The Steelers outlasted the Cleveland Browns, sending the Browns to an 0-16 season! Despite sitting several key players, the Steelers did enough to win and head into the post season as the number two seed.
The defense had a very strange day. They were tough up front setting the new Steelers record with 56 sacks. They had six sacks against the woeful Browns, Tyson Alualu led the team with two and did a great job filling the huge shoes of Steelhead Heyward. He led the point of attack with T.J. Watt and Vince Williams also pitching in. The Browns rushed for over 100 yards, but the running backs had little to no running room. The defense struggled with the mobile DeShone Kizer who slipped out of several jams including a 20-yard dash. The Browns offense had no room to run.
The Secondary is absolutely terrible right now. After a nice bounce back week against the Texans on Christmas, they were roasted again this time by an awful and inconsistent Browns offense. Kizer had a big day, hitting pass plays of 54 and 56 yards in the first half. The Secondary has now given up eight 50-plus-yard catches and thirteen 40-plus-yard catches allowed by the Steelers this season. Even the return of Joe Haden didn’t help. If Corey Coleman doesn’t drop a fourth down pass, the Browns might have pulled out the upset. Despite several opportunities the secondary only had one interception.
The offense had a very nice day behind a makeshift offensive line. Landry Jones, proved he is a capable backup, playing well. He also had to overcome playing with Chris Hubbard at Center who struggled in the shotgun. Jones moved the ball well, completing 15 of 18 passes for 187 yards and a TD before halftime and completed 18 of his last 19 passes and finished with a 100.5 rating and 239 yards passing. When the Steelers needed to move the ball they did.
While Landry had a good day, JuJu Smith-Schuster had a great day, he finished with a season-high nine catches and 143 yards. He also had the first and only kick return for a TD this season with 96 yards! It was a big play because the Browns had just tied the game up. Eight different receivers caught passes with Martavis Bryant grabbing six!
Stevan Ridley showed he still has gas in the tank. Ridley had a terrific game rushing for 80 yards on 17 carries and broke off four runs of 10+ yards and he did a terrific job. He can be an asset in the playoffs. It was also great to see Darrius Heyward-Bey complete a 29-yard end-around for the first Steelers Touchdown.
In the end the biggest thing, was to make sure no one was hurt and to hold off the Browns. The Steelers did that.
The Steelers finished the regular season 13-3 and everyone knows it should have been 14-2!
BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!
My “GAME BEER” goes to: No brainer, JuJu Smith-Schuster who had a huge day and has done a great job filling in for Antonio Brown. He caught a TD and ran back a kick return for a TD. He finished with 265 total yards! Also Considered: Matt Felier, Bloomsburg Grad made good in is his first start. Martavis Bryant is starting to bounce back!
Where I watched the game: The first 1Pm game in almost two months had us back at the house with the Tailgate Kids and KGB in front of the fire and with some great sandwiches (Italian and Buffalo Chicken) as the snack. The Beer of choice was Sam Adams Winter!
My Stat of the week: 21-Forty Plus Yard plays by the Steelers secondary. They need to tighten that stat up. Sean Davis and Artie Burns need to play much better in the playoffs!
My Thoughts on next week: The Steelers get a needed week off for the playoffs. The Steelers have played some rough first round games and they struggled to stay healthy. The bye should help that. The key is getting AB back for round two which will be a home game!
This week’s Jersey: Steelers Blackout, Heath Miller #83, which was a late Christmas present from KGB!