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Steelers - Browns Recap: The Good, the Bad & much of the Same
Yinzer Crazy • October 19, 2020
Case Keenum is in at quarterback.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 18, 2020
The story-line leading into yesterday’s game was compelling.
The Browns entered the contest having won four games in a row - creating the feel of a big early season matchup between AFC North foes with a combined 8-1 record.
Although the script was movie like - it left you with the same feeling you’d have after seeing yet another National Treasure movie with Nicolas Cage.
The journey and the ending are predictable, but for some reason you still are going to consume it from start to finish thinking something may have changed.
The outcome of Sunday’s game, a 38 to 7 Steelers triumph - was not much different than what we’re used to seeing when the Pittsburgh Steelers face off against the Cleveland Browns.
I’ll minimize the Browns four game win streak after that drubbing at the hands of the Black and Gold.
They beat the Washington Football team and Cincinnati Bengals - two teams that have a combined two wins.
I know that isn’t their fault, but we quickly learned they aren’t on the same level as these Steelers.
I think the real Cleveland Browns are somewhere in between.
The 2020 version of the Pittsburgh Steelers so far are a national treasure.
Most pundits thought this game would be close given the Steelers shaky performances against the Eagles, Texans and Broncos at Heinz Field.
They shut-down that talk quickly in their first game of the 2020 season where all phases came together.
Let’s get into that and more in our Steelers - Browns Recap.
The Good
The Steelers Defense returned to their 2019 form
Myself and others have been wondering where the top unit from last season has been hiding.
They were coming off of a game where they were absolutely bludgeoned by a guy named Travis Fulgham, a rookie fifth round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles.
I had suggested they didn’t seem to get up for that type of opponent - or maybe just simply didn’t have the tape on a player like that.
He was the type of player who was sending in his own demo-reel to prospective NFL teams.
But the secondary hadn’t shown up so far - which had me a bit concerned leading into this tilt.
The Browns in their four wins prior to this Sunday had averaged almost 38 points per game.
The Steelers held them to 7.
In those four wins Cleveland averaged 188 yards per game on the ground.
Starting RB Kareem Hunt had 13 carries for 40 yards - good for an average of 3.1 yards.
The much maligned Steelers secondary went up against the vaunted Browns weapons - Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry - two multi-year NFL Pro-Bowl studs.
Combined, the pair had five catches for 65 yards.
Baker Mayfield came into the game with a rib injury but still had the offense clicking on all cylinders.
He finished with a line of 10/18 for 119 yards, 1 TD and 2 picks.
That’s good for a quarterback rating of 54.9.
If that was a Rotten Tomatoes score it would have come in slightly higher than the new Adam Sandler Netflix Movie “Hubie Halloween”, which came in at 48%.
I personally loved it.
Shoutout the Sand-Man.
This wasn’t a case of bad Browns offense - like we’ve seen in so many Steelers-Browns contests in the past.
This was the Steelers playing excellent defense and putting their best product on display.
Sort of like Sandler did early in his career with hits such as Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore.
Timeless.
Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler did an excellent job mixing up the looks he gave Mayfield.
The pass-rush did an even better job getting to Mayfield, creating havoc like Billy Madison in a game of dodgeball against the rest of his classroom.
The Steelers recorded four sacks.
They are now leading the league with 20 total team sacks.
That’s Sack-tastic.
This 2020 team joined the 1985 New York Giants as the only teams in NFL history with 3+ sacks and an interception in each of their teams first five games of the season.
Roughly six minutes into the game Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was gifted a 33 yard INT return for a touchdown on a poor read by Baker.
It gave the Steelers an early 10-0 lead and completely set the tone for the rest of the game.
In the fourth quarter Mayfield was replaced by backup quarterback Case Keenum.
I think it was less likely injury related and more to just save their quarterback a bit of face and from continuing to get an ass-whipping similar to the one Bob Barker gave Happy Gilmore on the putting greens.
It was almost the perfect game for the Steelers defensive unit.
Except for one thing that wasn’t.
