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On location in Cleveland: Browns 31, Steelers 10 218
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS CLEVELAND — Getting ready for kickoff … Game: Steelers (3-2) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-2), 1:02 p.m., FirstEnergy Stadium TV, radio: CBS (national), 102.5 WDVE Online: Game Center / Multimedia / Official game notes UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: The Steelers’ inactives are QB Landry Jones, WR Martavis Bryant, CB Ike Taylor, SS Shamarko Thomas, LB Ryan Shazier, NT Daniel McCullers, G Chris Hubbard. And the bigger news comes on the Browns’ front, where CB Joe Haden and OLB Paul Kruger are active. Both missed practice time during the week to nagging injuries.
Let’s hope they forgot to pack those vertical passes on this trip.
Sure hope I DON’T hear from any of my Cleveland pals later today.
They need to come out full throttle and not let up or Cleveland will beat us. Move down the field and get some turnovers
That towel is so mean.
He looked so proud, too, when I pointed the camera. Had no idea how badly I’d been stung.
Seeing a lot of Browns fans @ the airport today. They are getting brazen in this young season. Time to put them back into hibernation…
Who’s up for three keys to Steelers victory today?
I’ll be in the air for most of this one. Hope to land to happy news:
1) run the Doobie Brothers most of the time
2) be aggressive on D (jump those routes!) and hope 92 has his ‘crush the Browns’ legs now
3) spread the ball in the pass game (but get 84 his 5 and 50)
1) NO “Sideways”
2) Pressure Hoyer…all day long
3) Pedal to the metal…4 quarters/60 minutes
1) Run the football
2) Stop the Browns running game, which has been surprisingly good this year
3) Keep the WR screens under 3. THROW DOWNFIELD!!!
I am trying to be positive about this game, but geez when was the last time we were underdogs to the Clowns??
Great start D!!!!
Seems like the Steelers have the ball first almost every week. Not sure if that’s been the case, but it seems so to me.
1. Keep Ben upright!
2. Consistent D!
3. No stupid penalties!
Run that ball!!
.
RUN IT!! RUN IT!! RUN IT!!
.
No more of that pitch out stuff.
Groat Meal!
Way to simplify!
Gotta love when the ref facing the play the entire way doesn’t call interference but guy 30 yards away does.
Oh dear don’t get me started. I may need to begin drinking…..
Yet…so much better than the replacement refs of o few seasons back.
Interference! Was it catchable??
This Red Zone offense isn’t cutting it.
Red zone fizzle….passed last week, run this week….still nada….
Check out Lawrence “Timber” Timmons!
Suisam’s field goal just put him into 4th place all time for Steeler place-kickers, ahead of Norm Johnson.
.
Who is ahead of him? Matt Bahr?? Gary Anderson, sure. Skippy Reed??
Gary for sure. Nice for Sushi!!
Has to be reed. Or brown. Guerella?
Eleven of Steelers’ first 12 plays have been runs. Only pass covered 6 yards. Overreact to criticism much?
Or could they be attacking a perceived weakness with 2 starting D linemen out?
C’mon, DogK, we know they read the papers and do what the sports guys say.
Hey DK, do you think they really do absorb this stuff in papers, media? Seriously wondering, cos I was thinking Overreact too….
??
This seems to have Mike Tomlin’s finger prints all over it.
.
He did not seem too happy that 7 of 10 plays last week inside 10 were passes.
I’ve been to 3 Steelers games in Cleveland in my life (2 at old stadium; 1 at the new one) and I never felt hate & anger as strongly as in Cleveland. I generally like that city, but not when we play them. The crude signs & T shirts are everywhere.
As someone who has 2 daughters and several other family members who have gone to school there, seems to be an Ohio thing.
Is anyone else tired of Bell’s stupid “first down” signal? I hate it in general but it annoys me even more when he does it.
I’m at the point where if they did the Franco Harris give the ball to the ref and trot back to the huddle thing, I’d think that was radically cool.
A timeout coming out of quarter break? Cmon.
