The Wins That Matter Most
Not all wins are created equal. Sometimes a team needs a win to keep them from falling off the edge into oblivion. When a city is dying for some shred of hope to cling on to; When a fanbase has lost all faith in a team - those wins matter more.
Last night was one of those wins. It was like watching a live production of NFL Films. I am for the dome. I think in general, NFL franchises are better off if they have a domed stadium. That being said, the atmosphere last night was magical.
With snow blanketing the field and the wind swirling, the AFC north’s brand of smashmouth football ruled the day. There was no room for the polished offensive perfection that the NFL hopes to drive in their presentation most Sundays, as the Browns fought their way, muddied and bloodied, to an emotional win over Pittsburgh.
I am eating some crow this morning - I scoffed yesterday to some buddies about all of the “real football is played outside” guys, and how many of them would be bundled up in front of their TVs instead of at Huntington Bank Field on a cold and windy night. I was wrong. Cleveland Browns fans showed up and showed out for their 2-8 team on Thursday night, and stayed through it all. Steelers fans were present and made their voices heard, but nothing reverberated louder through the stadium than Browns fans chanting their new QB1’s name. The first time that has happened for the Browns since… the last time their backup QB came in for Deshaun Watson. (Flacco fever was fun, but I'm not sure this city is ready for Jameis fever.)
For the majority of the game, it felt like the Browns would win it walking away - three quarters of winning football on a Thursday night should be enough to cause most any team to pack it up and move onto Thanksgiving. The Steelers are not just any team, especially not when they visit Cleveland in the snow. One could almost hear the echoes of Renegade playing from 130 miles down the road as the Steelers took the field to start the 4th quarter. A quick touchdown drive followed by a sack strip fumble and the nearly sure victory had slipped out of Cleveland’s grasp.
But this game mattered too much to the Browns to lose. Steelers fans will laugh and say “Browns just won their Superbowl”, which is fine. At 2-8, this was our Superbowl. On a Thursday night, on national television, the Browns got to upset and embarrass their most hated rivals, and potentially play spoiler to their hopes of winning the division. I do not take any shame in last night being a game that mattered.
It mattered because Myles Garrett threw down the gauntlet and showed why he is the best individual defender in the NFL, and on a short list of the most dominant pass rushers ever.
It mattered because it was Nick Chubb’s first game against the Steelers since Minkah Fitzpatrick went all human-missile into the side of his knee.
It mattered because it’s the Steelers and the Browns. It mattered because we hate them and they hate us.
It mattered because this is what football is all about. I don’t care what goals you have or what your record is, if you come to my house on a frozen Thursday night in November looking for a fight, you’re going to get one, damnit!
It mattered because years from now, no one is going to remember how many games the Browns won in 2024, or how much money they paid Deshaun Watson, or who was leading the race for the AFC North.
But some kid who was at the game with his Dad is going to forever cherish the memories he made on a snowy Thursday night, when the Browns beat the Steelers. That matters.
In the midst of a forgotten season, the Browns played an unforgettable game.