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November 9, 2015Should the Cleveland Browns fire Mike Pettine?
November 9, 2015Already missing star running back Le’Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers will now face the Cleveland Browns without star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after he suffered a left foot injury on Sunday when Aldon Smith of the Oakland Raiders sacked him late in the fourth quarter. The Steelers initially believed the injury to be the dreaded LisFranc injury, so they are relieved the diagnosis is being referred to as a foot sprain. However, especially with a bye week after the Browns game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the expectation is the Steelers will allow Roethlisberger to rest.
Sounds like Ben Roethlisberger misses next Sunday's game vs. Browns, takes bye week to rest, then likely to return Week 12 at Seattle.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 9, 2015
Pittsburgh has already dealt with an absence of Roethlisberger in 2015 when he missed four games due to an MCL sprain suffered early in the season. The Steelers managed to keep steady by winning two games during the stretch though their passing game took a significant hit as their output dropped from 308 to 163 yards per contest without Roethlisberger. Landry Jones, the expected starter against the Browns, did well in relief on Sunday as he led a game-winning drive against the Raiders in which he went 4-for-6 with 79 yards passing. However, in his lone start in 2015, he did struggle in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a 16-for-29 209 yard effort along with two interceptions and a lone touchdown.1
The Cleveland Browns will certainly not miss Ben Roethlisberger sitting out the game. Big Ben is 18-2 in his career against the Browns completing 62% of his passes for 8.29 yards per attempt with 29 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions and a 95.2 QBrating. However, Mike Pettine teams evened those odds a bit as he is 1-1 versus Roethlisberger led Steeler teams after splitting the series in 2014. In the Browns 31-10 victory, the Browns defense had limited Roethlisberger to 21-for-42 passing for a mere 228 yards with a touchdown and interception and a relatively paltry 64.4 QBrating.
But, with the way the 2015 Browns season is going on defense, any added advantage is welcome.
- It’s also worth noting that the game-winning drive was aided large in part by wide receiver Antonio Brown breaking off an incredible run after a catch. [↩]
11 Comments
It’ll probably be a little harder but I think we still have a chance to lose…
Wished it mattered. The Browns defense protects leads like Wile E. Coyote and regularly gets gashed by soul-destroying big plays from talent just like than Landry Jones and whoever backs up Bell.
Given the on-field issues and internal disarray, I’d give the Browns a solid shot in a home game against a first year expansion team. But an away game against the rebuilding Steelers? Nah, the Steelers have a clue as to what they’re doing. We have zombie LBs, a steady drizzle of penalties/brain farts and a post rehab QB who spent these days off week partying in Texas just after another troubling incident.
WINNER: Fantasy owners of Deangelo Williams. 180 yards and 3tds is a lot of points, regardless of your scoring system.
In other news, Pettine read this report and immediately named Josh McCown the starter.
Instead of cheering “we’re number 1!” Browns fans cheer “Best chance to win!”
hi B-BO … the only thing better yesterday was having BOTH d.williams & pittsburgh WR antonio brown on your team . brown had 17 receptions for 284 yards yesterday !!
If the Browns were thinking about drafting a QB with first pick, we will probably win this one.
hi MG … ben obviously owns us. i will not be crying any tears for him. i am surprised his injury wasn’t worse … i was watching the game & thought he broke his foot for sure … he’s one tough s.o.b.
Steelers still probably win by 10.
If I’m Jones, I’m thinking this is my big chance to get my Matt Flynn contract…
… and the Browns would be in the bidding.
might need to start calling him Gumby