We just won a road playoff game in Pittsburgh without our head coach.

What a feeling, fellas.

I don't know about you Dawgs but I'm ready for a SUPER BOWL run! No need to hedge our bets or our belief. IT IS UP for grabs!

If this week was playing with house money, what’s next weekend

Go Browns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We beat Pittsburgh, in their place, in the playoffs, decisively. What more needs to be said?

We get the house.

EPIC WIN

HELL YES!!!!

We desperately need our DBs back... but man... 4 INTs... 48 points... Baker was amazing!

I'm so proud. So elated. What brings more joy than whooping on the Steelers in a playoff game in their own house?!?

The defense obviously has to step up in the second half but I'm proud

Does anyone watch every single post game interview and morning show after a win

And now Joel Bitonio gets to play in a playoff game.

BOUT DAMN TIME! That is all!

and praying our OL can get healthy.

GO Browns.
I have no fingernails and my heart is ready to explode

WE WON A PLAYOFF GAME!!! BELIEVELAND! WAY TO GO BROWNIES, WAY TO GO, WOOF, WOOF!

OMG... Baker: "we had a guy named blake step in who I literally introduced myself to before the game".. LMAO

Is this real life?

Awesome feeling. I remember our last road playoff win. I think it was at Dallas.

Also am I right that Baker has thrown only one interception in the last 9 games? If so that is really impressive.

Do you believe in miracles? YAHTZEE!

Baker is a team guy...

"Baker what are your emotions"
Baker: "I'm ready to get in the locker room and see my guys"

I do now? Another miracle next week??

What’s going to be great is we will now be a FA destination and have a chance to fix this defense in the offense and become a team that is playing for rings year in and out

Ben Rothlisberger is owed 40 million dollars from the Steelers for next season.

Dunno if we can beat KS... but damn! We get to play a second game in the playoffs!!

IN THE FRIGGIN PLAYOFFS!!!!

And they are $21 million over the cap with a boatload of free agents.

We've won 12 games this year!

Unbelievable...

Playing with the Steeler's money..

You just hate to see it, don’t you?

We have not sailed these waters in a long time. I am 49.

going to Kansas city Kansas city here we come

Baker just said, and I'm paraphrasing, that with all the guys that couldn't suit up, (Bitonio) that when Dunn went down, he was replaced with a guy that he just met for the first time in the locker room today.....


That is amazing, man. Talk about a team win. Team win.....

And "Big" Ben sitting on the bench at the end of the game and not even shaking hands, says a lot about what a crap person he is.

Great win!

Loving the Joe THomas interview on NFL network.

What a humiliation to the Squealers!!!!!!!!

We are no longer the little brother!!

BEAT KC!

I think that Ben sees a team way over the cap, and 2 teams that will probably surpass them in the division next season.

Umm... just realized we beat the Steelers twice this year and knocked them out of the playoffs! So happy. Next week we will be going for 1-0 with a healthier roster hopefully. Go Browns!

Ummm.....

[img:left]https://ibb.co/ysB6HSj[/img]

Wish Baker would have went up to JuJu and said "what's my name B....".

Way to go Brownies, way to go! Woof! Woof!

The Steelers felt the bite of the Dawgs tonight! After all those years of losing it feels so good to finally win!!! I'm so proud of this team. GO BROWNS

My wife said the same thing during the game.....lol

The last time we won a playoff game I was 38 years old sitting in the pound as we beat the Pats 20-13

It feels so good!

There is a changing of the guard in the AFC North

Best Browns game I have ever seen. 3rd quarter was a little shakey, but we held on. Announcers were right, there was no lead I would have been comfortable with.

Steelers lost to a team without a name, now they lose to a team without their coach. Time for Ben to retire?

Pulling this off despite the covid outbreak made this even better.

Possibly! I hope we enjoy this and can avoid covid

GREAT WIN!!!!! I didn't think we could do it and am so happy I was wrong!!! This just might be the greatest win in the 53 years I've been a Browns Fan. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

Big Ben crying after the game?!? wow...

Congrats Browns. This is exactly why I said on here last week I would not have rested anyone. I wanted no part of the Browns a 3rd time.

HACK

I picked us to be 8-8 before the season, and THEN came all the injuries to our DB's. This has been the most significant season I've ever experienced as a fan.

Thanks hack!! So this is what winning feels like?

JuJu and Claypool also stayed on the bench.

A secondary that consisted of a #4 DB (Behind Ward, Williams and Johnson in the offseason), and undrafted random guy and a washout from another team in the slot who actually showed up.

Next week we get Ward and Johnson back. We get Bitonio back. In theory we will be the healthiest we've been since week 1.

and...now Roethlisberger gets to go home, golf, and contemplate retirement along with Rivers...and pretty soon, Brees probably.



BTW, HOW IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT'S HOLY DID A COUPLE SCRUBS CONTROL CAM FRICKIN' HAYWARD?!? HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA....

I have to admit I got greedy toward the end as I really, really wanted to put up 50

Our guys.

I was there in the pound!

Maybe THREE.

Twice in two weeks.

Maybe we don't need Stefanski.

When I put my son to bed tonight I missed the first 7 minutes of the game ... I asked him if the Browns were going to win tonight and he said "Yes". Then he said they were going to score a TD with a pass backwards over his head. I came down and un-paused .... man did he ever make a prophetic prediction.

I liked the play calling more when we were less conservative. Conservative play calling only achievement was to give the momentum to Pit.

Immense game by so many. Congrats.

Of course I was stupid enough to visit the gameday thread when during the 2nd half and witnessed the same group of posters all pronouncing the game lost. That was sad, but glad Baker and the whole team came through with a fantastic win .... the curse is well and truly dead.

Man I hope that doesn't become our good luck charm... which reminds me...

Cut Sendejo!

j/c...

Simply amazing what this team just accomplished. I'm on cloud nine.

We'll probably have to score 60 if we want to win next week. Oh well, let's worry about that next Sunday and enjoy this for now!!

You Just Ended the Steelers SEASON! That IS a big deal!

Was it you that said he shouldn't even be coaching college ball?

I guess performing this well without the HC might seem like the HC doesn't matter to some ... but I think to everyone else it shows exactly how good a job the HC did up to this point.

We just won our Super Bowl.

So happy. Game thoughts......We were missing our Head Coach, missing other key coaches. Didn’t have Ward and Johnson. Didn’t have Bitonio, his back up went down. Lost Conklin. All that and we still won our first Playoff game since 1994, first game in Pittsburgh since 2003 scores the most points for a road team. Exercised a lot of Demons tonight.

I need a nice picture of Big Ben crying so that I make it my desktop background.

I said he should be coaching college.

I was in the closed end of the stadium. I remember one guy trying to get me thrown out of the game for being too loud. LOL

Ok - well you are an idiot or a troll. Which is it?

Years Without a playoff win? Zero!

My wife of 20 yearsis a Browns fan after 2 weeks......I will take it

I love this. They love their coach.

Sweet [censored] win.

patchy oline, dline

I laughed alot harder at this than I probably should have

They may be easier, they've been away from real contact football with that bye week thing.

No game this Browns team was going to face is tougher than getting the Monkey of
At Pittsburgh off their back!

Couch to Kevin Johnson in 1999,

and Today!