Wha????
What…was…that? This team is like a grease fire at times.
And Walden fails to get the hold down for Gerela. Snap by Webster was fine, but something went amiss on the hold. Still 3-0 for Noll’s boys.
Lol!!!!
Risking redundancy, this Red Zone offense isn’t cutting it.
OMG
When you rely on really long drives & running the ball almost every down, the chances increase of making the one mistake or two that kills your drive.
Really concerned now. Clevelands mo has been to play like manure for a half and then mount a big come back. Did last week as well as against pittsburgh. Not capitalizing on these chances is really going to hurt.
And our MO has been to play like manure for pretty much the entire game.
Nice catch by Brown.
This is getting hard to watch.
Why is this team not able to play a whole game of football?
Too many reasons….sigh.
Pretty much a grease fire in the R ed Zone, and the D just gets gashed regularly. Troy was on the wrong planet on that long pass. Keisel had to run him down for heavens sake…..
Meanwhile the Ravens are up 35-0 on the team we lost to. Evidence mounting that the Steelers are a terrible football team.
Baltimore is showing how bad loss to bucs was
Cortez Alen back to what we thought he was…
Good God
Really getting bruised by all your f the sucking going on here.
Good gravy! Meant getting bruised by all of the sucking going on here!
At least you gave me something to laugh about in this miserable excuse of a game!!
BRANDIEEEEEEE! Lots of bruising going on out on that field. Black, gold and blue unfortunately. .
I aim to please Genezer!
Hey LAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDD NIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNEEEEEEE!!!!
Imagine if the clowns stop playing down to their competition.
Not that anyone cares, but the Ravens are up on TB 34-0 in the second quarter, 28 of it in the first quarter.. And all we could muster was 24 points the entire game against their vaunted defense.
Fire Todd Haley
Just destroying them, Lucky.
Fire the whole coaching staff…bring in Mike Johnston!
I’ll drink to THAT! I think I’ll have to inebriate myself to even stomach watching the 2nd half. This is well beyond embarrassing.
Wait til a real QB gets a shot at this defense. Of course, maybe Hoyer is a real QB. Fortunately, we have Landry Jones still or I’d be upset that we let Hoyer get away.
Three keys-
New coaching staff
New GM
Many new players
Other than that looking good today.
What a mess.
Man is this hard to watch
You pickup Blount for short yardage then refuse to use him on 3rd and 1 – twice. Wheaton has demonstrated he’s a practice field player too often. Haley has got to go
And they gain a yard on a fumbled snap…
Game is over. Steelers have no energy. Browns are flying around. Steelers lifeless.
Cortez Allen must be exhausted as le lags two yards behind just about every receiver on the Browns roster.
Tomlin said they were not ready for the hurry up first time around. Does he think they are now?
So, if the 2nd half vs Cleveland at Heinz Field + the 1st half of this game were one actual game ….
X the amount of time we waste watching mediocrity, then what time will train X arrive in Wichita if train Y is going to Topeka?
What was the original final train of thought? Oh yeah…the Steelers suck!
For the Tomlin apologists–this is his team, his draft choices, his free agency signings and they, flat out, stink.
Yep. He needs to go.
Are there any Tomlin apologists?
Ron Cook comes to mind…
I can’t help but think that Dick LeBeau will be unfairly targeted as a scapegoat on this game if Steelers lose and season if it gets worse. As DK mentioned in a piece a few weeks back, the problems are much higher up.
Ps. This is the greastest sports site
Hey…at least the penguins are good!
Defense clearly is struggling, but it’s not like the offense is keeping them in it.
This week is starting to look like the smoke is lifting on the AFC Central and the results aren’t pretty. Ravens up 38-0 over the powerhouse Bucs.
Unbelievable how lifeless this team can be…no energy, no identity on offense…you really have to wonder if this continues the rest of the season just how patient the Rooney’s can possibly be….
Lets wait until the playoffs with those guys.
This team has become a dumpster fire…
At what point is ownership responsible for not making the necessary changes?
