First Call: Browns badly banged up in loss; ex-Steeler a hero for Jaguars; Le’Veon Bell scores; Pitt favored to beat Clemson
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The Steelers’ next opponent after a bye is the Cleveland Browns. Yet, it’s the Browns who need a bye more than just about any team in the league.
In Monday’s “First Call,” we get a lengthy medical report from Cleveland. A former Steeler plays the role of hero in London. Le’Veon Bell finally finds the end zone in Baltimore. And Pitt has high expectations going into its game against Clemson Saturday.
Banged up Browns
Not only did the Browns get smoked by Arizona 37-14 Sunday afternoon, they were beaten up physically as well.
Baker Mayfield’s left arm was in a sling during his postgame interviews. The quarterback aggravated his left shoulder injury.
Baker’s left arm in a sling pic.twitter.com/e1nBtQLrvc
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 17, 2021
Mayfield hurt the arm when he used it to plant while going to the ground following a strip by J.J. Watt. It’s the same shoulder that Mayfield dislocated during a Week 2 win over the Houston Texans. The Browns QB had been wearing a shoulder harness for stability, but it didn’t hold up on that play.
Mayfield came back into the game after a visit to the blue medical tent. But backup Case Keenum finished the contest.
After the game, Mayfield said the injury “feels like (expletive deleted).” Yet he “absolutely” expects to play on Thursday night when the Browns host the Denver Broncos. The Browns don’t have a bye until Week 13.
The Steelers’ bye is this upcoming week. Then they visit Cleveland on Oct. 31.
Mayfield finished the game 19 of 28 for 234 yards for a passer rating of 102.4. He had two touchdowns and an interception to go along with five sacks.
Cleveland started the game without leading rusher Nick Chubb, receiver Jarvis Landry and both starting offensive tackles (Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills). Then running back Kareem Hunt left the sideline on a cart with what was being called a calf injury, and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah hurt an ankle.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski says Mayfield, Hunt and Owusu-Koramoah are all slated to have MRIs.
Jolly good boot, chap
Former Steelers kicker Matthew Wright came up clutch for the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday in London.
Twice.
He nailed a 54-yard field goal with 3:44 left to tie their game against the Miami Dolphins at 20-20.
Ladies and gentlemen, Matthew Wright.#MIAvsJAX | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/u3vK6x08FF
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 17, 2021
Then Wright booted another with one second left to win it 23-20.
Matthew Wright wins it for Jacksonville ????
The Jags’ 20-game losing streak is finally over
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/4z6e67pbPQ— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 17, 2021
That ended a 20-game losing streak for the Jags.
In 2020, Wright made all four field goals and all seven extra points he tried for the Steelers. Wright made three field goals Sunday for Jacksonville. He had missed his only field goal attempt of the season entering Sunday.
The Bell rings
Another former Steeler, Le’Veon Bell, got his first touchdown of the year for the Baltimore Ravens.
RING THE BELL ????@LeVeonBell TD!
Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/1XMkftGJTy— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 17, 2021
That was part of Baltimore’s surprisingly easy 34-6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens lead the AFC North with a 5-1 record.
Bell ended up with 18 yards on eight carries.
So much for that
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi played the lack of respect card last week after his Panthers (5-1) failed to crack the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Well so much for that motivational ploy this week as Clemson (4-2) comes to Heinz Field.
Not only have the Panthers made the rankings at No. 23 in the country after beating Virginia Tech, but the Tigers are the ones on the outside looking in. The defending ACC champions are tops among “others receiving votes” with 64.
A lot of the fancy stat projections are bullish on Narduzzi’s team as well.
ESPN’s FPI currently ranks Pitt SEVENTH nationally. It projects the Panthers with 10.4 wins, gives them a 17.4% chance to win out, an 88% chance to win the Coastal, 57.5% to win the ACC & 15% chance to make the playoff. Gives Pitt a 63.1% chance to beat Clemson this week.
— ????????️♈️???? (@ADavidHaleJoint) October 17, 2021
Even the gambling public is jumping on Pittsburgh. Pitt opened up as a 3.5-point favorite according to SI Sportsbook and Fanduel. According to Sports Illustrated, the Tigers are 0-6 against the spread. They were double-digit favorites in all four of their ACC games, and it’s the first time the Tigers haven’t been favored against an ACC opponent since Sept. 20, 2014.
That’s when they traveled to Florida State as a 9.5-point underdog and lost by six in overtime.