Ummm, playing with more house money, more players, more coaches, and more starters?

We looked crisp. I liked most of the plan and OC play calling.

some gold on this thread

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/01...cial-media.html

Covid what covid?

Browns 38
Chiefs. 34

Thats awesome

fixed it

Don't start scrap in a victory thread. Nobody wants that stuff here.

Man I was cussing at Hollywood a little with his drops.

Game ball to Chubb and Hunt. Baker and the every player on D. We played some soft D at times. . . but no Ward, No Vernon .... they were awesome.

GO BROWNS! BEAT KC!!

For me? My birthday January 6, 1990 I was sitting in the closed end when Clay intercepted Jim Kelly at the end zone with 3 seconds left to send us to the AFC Championship game.

Thirteen Points in the 2nd half!!

Thirteen Points in the 2nd half!!!

Steeler fan cope is amazing to see
http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/threads/so-what-cleveland-won.25684/

CORVETTE CORVETTE..

https://twitter.com/HerbertToAllen/statu...nUiHVm8sehwo_tQ

Those Sideline Screen passes to Chubb were Big!

All I know is that I move into my new house this week and my first Browns game in the new house will be a playoff game that can send us to the AFC Championship!

So, uh, Ju ju........what were you saying?

Good vibes for a new house! Congrats!

I think Browns got away with 12 men on the field on off.

2nd quarter 28 points for, a 1st down catch with yac on the bottom of the tv screen, right to left,

oh well, Go Browns! ---->>>

A lot of you guys have waited an awfully long time for this.

To all the players and coaches... thanks!

To all you dawgtalker oldtimers...

Congrats

(You deserve it)

Here we go Brownies ... Here we go. Here we go Brownies Here We Go !

Can you imagine being that guy, and getting put in the game. What went through his head at that point?
---"Don't goof up! Don't goof up!!"

Wow.....

Except the word "Goof" began with an "F"

This might be my all time favorite.

And chiefs are 31st DVOA against the run

A great win...

The game plan was essentially the same as Pittsburgh’s . Short quick passes to stop the pass rush.

Except the Browns did not have a turnover, and the Steelers had 5.

Baker Mayfield on Kareem Hunt: "Kareem ran pissed off. He ran like he wanted to get to Kansas City."

Eh.. they are 21st.. pretty average in Run Defense

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2020/opp.htm

DVOA is a Football Outsiders stat.

are the last of the demons exorcised?
Can we finally say we've actually returned to the NFL?

I think we can say that our reboot is finally complete.

j/c...

Thanks, Browns! Had not seen a playoff win since ‘95.

I just realized the Steelers lost 5 of their last 6 and we got them twice. Life is good.

thats not DVOA rankings

IMG_0917.HEIC

Just had a feeling.

Took a picture of my granddaughters in T-Shirts I bought them a year ago but never gave to them.

Posted it early this morning on my family thread.

https://twitter.com/Andrew_Gribble/status/1348499980416376832

People may disagree, but I don't give Ben too much flack for not getting up and shaking hands. That stare was a "this might be it" stare. Juju and his apparent protege Claypool should've been out there.

People were going bananas over the D, but you gotta do what you gotta do. That wasn't a prevent D, that was a Robert-Jackson-is-starting-at-outside-corner defense.

I'm no longer feeling like beating the Chiefs is impossible.

The Browns is the Browns!

I think certain doom-and-gloom-ers need to keep up the good work.

On one hand, I can agree with you about Ben. He may, MAY have been sitting there thinking "that was it, I'm done. Last game."

But on the other hand, showing class is just that: a sign of class.

Juju was probably thinking about his video, and claypool was just following his 'leaders'.

Guess what? The Browns won!

With this win the Browns are no longer playing for the past. They are now playing for the future.

Are the Browns the only lower seed to beat a higher seed in the playoffs NFC and AFC this week?

No. Rams won.

As well as the Ravens.

I really thought we had a chance to win before the game. I didn't think for a minute we would put 28 on them in a quarter. When the game got close I felt a little something inside but it quickly passed. I just had a feeling Baker was going to get us through!

Someone has to eloquently transcribe the events of tonight, and it has to be good.

Cleveland writers, I’m looking at you.

Replay on the nfl network right now

Michael Dunn had him a great game.

The image of Rothlisberger sitting by himself, dejected, was most gratifying!! He was probably thinking about where to go to find a college girl to console him.

A heroes welcome

Just watched the game. Was never comfortable but man alive - WE WON!

Baker played a good game - a few high passes, there was a couple of drops but he made plays when we needed and was for the most part accurate and making quick decisions. Massive kudos to the OL - they kept pressure at bay for the most part. Chubb and Hunt will give give any defense nightmares. I feel we need to keep Njoku next year. He makes some good catches most games.

The D benefited from some uncharacteristic errors but they did what they needed to. When youre down 2 starting CBs, they can get a bit of slack I don't think our LB corps is half as bad as some folk have made out - Taki with another pick, woot!

We didnt get much pressure on Ben but he looks like he is done. He would have made that far closer in years gone by and probably pulled it out for them. Conjecture, I guess.

This win shows this team has turned a corner, attitude and belief wise. I was expecting the worst but we beat a team with a great D, in their house. This is down to coaching, pure and simple. I hope the person who doesn't believe Stefanski has his fingerprints all over this was joking. This year and last - considering the circumstances with covid - is not even night and day, it's more striking.

Great team win. I feel we can score on KC. The D will need to turn the ball over for us to give us a realistic chance as they will score but MAN!!! Playoffs?? Win???? In Pitt??? That's a nice present to wake up to.

Hate to admit it but I’ve drank 20 beers and I’m completely sober right now. No way I can sleep tonight.

Enjoy it man. It's been 18 years - ive no idea how long its been since we won a playoff game. What time do we play next week?

Offensive play calling was better than it has been in a few weeks. Still think we need to run the ball more. I think maybe stefanski now can have confidence in alex van pelt as a play caller and hopefully let him do that permanently giving stefanski more time to deal with everything else going on in the game. Browns proved to me this is not thw same old browns.....

I’m watching the replay right now ... it feels way less tense watching our lead slip away haha!

I gotta give props to the OL ... Baker wasn’t pressured really one time all game.

Jarvis with some huge grabs and was undoubtedly our safety blanket

Visiting teams went 4-2

Rams won, Bucs won, Rats won......and THE BROWNS WON

Victory Monday. Sweet!

Oh yeah, I thought the playcalling was stellar. And it had to be to win this game. A couple of dropped passes and a penalty kept this game from being a total blow-out. And while I hate to say it, Stefanski makes some head puzzling calls every game, but VP kept everything on track.

Congratulations on a great win. Not much more to say. Good luck the rest of the way.

j/c:

I will be listening to Pittsburgh sports radio all day.

So far, it's been glorious.

Changing the Narrative, Culture Change, Monkeys of Our Back, And any other Stigma that has plagued this team since 1999, All That is GONE!, Go Browns.

Going live to Daryl Ruiter:

Great team win and can't think of a time when I enjoyed a victory more.

Let me be the 1st to Congratulate US we have been thru hell and we have never wavered this is as much our win as it is the teams.

No fan base deserves this more. Now the new Browns are going to begin to feel the electricity of Cleveland and their fans. It means a lot to be a Brown again.