Therrien should give this halftime speech.
Silver lining. Good chance Brown keeps his reception “record” intact.
D must pitch shut in 2nd half. Can they?
And can offense then put up points in red zone?
Questions to ponder!!
No and no….
Ha…my thoughts also
I’d fire the entire coaching staff before 2nd half kickoff.
I thought the reason for bringing in Haley was because ownership wanted to run the ball better? Not so much….
No. It was to protect ben better. Haley decided the best way to do that was quick reads and bubble screens. You know. The stuff ben stinks at.
Can’t believe Tomlin’s half time comments…..it was more than “two plays.”
“Obviously”.
Cortez Allen is in shock. So am I watching him
Why should any player on this team be in shock of how they are playing today??
Y’know after a few years watching the Pens, this notion of a team with talent so seriously underperforming….I’m directly associating Haley with Bylsma at this point.
Of course that does not address the D which is seriously short on ability….
I was just wondering if steelers are aware that they’re not eligible for mcdavid/eichel sweepstakes. But Colbert is a hockey fan so you never know…
McDavid….oh wait, wrong thread.
Maybe the Steelers should let Shero draft their defense. Couldn’t do worse.
But this O should be putting up 30+ a game and taking pressure off the D, and it isn’t. And that’s on Bylsma, ER Haley.
I still dont buy that. Putting up that many points requires more than 1 viable receiver and a methodical surgical offense. This team is built for the “splash” play which can never happen enough times in 1 game to score 35.
The biggest problem is that the cooridanator hasnt realized his personnel doeant fit his scheme. Only way to rectify that is to change the scheme or wait 5 years to get the appropriate personel.
Hmm, don’t get what you said last two posts.
I agree with last post: if the OC (and maybe HC) schemed to their talented personnel, they WOULD put up 30+.
This is what I read too. The warts on defense would be covered over by an offense that puts up 30+.
Unfortunately the OC schemes for a very mediocre talented offense, not an offense w a HOF QB! splash WR and star RB.
Please stop the ‘HOF QB’ crap. Ben has as much chance to make the HOF as Bubby Brister.
I’ll bet Ben knows that the water around Heinz field isn’t a lake.
Couldn’t agree more.
Definitely get the sense that the inmates are running the asylum. See pittaburgh penguins circa 2013.
This was supposed to respond to steellags below.
Offense is terrific between the 20’s. Approaching 250 yds of offense. Unfortunately, there aren’t many points between the 20’s.
When a team is more concerned about individual records than closing out a game…well…
At least we’ll get an early draft pick.
Early draft picks don’t seem to help
The sad reality is that this team will not improve this season and the Rooney’s will keep things status quo afterwards…
Our CBs are horrendous. We really need to dedicate two early draft picks on this.
Yep.
No answer for the pitch and cut back.
TD for the Browns.
Unleash hell, Tomlin! Come on, you know you want to say it.
This is like a slow drip…this team continues to die a slow death…makes you wonder just how bad Carolina is….
Carolina is beating the Bengals.
Bengal are about to win, Dom.
Nope. Tie game. Going to OT.
Yea, I spoke to soon. Now the Bengals are about to win. Great game, though.
He missed it! What a game!
Cortez has had a really bad day. With the exception of last week he has really struggled. We should release as many men are needed to obtain one decent corner.
What can’t be forgotten is that this offensive juggernaut has put up a FG against a suspect defense.
Since second half of the first meeting: Browns 55, The Fighting Tomlin’s 6…
Fumble! This game isn’t over yet.
Now it is…
Rather embarrassing…how much more of this “team” does the Rooneys need to see??? Or don’t see I guess? Serious changes are required.
With tough games coming up against the Colts and Texans…looking like 3-5 coming up…
Before the offense was moving the ball between the 20’s. Now it’s three and out.
His sign was correct and we are the fools; heads should roll btu they wont’ because “that’s not the Steelers’ way.
Rooney should be pissed because his team embarrassed him so badly in front of his former business partner Haslam.
