Halftime chatter: Cleveland Browns look flat vs Steelers

How was Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield going to perform with his non-throwing shoulder encased in sleeve-like cast?

The first drive starts like you’d expect every Kevin Stefanski coached series to commence. Mayfield was 4-of-6 for 42 yards. The chains were moving and Cleveland set with 1st and G at the Steelers 8 yard line.

So far, so good. That’s when the wheels fell off. An incomplete pass to Austin Hooper (yikes), a no-where Chubb run, and then a sack doomed the drive. The Browns had to settle for a field goal. At least Stefanski settled for the field goal and took the points.

2. CBS Sports’ Tony Romo didn’t think the shoulder was bothering Mayfield, but after the first drive, the offense really stalled. The Brown weren’t able to run the ball at all.  They’ve got to for this offense to hum.

They had -6 yards of total offense in the second quarter when they took over their final possession of the period.

Mayfield was 10-of-17 for 107 yards. He was sacked four times. Nick Chubb had just six first-half carries–for only 20 yards. D’Ernest Johnson, the hero of the Denver game, had two carries and wasn’t a factor. Stunningly, Cleveland ran the ball just 10 times in first half.

3. The Steelers reminded the Browns of why this is a rivalry with their defense  up to the challenge, with Cam Hayward sacking Baker Mayfield on Cleveland’s first drive, then the defense shut down Chubb on 4th and 1 near midfield.

4. Shout out to Malik McDowell for his sack of Ben Roethlisberger on Pittsburgh’s second drive. Great play, but an even better decisions by the zebras for picking up the flag. We were all fearing a roughing the passer call.

This Cleveland Browns DB needs benched

5. Thumbs down to Cleveland Browns DB Ronnie Harrison for his late hit on the same drive. Had he not done it, Pittsburgh would’ve backed up 10 yards. Instead, the penalties offset and the down was replayed.

Harrison needs to be smarter. He’s the same guy who pushed a Chiefs assistant coach in Week 1. These are inexcusable actions. If the Browns are looking for a reason to play Grant Delpit more, Stefanski found it.

6. Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada is trying to re-vamp Pittsburgh’s running game, and it was effective in the first half. Najee Harris had 10 carries for 50 yards. The Steelers had 75 rushing yards overall.

7. Greg Newsome made a great play on Pittsburgh’s first drive on 1st and 10 with 5:25 to go. Big Ben through and out and the first round pick was on the receiver like a wet blanket.

Ben threw the ball from the 50…the Steelers were rolling…and Newsome’s play broke momentum. Takitaki snuffed out a run on the next play, then Anthony Walker had a near pick with Ben trying complete a 14-yard pass down the middle.