Awesome! I remember on one of those shows where they interviewed the 1980 cardiac kids team, they said one of the things they remembered most were the fans at the airport greeting them when they returned from Cincy after clinching the AFC central.

It was so so cold that night and there they were, it was other worldly.. No city loves their football team more. This week it will be all Browns all the time.

This is hard to process.

Colossal win for the City of Cleveland and the people of "The Land."

We beat the Steelers back to back and sent them home.

Think that through.

Congratulations to the entire Browns organization.

Kevin Stefanski in his home watching This Game. Watching his team win. WOW.

The players, what can you say? Out for the game:
Odell Beckham Jr.
Olivier Vernon
Joel Bitonio
Denzel Ward
Kevin Johnson

In game injuries did not return:
Jack Conklin
Michael Dunn
Malcom Smith

Count five pro bowl players not just starters out.

Can't minimize how you win a game of this magnitude under these circumstances.

Truly a epic win.

Proud to share this all the Cleveland Browns fans.

Here's the latest from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:


Steelers confronted with a new reality: Browns get the last laugh

January 11, 2021

By Brian Batko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


They say every dog has its day, and Sunday, the Dawg Pound finally had their night at the expense of the team from Pittsburgh.

Oh, sure, the Browns have beaten the Steelers before. Just last week, in fact. But rarely has it felt like this, with these stakes, on this stage — and after that much build-up.

“It means a lot. It says we’re changing the culture over here,” Browns running back Kareem Hunt, who scored two touchdowns, said after their 48-37 win in the wild-card round. “I believe we’re going to be a real good football team for a long, long time.”

And that’s one of the realities that must be confronted by the Steelers, who rarely have had to consider this a rivalry. It’s the first postseason win in three tries for Cleveland over Pittsburgh, a series which has long been lopsided in the Steelers’ favor.

The only question was whether the Browns would experience acute heartbreak — like their 36-33 come-from-ahead loss in their last playoff trip in 2002 — or a slow burn of failure, such as just about every other season since then.

“We are here for a reason,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “There is a new standard, and I keep talking about it. I know I was not here for the things that have happened in the past, some of which I was too young to even remember. There is a new standard, and we are going to try and keep it that way.”

They move on to the divisional round of the playoffs as a surprise contender, where they’ll join a franchise many often expect to be there in the Ravens. Baltimore has cemented itself as an annual thorn in the side of the Steelers, but if the Browns continue turning a corner, the AFC North will take a different shape.

And the next step in a potential Cleveland renaissance came in the wake of what was at least perceived as disrespect from the team that treats them like a bi-annual punching bag. Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was just quoting a Mike Tomlin cliche in calling this week’s opponent “nameless, gray faces” but he also passed on the opportunity to acknowledge their 2020 turnaround, instead opting to sum up his thoughts with “the Browns is the Browns.”

Smith-Schuster is even younger than Mayfield, but surely he knows what the Browns have forever been, and thus how a statement like that could, and would, be received.

“We definitely didn't appreciate it, and feel like we made that known tonight with our performance … a big win in their house,” said star pass-rusher Myles Garrett. “I think we’ve got what it takes to keep it going.”

Well, maybe not, considering the Kansas City Chiefs await next. But if the Browns are to make a miracle run, they might as well do it the hard way, considering every step forward for the franchise has been like pulling teeth.

Perhaps now, finally, the future is bright, and it sure would be fitting if the first chapter of real change starts with getting over the hump against the Steelers for once. Surely, they would’ve loved to have won this one in front of their home fans, but sending the Steelers out on their home field is a savage twist of the knife.

Mayfield was asked what it feels like to go from winning a game no one expected them to win, right into another situation in which most of the world will be doubting their chances. His reply?

“Sounds pretty normal to me.”


***************


Joe Starkey: Steelers loss something far beyond a nightmare

January 11, 2021 1:15 AM

By Joe Starkey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Leave it to Al Michaels to put an unfathomable sports moment into perspective.

“Cleveland fans, you are not dreaming this,” Michaels told an NBC audience as the Browns were putting up a modern-day, playoff-record 28 first-quarter points. “Pittsburgh fans wish they were. It’s a nightmare.”

Actually, Michaels might not have gone far enough. This 48-37 loss was something far beyond a nightmare for the home team.

It might have been the single most embarrassing loss in the Steelers’ 88-year history.

Yes, including the Tebow game.

Don’t let the final score fool you. Much like their 45-42 elimination loss to Jacksonville three years earlier, the Steelers scored a junk touchdown to put a little lipstick on the pig.

Pigs flew Sunday night at Heinz Field. Hell froze over. Charlie Brown kicked the ball. And the little brother Browns won a road playoff game for the first time since 1969, punching the bully like his face was a speed bag.

It felt like an exorcism. The Browns hadn’t won a playoff game of any kind since 1995, when Bill Belichick was their coach, and had not even participated in one since blowing a 24-7 third-quarter lead on the same field 18 years ago.

They had lost 17 games in a row here, including one three years ago that finished off their 0-16 tour de flop.

They were so bad that dead people were criticizing them.

Late in that 0-16 season, an obituary on a long-suffering Browns fan from Mansfield, Ohio, began thusly: “Paul Stark passed away on December 27, 2017, of complications from a brief illness, exacerbated by the hopeless condition of the Cleveland Browns.”

Did I mention the Browns didn’t even have their coach Sunday? They were missing several players and coaches, including head coach Kevin Stefanski, on account of COVID issues. Quarterback Baker Mayfield barely knew a player who appeared in the huddle in the fourth quarter, later referring to new lineman Blake Hence as a “a guy named Blake that I introduced myself to literally in the locker room before the game.”

Finally, the Browns practiced only once all week — but that was before they ran into a Steelers team that looked as if it hadn’t practiced in years.

On the first play from scrimmage, Maurkice Pouncey nearly snapped the ball to Station Square. It flew over Ben Roethlisberger’s head and bounced into the end zone, where Karl Joseph pounced on it (pun intended) for a Cleveland touchdown.

It was 7-0 just 14 seconds in, and it only got worse. The Browns led 35-7 at the half.

Hard to believe the Steelers started 11-0 before losing five of their final six.

“We were a group that died on the vine,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

The 2020 Steelers also were a group, like previous incarnations, that seemed a little too sure of itself. And for little reason. They have, after all, only won three playoff games since the Tebow loss in 2012.

Three years ago, the Steelers were guaranteeing wins and predicting they would play the Patriots in the AFC Championship. This time, the Browns and their fans seized on the words of receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who said he was happy to play Cleveland again and added, “I think they’re still the same Browns teams I play every year. … They have a couple good players on their team, but at the end of the day, I don’t know. The Browns is the Browns.”

Mayfield put that phrase — “The Browns is the Browns” — on his Instagram account before the game, and people are now predicting it will be a T-shirt in Cleveland.

Retired Browns tackle Joe Thomas was asked Sunday morning on NFL Network how he imagined JuJu’s words went over.

“I think it was honestly the turning point,” Thomas said. “I talked to a lot of those guys early in the week, and a lot of people in Cleveland thought this game was over. There was this emotional letdown, and then all of a sudden JuJu gives them this gift. Honestly, I think it woke up a lot of people.

