Browns Playoffs: Cleveland ends Steelers reign, asserts dominance

The Cleveland Browns have defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers to move on to the second round of the NFL playoffs, with a final score of 48-37.

The Cleveland Browns knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round of the 2020-2021 NFL Playoffs, defeating them 48-37 in a game that was tailor-made for the Steelers to win. The Browns came in without four coaches, their best defensive back, their best front-seven player has never rebounded after contracting COVID-19, one of their best linemen ever had to miss the game, then his backup got hurt, not to mention their All-Pro tackle got hurt as well this game.

You’d think with all that going on, the Steelers would roll the Browns, and yet, it was the other way around. The Browns absolutely pummeled the Steelers tonight and did so without so many of their best players.

Seriously, think about this, counting Garrett’s drastic falloff since COVID-19, the Browns were without three of their four All-Pros. Two of them were from the offensive line. Heck, the backup’s backup (Nick Harris is the backup guard and he was out too), played beautifully. The offense only started to struggle a bit when Kendall Lamm came in for Jack Conklin but even then, the Browns still charged forward.

Michael Dunn earned himself a roster spot next year, and when he went down after how well he played, everyone was concerned. Then his backup, Blake Hance came in and played lights out. This team would not be denied.

Mayfield led the way, helping keep the offense going after the running game struggled following Conklin’s injury. He went 21 for 34 and 263 yards passing, all while throwing three touchdowns. He should’ve had a fourth to Austin Hooper but the tight end let the ball smack him in the face. The Browns as a team only rushed for 127 yards but had big timely runs when they mattered. Kareem Hunt scored twice as a runner, with Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Austin Hooper each catching a touchdown.

The Browns defense fell apart in the second half, as it’s prone to do with a lead, but they did pick off Ben Roethlisberger four times in the game, the most impressive being Porter Gustin’s from the line of scrimmage.

The Browns also went into this game with local media personality Daryl Ruiter saying the Browns should “sit their starters” because they had “no chance” of winning the game. Colin Cowherd, known for his poor takes on Mayfield, said they were going to lose the game because Mayfield wore his hat backwards.

To see two blowhards and an entire Era of Steeler football get handed their dignity in small, bite-size portions, was the greatest victory on the day.

Now, it’s off to Kansas City.