Browns Playoff: 4 good and 2 bad from the Steelers playoff win
By Chad Porto
The Good
Baker Mayfield’s playoff emergence
Baker Mayfield delivered in a big way. When Jack Conklin went down with an injury, the running game fell apart, just like against the Jets. Mayfield, with a full accompaniment of receivers and running backs, proceeded to propel the Browns down the field for some soul-crushing scores. The “game manager” completed 62% of his passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He had a QBR of 92.8 and a quarterback rating of 115.2. He made plays with his arm, his feet, and even his head. All the while avoiding the Steelers pash rush with ease. Not bad for a guy deemed “undraftable”.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt going off
Nick Chubb finished the day with 145 combined yards and a touchdown in a game that showed that his ability to social distance from tacklers isn’t just restricted to rushing the ball. Kareem Hunt only had 51 total yards but had two touchdowns deep in the red zone. The Double Dragon of running backs was key in breaking the backs of the Steelers.
The left guards
The Browns had two guards, Michael Dunn and Blake Hance, who absolutely stepped up. Dunn was playing seamlessly, and when he and Conklin were in the lineup, the Browns ran all over the Steelers. Already filling in for Joel Bitonio, the Browns were dealt another blow when Dunn got hurt and backup Blake Hance was put into the lineup. Hance had never met his teammates prior to the game, and he and Baker Mayfield introduced themselves while in the locker room getting ready. Both men stepped up huge and made a certain Browns rookie look all the more worse in the process.
Taking advantage of mistakes
Every team makes mistakes at some point, it’s whether or not you can capitalize on them that matters. The Browns did just that and made the Steelers pay for each and every one of them.