“It may not have motivated the Browns, because it’s the playoffs. They don’t need any more motivation. But what it did do is put more pressure on the Steelers. … And let’s be honest, they’ve lost four out of five coming in, so they’re not exactly on fire.”

Unless it’s a dumpster fire, of course, and by the end of this one, fans were wondering if Roethlisberger might have played his final game. He sat on the bench misty eyed for 10 minutes afterward, mostly with Pouncey, after completing 47 of 68 passes for 501 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Roethlisberger apologized to teammates and fans but gave little indication he was thinking of retirement. He has one year left on his contract, at a cap hit of $41.25 million.

“I hope the Steelers want me back, if that’s the way we go,” Roethlisberger said. “There’ll be a lot of discussions, but now is not the time for that.”

Now is the time to throw it back to Michaels for the final word.

“I know it’s the cliche of cliches,” he said, as time ticked down. “But nothing lasts forever.”


***************


Read more at:

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports

Much like Ben I am STUNNED AND AMAZED!!
Unlike Ben mine are Tears of Joy!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION, FANS AND THE GAME DAY THREAD NAY SAYERS!!!

Local sports talker, Anthony Lima, just said "The last time Big Ben cried like that it was from mace.".

LMAO!

Savage.

Hunts first TD was an amazing run He was channeling his inner Bavaro!

I wouldn't rely on them.

BTW, anybody check in lately with Ruiter.

- My first thought is that the Browns is the Browns!

- Got a few monkeys off our backs. A playoff win. A road playoff win. A win in Pittsburgh.

- Not only did my kids finally see a CLE playoff game, but a victory!

- And a bit of adversity as well. Props to the team and staff for getting prepared for the game.

- I don't care if KC beats us by 100, I am taking this season as a win. We won a playoff game, and it was against PIT.

- As one of the announcers mentioned when it was 28-0 ... no one in Cleveland is relaxed. I did not breathe easy until Takitaki's pick.

- There are three things in sports that set me off. One is when a guy refused to play for the team who drafted him (Elway, Kobe, Eli) and another is skipping the post game handshakes after you lose. Talking about Ben. Completely classless. I bet he didn't send his assault victims flowers either. Honestly, I would be happy if Stay-Puft does not take another snap in the NFL.

- Doesn't complete surprise me. Hines Ward has done that as well. It's the type of culture with that team, and it starts with Tomlin. Claypool will fit in - guys scores a TD with a minute left to bring his team within 2 scores and he celebrates. Situational awareness is a thing.

- I would think with his porn addiction Ben's arm would be stronger. Or maybe the porn addiction put too much mileage on the arm? No idea, I am not a doctor.

- The OL did an amazing job, all things considered. No sacks.

- Baker took care of business. No turnovers, no intentional grounding. Sharp throws.

- Actually, think it was pretty clean regarding penalties.

- Bryant not targeted. Smart. But that does not mean Hooper needs to handle the drops in Bryant's absence.

- The defensive game plan took years off of my life. If you are going to allow the 5 and 6 yard catches, then take away the deep ball. The plan was to make PIT work for their scores, but sometimes it was too easy.

- Gotta love the +5 turnover margin. And I think we finally moved to the positive in point differential for the season.

First..waking up this morning, I had to see the score again and watched ESPN's summary of our game.

THEN I WAS SURE that what I had watched last night was real. It really is had to explain my feeling, waiting so long for this moment.

Summarizing the game last night..WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED, OUR GUYS CASHED IN.!! The Steelers could not overcome the hole they dug for themselves.

It is hard to describe the feeling for this life long Browns fan of over 50 yrs.

Mid January and our Browns are still playing..

Wow, Just wow

Go and tell. I love that

I foolishly ventured into the Gameday thread, because waiting for commercials to end was too much for my heart to take w/o distraction (I might be the first mid-thirties-year-old person to die of old age). While a couple posters deserve all the barbs coming their way, I hope they keep up with the doom-and-gloom as it seems to help (and much like my new Browns Nikes and Garrett jersey over a hoody, no gameday practices should be changed).

Either right before or right after they talked up Landry as the next Hines Ward, I saw him pass on an opportunity to lay down a devastating blindside block on a potential tackler. Not sure what kind of observation this is, but it's an observation nonetheless. Maybe it's just that that brand of football is truly gone... and while I have to walk a very tight line in saying this... I was kinda hoping that when we turn a corner we'd return the many many favors owed to the Steelers in terms of the physical beatdowns that went hand-in-hand with the scoreboards ones.

Our defense is what it is. We were starting Robert Jackson and seemed to have him sticking with Claypool, their most talented receiver. People were throwing fits that we weren't blitzing, but even I know that that would've been totally stupid. Why would you take helpers away from an already overmatched secondary to try to get after a guy that has been getting the ball out faster than anyone else in the league? Our best hope was to simply slow down their scoring. Let them make the mistakes when their offense was on the field (missed passes), get them down when the pass was completed, and limit the long plays as much as possible. Even with this much lowered bar, the Steelers were starting to pick up chunk plays later on in the game (this might've also been fatigue setting in, as our defense was leaving themselves out there for a very long time). While it's scary to think what KC can do against our D, we might actually be in better shape next week. KC's offense might allow our dline to be more aggressive, and we should get back at least one of our corners, if not both. Similarly, I think our offense will also be in better shape once we get Bitonio back (and whatever unholy ritual needs to be done to get Conklin healthy).

Our D doing what they did was unbelievable. Who knows, maybe we just decided to save up all those turnovers for the playoffs. And our offense handling their D was also a huge surprised. Watt, other than chasing down our RBs, wasn't doing much, and the other guys on their line did absolutely nothing. Mayfield had a phenomenal game... not from a statistical standpoint, but moreso because he didn't turn the ball over vs the Steelers, and because he did the things that many said he couldn't do and made him NOT a fQB. His improvement over the course of the season in those key areas where many had already closed the book on him is incredible.

After 53 years of being a Browns fan this is the best win ever. I didn't think we could do it and couldn't believe what I was seeing but we did. I don't know if we can win next week but I'm hoping and think we can give KC a real good game. This team has something I haven't seen in a long time if ever since being a Browns fan.

My thoughts the morning after.....

HOLY $#^%!!!!!!

I mean we were playing prevent D for 3 QUARTERS!!! You have to love how each man on the Browns stepped up. This is a team I have been waiting for. I don't know how Kevin Stefanski doesn't win the Coach of the Year....

Other random thoughts:
I think Dunn done made the team next year...

Kareem Hunt was possessed.

Porter Gustin for TE???

Malcolm Smith was everywhere!!!

Ben, Ju-Ju, and Claypool were punks sitting on the sideline instead of meeting in the field after the game...

And one more for all The OLD TIME DawgTalkers....crazdawg's gameday Ritual!!!! (just popped into my head...LOL)

It is amazing what can happen when the refs stay the hell out of it.

One of my thoughts while watching the game last night and then talking to my dad:

How much is Drew Forbes kicking himself for opting out this year?

Maybe Andrew Billings too. I hope the guys injured last night are OK and can play next week. I'm sure we will hear more on that later.

Quoted for truth.

Agreed. With all the winning they've done over the years especially against us you'd think they could be gracious in defeat. I hope this is the beginning of many defeats for them!

Conklin's return was only questionable so I'd be shocked if he was not good to go next week.

