Tim Benz: Airing of grievances from Steelers’ loss to Browns … before the brawl
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A lot of preconceived notions Pittsburghers had about the Cleveland Browns were confirmed Thursday night during their 21-7 win over the Steelers.
Like for instance, Myles Garrett is a hot-headed jerk.
Myles Garrett doing the unthinkable and unimaginable. pic.twitter.com/Y0UXzrCskn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019
The prosecution rests.
As a result of that play, the notion that the Browns can’t handle success, bring negative attention to themselves and can’t get out of their own way even when things are good, well, were all confirmed.
Here are some other preconceived notions Pittsburgh had about the Browns, as we dive into our weekly “Airing of Grievances” after the Steelers’ defeat.
I think these other ideas may have changed a bit.
Cleveland’s coach is a big, dumb hillbilly.
The quarterback is an overrated loudmouth. So are the wide receivers. The offensive line is Swiss cheese. And the secondary is so bad it employs Morgan Burnett.
Uh oh.
The flea flicker pass is deflected by @DenzelWard and PICKED!
Morgan Burnett returns the INT 42 yards! @MoBetta_42 #Browns
: #PITvsCLE on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/3oHKppbnQf— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2019
Yeah. How did all those other theories play out Thursday?
Every negative thing Steelers fans said about the Browns this year was truer about their own team than it was about their rivals from Ohio on Thursday night in that defeat.
Well, except for the loudmouth part. Mason Rudolph and his wide receivers aren’t talkers. They just stunk Thursday.
The passing game was an ugly 23 of 44 for 221 yards and four interceptions. The offensive line allowed Rudolph to be sacked four times. Before he got ejected, Garrett wrecked the game in a way I thought Aaron Donald might last week.
Meanwhile, the running game netted only 58 yards on 16 carries. That was in part because James Conner came back from his shoulder injury too quickly and left after only 10 yards on five carries.
Beyond his output, there were few holes and even fewer good runs by the running backs.
On defense, we saw a return of what we have seen in previous seasons from Keith Butler’s unit.
Communication issues returned. Busted coverages were back. Only one sack. No turnovers. Lack of depth at outside linebacker was exposed. Numerous penalties. Guys coming on the field late.
Remember when Mike Tomlin yawned when asked about Odell Beckham Jr. being acquired by the Browns?
Lost tape from our Tomlin interview in Va. in July: Tomlin gives the yawn hand sign when I ask him about facing Odell Beckham twice a year. The message? We face great players often. pic.twitter.com/Wb3jVaJTsZ
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 2, 2019
O.B.J. sure did.
YAWN @obj LOL. Let him know bro! ?? pic.twitter.com/e2leKcDTU4
— FIN71IT (@FIN71IT) November 15, 2019
The Steelers went from four weeks of heroism back to getting punked again.
It was quite the reality check for a group that has become reliant on forcing turnovers and facing quarterbacks that weren’t capable of eluding their fearsome pass rush.
Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield eluded numerous collapsed pockets that resulted in sacks against the likes of Jared Goff, Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer and Philip Rivers.
Not him.
That game was the embodiment of the nightmare I thought the last month was going to be. It just coalesced five weeks later over the course of 60 minutes.
Take all that in. Then get to the ghastly third-and-short and fourth-and-short situations on offense. They blew seven such snaps Thursday. I’m not sure what was worse. The plays that were called or the execution of them.
Both were dreadful.
Over the next few days, there will be much gnashing of teeth and hand wringing over the horrible display from the Browns during the last minute of the game.
I’ll be part of that.
But soon, in Pittsburgh, we should all be more worried about the horrible display by the Steelers in the previous 59 minutes.