draft a tackle in the first two rounds, sign a decent veteran tackle and probably add a third lineman as well in the offseason, I'll be greatly disappointed.
I have been critical of Baker Mayfield, who suffered five more sacks in this loss, but I'm a little understanding of your argument is that his regression has occurred because of his lack of time to throw the football.
4) Bud Dupree is in a contract year and with 8.5 sacks is going to earn himself a nice contract either from Pittsburgh or someone else, but throughout his career with the Steelers- Bud Dupree just seems to kill the Browns.
Dupree finished with a sack and a half yesterday, six tackles, a forced fumble on a hit on Baker Mayfield and spent almost as much time in the Cleveland backfield as Nick Chubb.
I'm generally not in the business of liking Steelers (unless they are a proud former Buckeye such as Cameron Heyward), but I really like Bud Dupree.
I'm not sure Dupree would be a fit in the Browns 4-3 (Pittsburgh runs mostly a 3-4 scheme), but if Dupree hits the market, I would at least kick the tires
5) Baker Mayfield was awful following the initial few drives.
Several overthrows, including one that was closer to the second deck than a leaping Demetrius Harris, cost the Browns throughout the game.
The Harris overthrow was particularly painful in the fourth quarter as Harris was wide open (and nearly made a tremendous catch) for a touchdown and the Browns instead settled for an Austin Seibert field goal.
The difference didn't cost the Browns the game, but needing a field goal to tie on the final drive (which ended in a Mayfield interception) rather than a touchdown will always change the play calling.
6) I know that Mayfield caught his hand on a Steeler helmet late in the second quarter and played the rest of the game with a glove on his hand, but that didn't bring on his inaccuracy- that's been going on all season.
I know I write it every week and the offense has many flaws this season, but the largest one in the passing game isn't Freddie Kitchens playcalling as questionable as it can be.
It's Baker Mayfield either not hitting his receivers at all or at a minimum making them leap, reach or look behind them for the football.
7) I've been critical of Mike Tomlin, but full credit for their win this time.
Tomlin had his team ready to play, didn't give Duck Hodges too much on his plate and at halftime, drew on the chalkboard just what the Steelers needed to do to stop the Browns.
You can be a detractor, but fans change the facts- observers do not.
8) The Browns are just befuddling on offense.
The Browns averaged just under four and a half yards a carry on the ground, yet in a game that was close throughout, Cleveland threw eight more passes than they attempted rushing plays.
The Browns play best when Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt set up the pass, yet far too often the gameplan relies on Baker Mayfield.
9) The Browns suspended starting safety Damarious Randall for the game for undisclosed reasons and it showed on the field.
Pittsburgh began to throw downfield and attack the Browns corners where the missing Randall would
have been able to help in coverage.
Instead of Randall, the Browns were playing rookie Sheldrick Redwine and when you are playing rookies, their experience is gained at a price.
10) I did like the call with roughly five minutes left and down seven points, Austin Seibert lined up for a 55-yard field goal try, but instead dropped a pooch punt at the one-yard line.
The Browns couldn't stop the Steelers from advancing the ball for a few first downs, but an excellent play by Seibert.
11) I mentioned the safeties, but Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams had issues at the corners.
Williams would leave with a shoulder injury but wasn't tackling well before the injury and Ward was having problems covering James Washington, who finished with 111 yards and a touchdown against Ward.
12) Baker Mayfield's interception to end the game to former Brown Joe Haden wasn't bad enough as Jarvis Landry, the intended receiver on the pass, participated in a very heated argument with quarterback coach Ryan Lindley that saw the two have to be separated.
These things happen on sidelines, but they can also be seen as a sign of a lost coaching staff and a team out of control.
13) Wrapping up, this season is gone.
The Browns will need to win three of four to claim improvement (8-8 from 7-8-1) and need to sweep all four to finish with a winning record at 9-7.
I'm not sure those are important milestones, although you would rather win than lose, of course, I still think Freddie Kitchens needs to go.
Not now, nothing changes this season and a replacement isn't going to save this season.
I know the Browns track record with coaches under the Haslam's is bad and their hook would be questioned with justification for being quick with chimes of "Here we go again", but this time I think almost all would understand.
Freddie Kitchens has the most talented team (for all its flaws) that the Browns have had since their return and he has created a dysfunctional team filled with ridiculous behavior.
Dunzo.
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