Bitonio will be cleared by then, but if not we've got a-guy-named-Blake.

Ward theoretically should be too. And Johnson (though MJ showed up pretty well).

We won't be getting OBJ back, but outside of that...

Just a quick side note. Being that I live in Pats territory I know a lot of their fans aren't watching much of the playoffs this year. I always told them that most of them would never support a losing team like I have over the years. Their sense of entitlement is really sickening. They deserve to have a long stretch of losing and mediocre seasons with no playoff appearances.

2021.

I’m a old man from Sweden who’s laughing at all the jokes on Twitter, memes, TikToks and at the same time have tears of joy in my eyes.

My wife thinks I’m crazy. Went up in the middle of the night, rooting for a team I have never seen playing live in my whole life, screaming and dancing at five a clock in the morning totally alone and singing “Corvette Corvette” when I got back to the bed. Fell a sleep with a smile on my lips.

Thank you Cleveland Browns for giving me so much joy and excitement. I love being a Brown.

Any updates on Conklin yet? They said hamstring .. and he came back out, but never took the field obviously.

You've said it all, my Brownie friends.

Happiness. Just HAPPINESS.

As soon as covid breaks, I'm coming to Sweden to shake your hand.

BTW If you ask Alexa when the Steelers play next she says.
"2021 NFL Schedule hasn't been released yet!"

Not to rain on our victory Monday but Wyatt Teller left a game in the middle of the season and was questionable to return and ended up missing like the next 4 or 5 weeks.

So wish for the best. Very happy with how our make-shift OL held up but don't want to go into the Chiefs game without as many starters as possible.

You’re welcome anytime but I think if health and luck is with me next season I’m going to Cleveland and First Energy stadium to meet all of you guys. We arrange a party for all of us when the time is right.

You will be welcomed

You, sir, are my hero for the day, at least. Stay safe.

I will buy you one of America's finest beers - its called "Natural Light" - trust me, its the best.

How sweet it is!

That would be great but..... I really want to go to Sweden, never been there.

and I live in North Carolina (which is about a 9 hour drive), so I don't get to many games..

I also live in NC... So tell what model car do you drive that can do that ?? lol

Some of our scores this year are like the old AFL. All O no D!!!!!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened.

What a great time to be alive!

the first 12 minutes were like a dream

First I would like to thank Ben Roethlisberger. Not only for throwing four picks that helped lead to our victory, but also for not retiring during the past off season. Had you have decided to retire, I would not have gotten to see you crying on your teams bench and feeling the type of agony you have inflicted on Browns fans for oh so many years now. Nothing could have been sweeter in that moment. I wish no man serious injury, disease or death. But this was none of that and I enjoyed it to no end.

To our coaching staff. Thank you for sticking with the game plan. I know many of our fans seem to think style points, or as they say, "putting your opponent away" is some measure of doing the right thing. Yet many of those same people talk about how valuable using analytics are. When you have such a huge lead, the template you follow is about analytics. Whether you win by 1 point or you win by 30, it's still a W. And despite what some people say, that's why you play the game, to win. Thank you for pulling what used to be a group of individuals into a team. Just how valuable that is, is reflected in the team record this season.

And to the team. Thank you for all of your hard work. Under dire circumstances and limitations, you still pulled through and stuck together. I could break the accolades down to individual players or to our best players, but that's not what a winning formula is all about. It's about every member of your team doing the best they can do. And I feel even the players we have that obviously have their limitations, they gave it their all. Football is the ultimate team sport, not about the individual accomplishments. Without protection your QB won't be able to throw the ball. Without a hole to run through, your RB will be stopped at the LOS. So my thanks goes out to all of them.

Let me be clear. The ultimate goal of every season is to win the SB. Now at this point I can't say whether we will accomplish that goal or not. But here's what I can say. To finish a race you must first clear all of the hurdles. Coming off of a 6-10 season that first hurdle was a winning season. We crossed that hurdle. The second hurdle was a double digit win season. We crossed that hurdle. The following hurdle was to make the playoffs. Once again it's a hurdle we crossed. Next was to win a playoff game. Something we hadn't accomplished since 1995. All of us older Dawgs remember what happened after that. We lived it.

So no matter how this season ends, we have come a very long way. This team has accomplished a lot. More than many of us could have seen coming with a new HC and Covid restrictions. But here we are. And I for one am going to savor the moment and look forward to the week ahead.

I know right!

I kept asking my buddies I was watching the game with if I was dreaming.

You didn't ask one of them to pinch you did you? That would be kind of creepy.

j/c:



So we knocked them out of the playoffs and gave them Covid?

In the words of Jim Rome -- "Rack 'em!"

Great post, could have been penned by any or all of us, but probably not as well. It's great to look back down the barrel and see all we've accomplished, under some terrible circumstances... and we're still not done. The future is bright.

Also, with the "style points" in the dominant games. I've said the same. There is, in fact, a time to play checkers. We've won every one of these games! It's frustrating, it's agonizing, it triggers the BBS, but a W is a W.


Also - realized last night that after a season-long battle, we've finally evened the "dif". We are officially at zero in season point differential... Now, after all that work, it would be criminal not to go out on the plus side... Get 'er done boys!

They probably had unreported Covid the whole time. Find it hard to believe that Haden was the "only" Covid case. Ebron had it at same time as Haden, but was able to play this weekend. Slimy ass team.

this could be

What a year? For the past 20 years we have been firing Head Coaches for losing now we win a playoff game with no HC.

It shows we have a good coaching staff.

We kinda touched on this last week when the positives were rolling in, but honestly... the whole NFL is involved in the conspiracy. The definition of 'close contact' is a joke. Not doing the bubble thing as it proved to be very effective for the other leagues.

Love your post

Even Colin Cowherd gave us praises for our win.

This message board should have code that automatically rejects any post with Cowherd embedded.

But once you open that door, where does it stop?

I mean we could apply that to a lot of..... Never mind.

I clarified my post. :-p

My post was purely satirical in nature.

Can't wait for the video with Jim Donavan's calls.

What. A. Night.

In a game that saw most people’s jaws hit the floor from the first snap, the Browns ran past the hated Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 in the AFC Wild Card playoff round. Cleveland earned its first postseason win since 1994, and its first victory at Heinz Field since 2003.

Baker Mayfield threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns in his playoff debut, while Nick Chubb had 145 yards and a score. The Steelers offense was sloppy all night with five turnovers, including four Ben Roethlisberger interceptions.

The Browns will head to Kansas City next Sunday to face the top-seeded Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round. Cleveland will be seeking its first trip to the AFC Championship Game since 1989.

Drobs said, "I don't remember the last time the Browns won" it was 1994, January 1995, so almost 26 years even.

For a little context, for those posters 30 ish or younger. 1994, heh!

See, when I was little, people had computers, but, it was different, See there was the general population, and the G population had uh video games, game systems like Atari Nintento Sega, and on,

But then a small segment of the population had computers, which cost about a thousand dollars, and they did, business stuff, and some gaming stuff, but not really internet stuff

So around 1991, The internet became a big thing, for about 1 out of 4 people, people who had (well today it'd be about 2200 bucks) to spend on computers and then inter connect them, and the internet was a new thing but for at least 1/3rd of all people and I'd profess about 3/4 of all people still didn't have the internet,

See the internet, got invented, but! all of a sudden, about
4 months before Christmas, or 4 months before thanksgiving and Christmas time, , the uhh business marketers got together and

You'd hear about a deal, you can get a new computer, (1000 dollar going rate) (which many people didn't have) and the internet, (which had been a 100 dollar a month expense, (think 170 in todays dollars)

For 200 Dollars one time and 50 dollars a month.

