5) The Walking Dead Steelers Edtion
Maybe, the Steelers have just gotten so used to beating up on the Browns that they think they can go through the motions and still beat them. Or maybe they’re just so tired of beating up on them that they decide to make things more entertaining. Whatever the case my be, Pittsburgh has made quite the habit out of letting the Browns hang around in games as soon as they’re on the brink of pulling away.
It happened in Week One, when the Steelers offense took their foot of the gas up 21-7, turned the ball over a few times and let the Browns back into it to force OT. That infamously ended in a tie. Seven weeks later, they kept Cleveland in the game yet again with some mental errors and costly penalties.
With just over eight minutes left in the third quarter, rookie left tackle Desmond Harrison was called for a holding penalty in the end zone resulting in a safety for the Steelers. Suddenly Pittsburgh was in the driver’s seat up 10 points and about to get the ball back, until neither of their returners fielded the ensuring safety punt. The live ball was recovered by the Browns at the Steelers 24, flipping momentum drastically.
That was just the start of Pittsburgh’s miscues because as Cleveland marched to the end zone from there a roughing the passer penalty, defensive pass interference and defensive holding penalty pushed the Browns on the one-yard line where Mayfield eventually found Antonio Callaway for a one-yard TD pass.
Ultimately, yes the Steelers were able to overcome those mistakes and pull away for a win, but in two games against the Browns there were moments where they were just going through the motions. As this young Browns team continues to grow though they may not be so fortunate in the future.
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