I have been reading the thread and switched over to the RZ ch @ half time. Awful team-pathetic performance-when will someone be held accountable. I can’t wait for Tomlin’s post game-it should be a laugh riot.
Will be moving to Florida the end of the mo FT can root of the Fins
Thanks for the down votes
Will be nice to keep track of what is going on with Pittsburgh sports via this site once we are moved. Got to see a good bit of well coached Dolphin team compete hard & give the Pack all they could handle. Happy for MW.
So Brice McCain makes an aggressive defensive play that resulted in a pick 6 last week. This week, I’ve been looking and haven’t seen him on the field. Meanwhile Cortez Allen might as well be sitting down for all his effectiveness. I just don’t get it.
Not implying McCain is great based on one big play, but can he be worse than Allen at this point? At least sitting Allen for the rest of the game would send that “accountability” message that Tomlin keeps spewing.
I should add …no talent and no HC. I wonder how long the Rooneys will take to figure that out and then can the two guys most responsible for those facts??.
They won’t…it’s not the “Steeler Way”…
Agreed. The only thing that will cause the Rooneys to make a change is if this begins to hurt them in the wallet – i.e. attendance down, merchandise sales down. unfortunately, it’ll never get to that point.
What’s truly sad is this wasn’t surprising. This team is am embarrassment and stinks from the front office down to the last water boy.
More so on the water boy than the front office.
Cortez Allen recovers a fumble!
Well…at least AB’s streak continues…
Today’s game or my chemotherapy? Chemo, please.
In field goal range. There is no stopping this offense.
The Mike Tomlin era must end now.
How does Lance Moore play before Moye?
Wow…too bad this team can’t show that kind of fire when it matters instead of a stupid after play penalty….
I’ll get back to you re: the James Franklin era.
Geez, how do you overthrow that!
Wheaton ran the wrong route…
We will disagree on that one. I was Wheaton well behind the defensive back when the ball was thrown. But it’s a moot point anyway. The offense stunk the place out, even after the Browns lost half their defense to injury.
No focus…
This one feels every bit as bad as 51-0 did back in the day.
Oh but at least we have a “franchise” QB.
Kind of hard to believe they didn’t score there. Then again, I guess not.
BR was best under Whiz as game mgr qb, then Cowher quit, BR signed big ct ext and Tomlin, hired after that had little choice but to cater to him by keeping BA. The offense hasn’t been real good since. Yr 1 Haley (no audibles), BR was good until he got hurt.
con’t. BR let it be known he wasn’t happy, so adjustments were made, but the offense really isn’t any better. BR’s forte is sandlot football and he’s unlikely to change so all should probably accept a hit/miss offense as long as BR is the Steelers qb.
Exactly. He isn’t exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to calling plays.
So the awful play calling – the terrible game plan. The porous defense. The stupid penalties. Those are all on Ben?
Bad contracts – like two this off season – those are on him too?
And do you have any idea how BA is doing as a head coach?
A team is a reflection of it’s coach. This coach is all talk, no substance. Time to look the camera in the eye, Mike, and just say “We suck.” Period. There’s no accountability. This Steelers team is an embarrassment to this city.
Amen… Tomlin doesn’t walk the talk… #Obviously…
Correction: Time to look the camera in the eye, Mike, and just say “I suck. I was an affirmative action quota hire who has the nerve to call those who question me racist”
LET’S GO PENS!
This feels worse than the 0-4 start last season. Maybe tomlin should’ve got on moore’s train instead.
Thank you.
It’s absolutely worse than last year.
Almost in field goal range.
Why would you have Bell in the game, with 4 minutes left, running the ball down by 28?
TD Lance Moore. Here comes the comeback!
This is about as ugly as it can get for the Steelers. Tomlin has his work cut out for him. One thing he’s proving is that he is no head coach. Haley is a complete joke as OC. Lebeau is old, tired and done as DC.
If all you say is true then it isn’t Tomlin that has the work to do. If you are right it’s much bigger than Tomlin.