My point is, that, that particular year is when 90% of the remaining 3 out of 4 people, got computers and the internet for the first time,

and for the Very First time, the Internet stopped being a computer nerds' thing, and became an everybody has it' thing.

and that year was 1994/1995, and the marketed produt was micorsofts' windows' 95, (or maybe I'm off by "one" year, but not two.

So I'm saying, the Last time the Browns Won a playoff game, was about the year the internet, was invented,

Now, it was invented whenever, but that's the year, that the (unwashed masses), mostly got it, for the first time.

Big loss for the Steelers.

PigPen to follow...

I fully expected to see a bad guys come back we lose game, and I listen to the Radio broadcast.

But there was an epic meltdown on the CB radio broadcast when the Steelers had scored 16 straight(15?) and the lead was 12,

It was becoming a buzz kill, (I get the point), I had to turn off the radio, and just watch on silent.
(Silent is actually better than listening to tv announcers)

but, for 60 seconds, Cleveland Browns radio broadcast was really bringing me down, bummer,
(the lead was 28, and now it's 12)

I doubt he walks away from 40m

He still took a shot at Baker at the very end.

Dieken looks stoked.

Cowherd is the biggest HACK in the sports talk industry.

May he go straight to HELL!

Can you imagine if we somehow beat KC?

Man the comments are brutal but also spot on.

If you haven't checked it out - Cowherd says all the credit for the win goes to Stefanski. But 1/2 way down there is a clip of Cowherd pregame saying the coaches/covid situation doesn't matter and the game is 100% on Baker, no excuses. Ugh. He's a piece of excrement and I hate that I spent 4 minutes listening even though it proved that he's a talentless hack.

He is who we thought he was.

Yep. Just can't let it go lol. Some men take forever to mature, some men, well, it just never happens lol.

I can imagine we will beat KC. Their Run D is not good and Baker and Mahomes have a history

Yes I can and I have a feeling it's going to be a lot closer than most people think and could very well come down to who has the ball last with just enough time.

I love Dieken. And god bless whoever came in at the end and told him to start smiling. :-p

For real? Dang....

Dude did seriously chuck that ball, though. Wow, that was nowhere near his 6'4" QB.

Do they have a formidable pass rush? Do they have a creative D coordinator? Those are the two things that most concern me.

For the most post our D has been porous and had a touch time stopping anyone all year ... barring opportunistic turnovers. SO ... I don't see all that big of a deal going against the much vaunted KS offense ... Burrows embarrassed us, I am sure Mahomes and Hill will also. We just have to keep the pedal to the floor and hope we get that lucky break and an turnover when the chance is there.

I thought we would/should beat the Steelers. I feel that we *can* be able to beat KC.

*** Or to put it a different way - I am lot happier to play KC than the Ravens and their D.

Unfortunately for the NFL as a whole the NorthEast Magalopolis (Bos-Wash) had no teams worth watching for a large chunk of the year and now their ratings are down.

And yet, no one in Cleveland or Buffalo cares

I thought KC had a sneaky-good D. Someone on here said that they were average vs the run (not sure who they've played to establish that #).

I'm eyeballing the PF Reference tables. They have 6 less sacks than our D on the year. They seemed to give up quite a few yards to RBs over the course of the year, but very few TDs. Their pass D is stingy.

I wouldn't imagine it far-fetched to think the Chiefs were ALREADY game-planning for the Steelers next week. I'd love to think a MAJOR wrench was thrown into their planning last night. AND we'll be heading to Missouri with a slightly different slate of players to plan for. Well, maybe more than just "slightly."

I dunno why but I just wasn't really that worried going into this game. I didn't lay any money on the Browns really, but I just felt like we had a chance. Obviously we had more than a chance and let Pittsburgh spend most of the game chasing us.

That was a franchise-changing win last night. I don't think the guys on the team fully understand Browns fans. How can they? Most didn't grow up following this team. Sure, they have been told the history, the bad breaks, close calls, and some have even been around for the lowest point in franchise history. Last night felt like all of those guys understood Browns fans.

If someone asked you to pick an mvp of the game last night, where do you even start? Everyone made plays. Everyone contributed.

Kareen Hunt only touched the ball 9 times for 61 yards, but how important were all of them? He ran like a man possessed last night. He's a guy I am circling for next week.

Baker Mayfield played so well. That drive to get that touchdown right before half was huge. He didn't have gaudy stats last night. Of course you won't when you jump out to that lead. He did what he needed to do.

Nick Chubb, ho hum another game where he rips out the opposition's heart. What a call on that screen pass.

The tackling on defense last night was such a joy to see. I think every Browns team since '99 has been a poor poor tackling team. Now we stop the run and guys are tackling. Doing all of this with Ward and others out is so impressive.

I have not been able to read this entire thread, but I am sure there is a common theme with the coaching job last night. Can't say enough. What these guys did to make up for the loss of personnel both on the roster and on the staff is nothing short of incredible. Oh, and with an 18 year playoff drought, and even longer winless drought hanging right in front of you. Mike Priefer should never pay for a drink in Cleveland again. What a job. Alex Van Pelt, called a really solid game.

I know people were probably freaking out when this lead started to dwindle, but they did the right thing by packing it in.

Also, I cannot imagine Pittsburgh sports talk radio right now, and that call to punt on 4th 1 in the 4th quarter. They had us against the ropes. Momentum was heavily on their side, and you punt? I can't believe that call in 2021.

I also didn't sense any relief with the Browns after this game. They didn't seem like they won their super bowl. I think they want more. I really think they can give KC a good game.

So proud to be a Browns fan right now. I have spent so much time in these forums spilling out my thoughts on terrible football. It's nice to be in mid-january talking about an upcoming game.

At the bottom of the article is a PDF link to the complete breakdown of the game.

No. They closed their facility because their season is over.

Right now all that I can think about is we will get all our players back.

I don't remember when was the last game that we played all starters?

All that has gone down. All the games missed by key talent.

Chubb, Teller, Myles, Harrison, Ward, Hodge, Vernon, Sendajo, Johnson, Bitonio, Hubbard, Harris.

Outside of Vernon, Hubbard, Harris we can play our starters.

We have forged through so much adversity. If there is no further covid. Think about practice this week.

Look out KC someone is creeping up on you.

All Steelers' WR's are class

At least were playing

Steelers going to get clapped all next year, so we good

He is a young stupid receiver... they are a dime a dozen

If we get "clapped," Steelers would have been "terribly abused."

No respect for these guys. I use to respect them but not now. Sit on the bench and pout while refusing to shake hands after the game is over. I've lost all respect for them.

I feel the same way. When you won everything was great but now that you lost you act like an entitled spoiled child. Sort of like Boston sports fans. Grow up an act like men!!!

They can't just shut up, even sitting at home.

More fuel for the Browns!

Replying to both of you.

our teams may have been a joke in the past, laughed at and beat down over and over. But at least they did one thing. Handle those losses like men.

