The Pittsburgh Steelers were favored by almost everyone that didn't have a sentimental interest ( I know of one person only that fits into that position) in their playoff game against the Cleveland Browns.
After all, the Steelers had sat quarterback Ben Rothlisberger, the possible defensive player of the year in T.J. Watt, and several other starters in their season finale against the Browns on the bench. The game was in Cleveland, the Browns had lost head coach Kevin Stefanski and Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio for the playoff game and Pittsburgh had still lost by only two points!
Any thinking person would have picked Pittsburgh and all of that vanished on the first snap of the game as Pittsburgh center Markice Pouncey sent the football flying over Ben Rothlisberger's head like the pterodactyl in the Flintstones delivering an "Air Mail" with Karl Joseph falling on the ball for a stunning touchdown.
As I sat in my quarantine bunker watching this, I saw Ben Rothlisberger's body language and had a V-8 moment- Pittsburgh's not ready to play.
No matter the reason- overconfidence, Pittsburgh's dominance for almost all the last fifty years dating back to the Nixon administration, Covid, Mike Tomlin's sudden understanding of his coaching being mediocre, JuJu Smith-Schuster's dance steps- Whatever. Pittsburgh didn't seem ready to play.
A short punt and two Ben Rothlisberger interceptions set up three more Cleveland touchdowns later, the first quarter ended with a 28-0 Cleveland lead with the game essentially over.
Pittsburgh didn't give up and made a gallant run, but even for Browns fans and all the well-earned angst from past Steeler encounters, you never felt like Pittsburgh was close enough to make the Browns feel the concern and get tight enough to blow this game.
The Cleveland 48-37 victory may not have eliminated every piece of baggage that the team has carried, but it took a step forward in exorcising a few demons in one swing of the blade.
Baker Mayfield threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, Kareem Hunt ran for two touchdowns, and Jarvis Landry caught seven passes for ninety yards and a touchdown.
The Browns will face an even tougher test next Sunday in Kansas City against the defending Super Bowl Champions and Patrick Mahomes, but at this stage, the Browns are playing with house money.
Brownie Bits
1) Not only were Baker Mayfield's statistics solid, but what I liked was that every time in the second half that Pittsburgh appeared to be on the verge of closing the gap and making the game really interesting, Mayfield kept a level head, didn't get too emotional, and then led the Browns to an answering score.
2) Should you still think there is a question about the Browns picking up Baker Mayfield's fifth year, they moved out the door after this performance. I didn't think there was a question anyway, but any small questions should be answered.
3) Give a patchwork offensive line full credit- with Joel Bitonio out and Jack Conklin injured in the first half, the Browns were playing names such as Kendall Lamm, Michael Dunn, and Blake Lance, who was literally introduced to Baker Mayfield in the locker room!
Yet, the Browns still managed to rush for 127 yards and didn't allow a sack to the Steelers normally stern pass rush.
I'm not sure they can do this again, especially without Bitonio and Conklin (no word on either player's status for Kansas City), but they kept it together for one game.
4) Nick Chubb is the Browns back that is known as the power runner, but Kareem Hunt is more than capable of putting his shoulder down as well.
On Hunt's first touchdown run, Pittsburgh linebacker Robert Spillane moved up to hit Hunt around the three to four-yard line.
Hunt drove Spillane well inside the end zone and had Spillane's head looking at the sky.
5) Jarvis Landry seemed to be the Browns answer every time a key play was needed and Baker Mayfield put the ball on the money as well.
Landry is the Browns most dependable pass catcher, but the Steelers seemed to be a step behind Landry all evening.
Of course that can happen when you commit to covering Landry most of the evening with linebackers...
6) Mike Tomlin has been a coach that I've always thought was overrated and if Pittsburgh had one chance to get back into this game, Tomlin threw that chance away.
In the third quarter, the Steelers had scored 16 points in a row, and on the final play of the third quarter, the Steelers had a fourth and one around midfield.
The Browns defense looked like the dam may be about to burst with the fourth quarter ready to begin.
Tomlin decided not to go for it, tried to pull the Browns offsides, took a five-yard penalty, and punted.
The Browns would take the punt and six plays later, Nick Chubb scored and Pittsburgh didn't seem to get close enough to sweat again.
7) Is Ben Rothlisberger finished? Well, he did finish with over 500 yards passing, but the Browns were playing very soft, giving the Steelers almost everything underneath, and under those conditions, passing yards can be rolled up when you have to throw every play.
I'd wonder about picking up a forty million (yes FORTY) option for a guy that's 39 next year and doesn't do either of the two elite skills that he once had (the medium to deep pass and avoiding pass rushers) nearly as well anymore.
BUT- could it be worse than starting Mason Rudolph or signing Cam Newton as a stopgap?
8) M.J. Stewart was beaten in this game. but Stewart also made a huge play with his first-quarter interception and he finished with ten tackles.
I thought Stewart might be best suited after the Browns claimed him from Tampa Bay as a safety/slot corner, but the Browns also used him in this game as a hybrid safety/slot corner and at times had him roaming the middle of the field in a freelance position.
It'll be interesting to see in the 2021 camp if Stewart is given more opportunities in that type of position.
9) The Browns didn't sack Ben Rothlisberger, but they did their share of harassing him.
Rothlisberger cannot make plays with his feet as he once did, so he counters with a quicker delivery of the football.
While this does avoid sacks, it stops the downfield passing games and that's just the ticket for the Browns with a battered secondary.
10) Can the Browns do it again in Kansas City?
I doubt it, but offensively they seem to fit what you need to do against the Chiefs- run the ball, use the clock, and try to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field.
But I fear Mahomes will pick the Browns defensive backs apart and this one could get ugly.
The Browns will score their share, but they are going to need help from the Chiefs to score another upset.
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