But the really important takeaway from this game is that Antonio Brown’s record is intact.
Agree – this most prestigious record intact. Plenty to celebrate after this game.
Hopefully, at the end of the yr they’ll realize it’s not brilliant to just keep coaches forever. It’s brilliant to keep the RIGHT coach forever. Tomlin was great w a talented, vet team. He doesn’t appear equipped to deal w rebuilding.
We stink!
I see one win at most in the four games before our bye week.
Last year’s 8-8 record may look good soon. I’m now glad I have plans for the next couple of Sunday afternoons. This once proud organization is now in complete disarray, what a shame.
I’m thinking 7 wins. Maybe 6.
6 may be a stretch.
And it won’t matter because they’ll butcher the decent draft pick … again.
You are an optimist. I’ll go four.
The most interesting aspect of this game will come later, when Tomlin responds to the loss.
Cortez Allen recovered a fumble! Great all around game!
If you missed the game, here
Key to the Browns’ victory: The Browns executed perfectly their strategy to keep the Steelers offense on the field.
Who’s the guy with the chin on cbs? Can he coach?
Cowher—Steelers are finesse on offense and soft on defense.
Wonder if he is ready to coach again – he could probably fix the soft on defense thing in less than a year.
I never thought I would hear a Steeler defense described – accurately as “Soft”
If you missed the game, here is a good analogy of how the game went from a Steelers fan perspective:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=YiFt6BsU0Ks
Total team effort. Offense churns out 359 yds, but only 1 meaningless TD. Defense allows nearly 160 rushing yds & 217 passing yds for Hoyer on only 17 attempts.
I am not one to bash the coaching staff over the last three years, but after this performance it is about as bad as it gets. I haven’t felt this bad about the Steelers since the mid 80’s. Time for changes at the end of the year.
How about NOW? There’s over half a season left!
DK, 11-5 prediction was based on what exactly. No problem everyone throws an occasional 7-10 split.
He meant 5-11
I didn’t get to see this game, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t need to. When a supposedly talented offense puts up a measly 10 points (7 of them in garbage time late in 4th Q) against Cleveland, and the defense gives up 31 (31 !!!!) then changes need to be made somewhere. Obviously.
I seriously cannot watch Tomlin’s pressers anymore.
God.
Oh, c’mon. This one is must see.
You have a stronger stomach than me!
“We need to get better.”
What’s wrong with that?
I’ve only missed one game on my fantasy pick-em league today and it’s this one. I refuse to pick against the Steelers, no matter who they play.
I see that may have to change.
Bengals miss a last second FG in OT for a tie.
Maybe Bruce Arians would come back as HC. Oops, forgot, the Rooneys said he’s retired. Forget that.
Steelers may have a problem winning a game with out Brown. If Ben goes down, lookout below. Mack is hurt and the Browns continue to play well. Pouncey goes down and that’s that. 0-4. what does that indicate?
A typical corporate theme is those that create the problems are not capable of fixing them. I firmly believe the Steelers need major changes. This team is loaded with bad players and that comes from the top.
We are edging closer and closer to being the Raiders….Yes… some major changes are needed, but the Rooney’s won’t pull that trigger anytime soon….
I agree. It’s a shame.
The Raiders are actually playing hard and competing – something I did not see in the
Steeler game…
Up 21-14 over a much better San Diego team – when is that last time we Steeler fans could say something like that….
My concern is, if things stay status-quo, are we going to stink for years like the Rams and the way the Lions used to? Very disconcerting.
What Cortez Allen lacks in talent he makes up for in an absence of heart and guts.
Could we make a citizens arrest on Allen for stealing – that contract is awful and unfathonablle
I don’t blame Allen for the contract. That’s on Colbert and Tomlin, and it smacked of desperation.
To be fair, Cortez has never been THIS bad.
It’s not all his fault. We should have obtained a solid #1 CB years ago. Join me on the Ifo Ekpre-Olomu bandwagon for the 2015 draft.