This is just dispicable.

We are rested. Wave to the losers from last night. No class in losing. They got owned.

Awwwe, look, even Chasey is trashy. Can't wait to punk these chicks, for years on end, while they search for their next three Bubby Bristers.

Chase Claypool knows about getting clapped in the playoffs coming from Notre Dame and getting spanked like that last night.

They would have faced the Ravens if the Steelers had won.

It's a bit early but in order for us to beat the Chiefs we have to keep the ball on O as long as possible. Again, quick passing game, slants, dump off to our backs , long and short snap counts and make good use of our TE's both blocking and receiving. That should open up our running game. Anything to move the chains and keep Mahommes off the field.

What a game. I was in shock the first quarter. I got a little worried from time to time, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I’ve so forgotten what all this feels like. It still hasn’t sunken in yet. Way to go, Browns! We all needed this.

I dislike the talking heads who call the Browns "America's Team"

Um no. The Browns are NOT America's Team. I spent the last 20 years being ridiculed in bars for being a Browns fan. AND NOW YOU WANT TO CLAIM OUR TEAM???

Oh hell no.

The Browns are CLEVELAND'S team. Get your bandwagoning ass out.

+ 1 Thats the Eve I know

Reid is no dummy - so this might not be so simple .... BUT .... it may come down to manipulating time of possession at the end of the 2nd Q and 4th Q and making sure we are the ones with the ball and score ... and are within a TD of going ahead at game end .... and then leaving "no time" on the clock. 1 minute would be too long. 20 seconds? Whatever it takes.

Bravo, Eve! Well said...

GC. It's the Quarterback!
Stupid

We aren't going to play keep-away with the Chiefs for 60 minutes. For this to be a game, we're going to need to score right along with them. Last team to score wins. I see a barnburner, just like when Mayfield and Mahomes met in college.

how cool would it be to see us go toe to toe with them offensively

(And how aggravating would it be to watch our defense haha)

As long as we score 1 more point than them it won't be aggravating at all

Steelers won't even have the chance to get clapped by KC.

"Why?" you might ask.
Answer: because datazz got clapped by the Browns yesterday.

Chase our newspaper clippings, Claypool, you loser.

Or they just spread more to us.

I’d bet they already had some cases

Yup that's how I'd do it if I were cheating the system.

Report it right after the game so it looks like you just caught it.

Although in the testers are independently run by the NFL and they'd never favor one team over the other.

I never had any respect for them.

j/c:



To me this is a pretty big deal towards his evolution as a complete back.

Weeks 1-11 (granted he missed a few games), he was targeted 4 times in the passing game.

Weeks 12- Wild Card, he has been targeted 18 times. That's huge.

Oh, and he has brought in every one of those targets minus two.

Mommy's punk. Sleep it off. This won't heal for awhile.

Thanks, Hack. You're always a class act and a good sport, especially through all your years of dominance.

Now go teach your WRs how to act.

Ok I live out of state... I dont even know who this guy is. Never heard the name. Him and back up Oline guys stepping up was huge. Thank you Browns TEAM

Obviously he's getting a bunch of flack on social media, but Ryan Clark was the one that really smacked him upside the head.

I’ve actually been waiting for us to deploy Chubb more in the pass game ... I think Stefanski is pretty calculated with installing and building the playbook

I’ll expect a few other things this week too

Makes me wonder if the roles were reversed (Covid issues for coaching staff, 3-4 important starts, no practice, OL played who only joined the team that morning etc) would this clown be using it as an excuse for the Steelers loss?

Those are some eyebrows.

They will be like Andy Rooney's in 40 years.

I wonder if he's related to Wild Bull Curry, one of the dirtiest wrestlers ever.

Never understood ridiculing the team that just beat you. I always went with the thought that if we got beat, I want that opponent to take it all, and show that it took the best to beat us.

100% Agree with this. That is the mentality I take.

Grateful that has to be one of my favorites of all time~~!!

Literally has me in tears!

More loser cope.
My sister told me this is like a teen girl saying "yeah, she beat my ass but they're feuding with whoever and she'll beat her ass"
They just need to STFU at this point. It's making them look worse

j/c...

Heads up: replay is on tonight at 8PM

On which network?

NFL Network

Rewatching that 1st quarter without the stress of the unknown ... is FUN

What I didn’t really notice: how FIRED up we were as a team. We were flying around ... much like what we’ve all wanted to see for two decades. We certainly were the hungrier team

When you get to the part where Redwine intercepts a pass, watch what Karl Joseph delivers to Pouncey at the end of the play...That's what I love about passionate gritty players.

I heard the full game is on youtube.

i recorded this version just in case ... I’d like to be able to keep this one!

Offense:
1. Baker Mayfield- 90.5
2. Jack Conklin- 82.1
3. Jarvis Landry- 82.1
4. Michael Dunn- 81.0
5. JC Tretter- 80.5
6. Kareem Hunt- 71.2
7. Nick Chubb- 70.5
8. Jedrick Wills Jr- 69.6
9. Wyatt Teller- 67.6
10. Austin Hooper- 65.9

Defense:
1. BJ Goodson- 79.6
2. Porter Gustin- 79.1
3. Andrew Sendejo- 72.7
4. Sione Takitaki- 68.6
5. Mack Wilson- 67.2
6. Terrance Mitchell- 65.6
7. Vincent Taylor- 62.1
8. Robert Jackson- 62.0
9. Myles Garrett- 61.3
10. Jordan Elliott- 58.4

Thanks! For some reason I couldn't get it to copy and paste.

same... just re watched the first quarter... un real...

You know as clips of the game from various players and angles have been coming out... there's a lot of them where you see Steelers get manhandled.

Years ago, a good friend decided to join the Dawg Pound when the Browns made The Return. I told him what it meant to be a fan of this team, what the history was, and what he should expect, going forward. I also remember telling him: "There isn't a single one of us who would ever blame you if you decided to bail. It's a Browns thing for us; most folks can never understand." Michigan native, he was U of M, but never really the Lions. Never really had a team. So, when CLE came back, we'd already become good friends, and he decided to go all-in. I'm really happy for him.

There was a time when I'm sure I'd have lost my mind at a playoff win like this one. For some strange reason, I've been amazingly calm and just- so, so... satisfied.

This team has been more than just a joy to watch. They've been an inspiration. They started from less than nothing, beat back CoVid, beat the odds, beat 12 opponents, and did it as a Pod Against The World. No one would have given them a chance. Which is exactly why they are so special to us, and why I'm so amazingly calm.

From the time this team played better than .500, I've looked upon all of this as gravy. Every game has been a gift. Relevance in January: priceless. And it's not just that we're here... it's how this team got us here.

This team's only viable path to reach this point required them to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers not once, but twice... in successive weeks. First, at home, in the reg season finale, and one week later, in the house where PIT has humiliated Little Brother for years. Hollywood studios would laugh this script out of the conference room for lack of believability, but them's Our Browns, right?

Which frames Sunday night's tilt in the starkest of terms for us Browns fans:

If ever there was a culture-changing inflection point, the past 2 weeks were the fulcrum under the teeter-totter. And look what these young men did with the balance point. Oh, my goodness. My goodness.

_____________________

So, I'm not jumping up and down, losing my mind.

