On the dominant Buckeyes, ‘Maddening’ Browns, and surprisingly fun Cavs – The Nail in the Coffin, Episode 163
November 14, 2019Buckeyes release trailer for game at Rutgers
November 15, 2019PREGAME POSTURINGS
Gilbert: I am so excited for this game. The Browns have a chance to reignite the excitement for this team that seemed to simmer during the rough start to this season. A win puts them in the hunt for the playoffs. The key will be for the offense to be smart with the football. That means no turnovers and running the ball. I want to see the duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on the field together a lot tonight. That tandem was super successful versus the Bills. On defense, the Browns must dominate the Steelers offense. There is no excuse for this defense to not have a shutdown performance. Pressure their young quarterback and stop the run will be keys for the Browns defense. I think the Browns win this game.
Gerbs: I’ve been queasy about tonight, which is odd. It feels like a huge game, as they are all going to be down the stretch if the team wants to make the playoffs, but it feels like it could get ugly quick. Minkah Fitzpatrick is a problem on defense, as is TJ Watt and the Browns line has struggled. The addition-by-subtraction of Antonio Callaway from this team will be nice to see going forward, but we can never be sure which team shows up week-to-week. Will it be the Baltimore Browns who can beat anybody, or will it be the Titans Browns who committed 18 penalties. We will see shortly.
Suek:
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield’s 5,926 passing yards and 36 TDs are the most in franchise history through a player’s first two seasons.
— Cody Suek (@WFNYCody) November 15, 2019
#Browns Based on pre-game and the release of Antonio Callaway, it appears Rashard Higgins will finally draw the start as WR 3 in “11” personnel sets.
— Cody Suek (@WFNYCody) November 15, 2019
Poloha: The Browns are 3-6, but this is such a big game. Not only is it against the Steelers, but a win means Cleveland is back in the playoff hunt. Use the home field to your advantage and get this W, Brownies.
FIRST HALF
GILBERT: Great solo tackle by Greedy on the opening play.
Gerbs: Those first two big stops are a good sign! Stopping the run as much as possible is imperative.
Poloha: Putting Mason Rudolph in must-pass situations is perfect. Great start, defense!
Gilbert: The stadium was ROCKING on that first defensive series.
Gerbs: Did Teller forget you’re just supposed to smack that ball down? That’s a loss of five instead of second-and-10
Gerbs: OBJ!!! BAKERMANIA!!! What a way to start! Great play calling thus far. Hunt doing what he did Sunday and making an impact from the start.
Gilbert: That is a great freakin’ start. Big plays by Hunt, OBJ, and Baker. And we scored in the red zone!!!!! I like they didn’t get to fancy and went with a QB sneak.
Gerbs: NOW we can celebrate! Where was that Sunday? Oh, who cares.
Poloha: What a freaking start. Let’s go!
Gilbert: Great response by the defense after the third-down penalties. Forced a tough field goal attempt.
Poloha: Kareem Hunt is kinda good.
Gilbert: Hunt runs so hard. He and Chubb are so hard to bring down on first contact.
Gerbs: It’s so great to see the defense able to shut down the Steelers on third downs.
Gilbert: The defense is playing downhill. Great start for them.
Gilbert: The Browns pass rush getting really good pressure. Close to multiple sacks already.
Gilbert: What a throw and catch by Baker and Hodge.
Gerbs: HODGE! Who cares if he’s down, this is the best.
Gilbert: 2 red zone trips, 2 TDS! A really good play on the 1-yard line with PA and Landry going the other direction of the PA.
Poloha: What is this red zone offense? I’ll take it.
Gerbs: Who is this team? The play to Landry is the perfect situation for goal-line plays.
Gilbert: Excellent discipline by the defense on the 4th down play-action pass. There was no one open.
Poloha: Denzel freaking Ward, baby!
Gilbert: Great coverage by Ward. Burnett is making plays. He looks good today.
Gerbs: That’s what desperation creativity looks like. We know it well.
Gilbert: I think FGs are going to be tough today. The wind is weird at the stadium tonight.
HALFTIME HINDSIGHTS
Gilbert: That was fun. Big plays by the offense and complete dominant performance by the defense has this stadium rocking. Hopefully, we see the offense put the nail in the Steelers’ coffin and don’t let this team stay around.
Poloha: The Steelers offense is so bad when they have to play from behind and are in must-pass situations. Without James Conner and JuJu the rest of the way, it’s going to be difficult for them to score multiple touchdowns. Love what the Browns defense has done, especially the defensive line. This is fun, you guys!
Gerbs: This has been exactly what the Browns needed: an early lead, a turnover or two, and now it’s time to run Chubb and Hunt the rest of the game and sit on this lead. We have to continue to rush Rudolph and/or Duck Hodges, pressuring both into mistakes.
SECOND HALF
Gilbert: That penalty on the punt is a bummer. If the ball was inside the 5, the defense could have had a chance to get a safety with how much pressure we had produced in the first half.
Gilbert: This defense is playing amazing. Joe Schobert makes the next big play for the defense.
Gerbs: They need to extend Schobert yesterday.
Gerbs: A really bad look by Randall to be smiling at all after that hit. He definitely led with his helmet.
Gilbert: Talk about a gimme TD for PIT. The Browns gave them the TD with their penalties.
Poloha: Nothing like gifting Pittsburgh their first points off the game on that touchdown drive.
Gerbs: Oh hey, our team is back!
Gilbert: This team never ever makes it easy. This is an ugly offensive performance.
Gerbs: Why have we let them come back in? It’s sloppy play and undisciplined football again.
Gerbs: What a stop!
Gilbert: The pass rush is saving the Browns tonight.
Gerbs: Somehow we have gone totally vanilla on offense and Pittsburgh is fully aware of it. Grand.
Gerbs: Mack Wilson ladies and gentlemen!
Gerbs: Nice play call from Kitchens there, fakes a jet sweep and a handoff to Hunt as the up back. Got the first and kept the clock running.
Gilbert: The amount of disconnect in the passing game is astounding.
Gilbert: Leave it to the defense to save the day!
Gerbs: JoeScho!! Get it done here, Browns. Gotta get six and seal this win up.
Poloha: Have yourself a game, Joe Schobert.
Gerbs: As bad as the Steelers have been on offense, you have to get a touchdown here.
Gerbs: Oh my lord. He snatched it.
Gilbert: Steve freakin’ Carlson ices the game!
Poloha: What a freaking catch by Stephen Carlson. My goodness.
Gerbs: This is the defense we thought we were going to get all year: mad pressure on the QB, turnover happy and forcing teams to pass to catch back up. Good to see after some bad matchups.
POSTGAME PONDERINGS
Gilbert: The Browns did what they had to do to survive. The defense is the star of the game. They won the Browns the game. They did what they were supposed to do and dominate a bad offense. The Browns offense was still disjointed and streaky, but 21 points vs a great defense was enough. The playoff hopes are still alive. The end was a complete embarrassment. What are you doing Myles?
Gerbs: This is how the games should be: Nick Chubb as the star of the offense, some downfield throws to OBJ and Landry, a ton of pressure from the defense on the quarterback that end up causing turnovers. Hard to ask for anything more.
Poloha: The Browns were eight seconds away from beating the Steelers and being 4-6, then that disaster happened. Mason Rudolph shafted the brawl but Myles Garrett has to be better (and smarter) than that. Now we wait to see how many games the star defensive end will be suspended.