The Bad
The Injury to Devin Bush
Starting inside linebacker and budding star Devin Bush tore his ACL, and unfortnately we probably won’t see him again this season.
The 22 year old second year starter out of Michigan tore it on a non-contact play in the 2nd quarter while attempting to push Kareem Hunt out of bounds on a short reception.
First and foremost, it’s awful for Bush - who is an ascending star in this league.
He had already provided much needed stability to a position that hasn’t had any since Ryan Shazier’s career-ending injury.
It’s critical to also mention that the Steelers don’t have much depth at all at the position behind Bush.
Robert Spillane filled in admirably on Sunday in his absence.
He is in his third year in the NFL and second with the Steelers.
He’s primarily been a special teams player throughout his career.
That is what suits him best.
Nothing against Spillane but this isn’t a guy oozing with talent who is going to burst onto the scene.
He’s got a low ceiling and a high floor as a reliable NFL backup inside linebacker.
But that’s the extent of it.
Behind Spillane is Ulysses Gilbert III, a sixth round pick in 2019 who will be elevated and see a much larger snap count than the Steelers had planned.
If I were General Manager Kevin Colbert I’d look into possibly making a deal to bring him some help.
It’s not an easy thing to do, especially in week six with so many teams still in the playoff-hunt due to the expanded seven-team field.
But as we saw last year Colbert shouldn’t be shy trading draft picks to shore up spots on his defense that are considered holes.
That can’t change this season - especially considering that he and the rest of the world should know by now that this is a Super Bowl caliber team.
There are teams that he should be on the phone with ASAP.
I’d likely call the Lions about linebacker Jarrad Davis and offer a third round selection in 2021.
The fourth year linebacker and former first round pick out of Florida has fallen out of favor in Detroit, playing less than 60% of the snaps in multiple games already in 2020.
The Lions also elected to decline his fifth year option prior to the season, meaning this is likely his last go around in the Blue and Silver.
He is someone I know that the Steelers were interested in leading into the 2017 NFL Draft.
In 2018, he was one of just two players in the entire league to produce 100 plus tackles and at least six sacks.
He’s a classic change of scenery type player. And the Steelers should attempt to change that scenery now.
This is an argument that I’m sure will get some heat.
But it’s worth the draft equity for me to win now - as long as you have number 7 under center.
The Steelers defense came together when they drafted Devin Bush and traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
I’m challenging Kevin Colbert to make another deal.
It doesn’t have to be a splash deal - and it doesnt need to cost you a first round pick.
But they need to allow Spillane to move back to his natural position of backup ILB and elevate someone to play alongside Vince Williams.
It’s critical if this team wants to be right there at the end in a loaded AFC with the Chiefs, Ravens and Titans.
The Same
Usually this section is called “The Ugly”.
But once again there is no ugly for the Steelers.
There’s plenty for the Browns.
When it all came down to it, much like we said in our game preview - the Browns were the Browns and the Steelers were the Steelers.
Ben Roethlisberger’s career record against the team dahn the turnpike is now 24-2-1.
He’s still perfect against them at Heinz Field.
Mike Tomlin is 22-4-1 all-time against Cleveland.
The Browns haven’t defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh since Baker Mayfield was eight years old.
This isn’t a rivalry - and won’t be until the Browns can consistently challenge the Steelers.
If the Steelers are Adam Sandler the Browns are Nicolas Cage.
One will stand the test of time.
And at least one player from yesterday's contest will stand the test of time.
The Quarterback in Black and Gold.
We’ll have more on that later in the week.
Next Sunday the 5-0 Steelers will play the 5-0 Titans.
Following that contest there will be just one unbeaten team left in the AFC.
We will have a full game-story and preview later in the week.
Also much more exciting things to announce including a Penguins Special Podcast that will be dropping soon featuring Defenseman Brian Domoulin, and more surprise guests.
Yinz Stay Crazy!
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Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Harv Aronson. Contact Harv @ Totalsportsrecall@gmail.com
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Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Harv Aronson. Contact Harv @ Totalsportsrecall@gmail.com
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