Instead, I'm looking at what they've done, who they are, who is in charge/place... and I'm finally seeing what I've always been preaching.

Let us not forget one important factor in this incredible season: this was Year One.

I'm feeling calm satisfaction because it looks like the beginnings of a long stretch of years that sees CLE playing in January. Stretches like those are what bring multiple Lombardis to a club.

Those last 2 games were an exorcism.
That last game was catharsis.
This team is finally for real.

No matter what happens beyond this past 2 game stretch, something very important happened: Browns made Steelers cry. Not Steelers fans- Steelers players.
Tilt/Shift.
New reality for the AFCN

[img]https://brobible.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/lookslikeben.jpg?w=640[/img]

j/c

I saw on social media that Joe Haden had not won a playoff game while with PIT. I did not know that. Kinda funny.

And I remember Schobert tweeting after the 1st weekend of the season about how nice it was to finally be 1-0 in his career (JAX won game 1). I wonder if the warm-and-fuzzy from that win has worn off yet?

Look at guys improving. Role players like Goodson and Taylor and Takitaki ... pretty cool

https://twitter.com/NFLFilms/status/1349049393123635200

we’ve waited two decades for that

Classic "break-up" image too, as we found out the next morning.

Pouncy: "I just feel like we've drifted apart. You don't seem to understand, maybe it's over your head."

Maybe Ben thinks they're purty

Nervous Browns Fan Still Worried Team Going To Blow 48-37 Lead Over Steelers From Days Ago

WARREN, OH—Pacing around his living room continuously and nervously downing pretzels, local Browns fan Max Symanski was reportedly still worried Wednesday that the team was going to blow a 48-37 lead over the Steelers that it had held since Sunday night. “They always do this. They get your hopes up by building this lead at the end of four quarters, but they always give it away,” said Symanski, who told reporters that he knows better than to relax just because the Browns have built up a double-digit lead, the game ended, and the team has officially moved on to the divisional round. “They already let the Steelers crawl back into this after being up 28 points. I can tell that by Thursday or Friday they’ll get complacent, give up a couple late touchdowns, and get knocked out of the playoffs. We haven’t won a playoff game in 25 years, and we’re not about to start now. This organization is always the same.” At press time Symanski was screaming at his TV after learning that acting head coach Mike Priefer had taken all the starters out of the game with 0:00 still left on the clock.

https://sports.theonion.com/nervous-brow..._source=twitter

funny stuff

Rewatching the game from last night confirmed something I saw live that never got addressed. It was on the Steelers first TD drive, 4th and 1, low snap, Connor up the middle, stopped short. Both line judges ran in showing a spot short of the first down. When the nearside judge realized they had not gotten the first down, he gradually inched his body toward the first down until he was sure he gave it to them. The other line judge was like "whatever", but they were literally standing a full yard apart. Inside 2 minutes and no replay. Chris and Al didn't want to bring it up because they were crushed by what was happening. I've never heard two sportscasters wish for a comeback so blatantly as those two.

I mean for those who don't believe that certain teams get special treatment, go and rewatch that play. Insanity.

I saw that and I agree. I could not understand why they did not review that because it appeared he was stopped short or at least stop the clock and measure, the definitely spotted the ball further up than it should have been.

Yep, just "re-noticed" that last night when I watched the game again. Pretty crooked walk towards the ball, laughable actually. I guess they were like "screw it, let them challenge if they want". Which, unfortunately is a lot like my waitress not caring if my glass is empty and making me ask for a drink. Substandard, but that's life in the NFL for a read-headed stepchild.

I brought that up in the gameday chat. No review, no replay on TV. You know damn well something's up when they won't even show a replay on such a critical play. That was one instance where the interim coach made a blunder....should have called a time out and worked the refs.

I agree. Priefer should have called timeout and forced their hand.

The most comical part was the line judge adjusting his path as he ran up to spot the ball to ensure the first down. I watch a lot of football. Too much actually. That's not very common.

But hey, the Steelers were losing big, and they needed to figure out how to get them back in the game.

They were quick to review it in the Raiders game 2 years ago weren't they? Cost us the game and a shot at the playoffs.

one of the best in the business breaking down the game

Lets make plans. I've never seen Sweden

Let me know. We have a killer tailgate at Burke Airport lot

Atta girl!

I think a lot of folks saw that .. Really bad

I watch that and I think a lot of the issues we have with miscommunication, or guys running into each other, is largely a factor of how much we've had to swap guys in and out this year in our secondary.

I mean, it's like a reshuffled deck every week, it seems.

4 or 5 weeks ago, I don't remember which game it was, during a questionable spot challenge, the "expert" they brought in mentioned that on first downs, the refs spot the ball on a hash mark exactly, so they know more readily if something is a first down or not. So if you catch a pass for a first down and get tackled with the ball at the 38 1/2. they will spot it directly on the 38 or the 39.

So the officials know, as they rush in to spot the ball, if they put it short of the hash, it won't be a first down, if they put it on the hash, it will be a first down. And I can't help but think that could easily influence an official as to where to spot the ball if we are talking about inches or even a foot or so.. the fact that they already KNOW where the spot is that is needed for the first down.

Around the time you are talking about - the 'expert' - Sports Illustrated had an article about chain gangs, etc. The spotting of the ball was mentioned, and, just as this 'expert' said, officials do their best to spot the ball on a yard line.

Why? To save a bit of time, so the tv stations can get all their ad breaks in, and not have the game run long.

Chase Claypool doubled down on his post game comments about the Browns, calling the way the Browns dogged Juju during and after the game "classless". Hey Chase, who instigated this whole thing?

https://www.radio.com/937thefan/sports/p...tally-classless

That's what his dense head doesn't get.

Claypool has a very smooth brain.

Browns should get tee shirts that say "Juju started it" ... err, cancel that, just lost my mind there for a sec.

Im getting a Browns be the Browns shirt

Myles Garrett to Jarvis Landry:

"They never gave us a chance. They never gave us a chance."

There comes a point where a team allows a team legend to retire rather than cut him.

I agree - we are still playing like a Patriots type team at their prime because we are prepared

My new game day shirt! [img]https://photos.app.goo.gl/RYSuCioN7jEvLgAk6[/img]

I think that getting everyone back healthy could solve a LOT of woes. Communication should be better, talent should be better. It's FAR, FAR< FAR from a being a gimme, but I think we have a shot at being able to do Ok.

New game day shirt
[img:center]https://photos.app.goo.gl/RYSuCioN7jEvLgAk6[/img]
Sorry for the double post. Was trying to figure out how to post just a picture..

that host isn't going to work; it doesn't link directly to the image itself. It needs to be a URL that points directly to the image... I don't know how to get that with Google.

what else do I use to point to the image?

[img:center]https://ibb.co/R0547QT[/img]
New game day shirt!
Did it work?
Game Day Shirt

I doubt, at this point in his career, that Pitt has much say in Ben's direction. As of now, they don't have anyone that can step in and carry the offense as it is. They might be better served by (relatively) sucking for a year or two to get their cap situation under control before really starting to build back up.

From my experiences over the last 50 years don't ever count the Steelers down and out. We gave them a beat down last Sunday but they usually bounce back fairly quick.

I agree ... they’ll always be relevant, especially with their defensive playmakers. We’ll have to deal with Fitzpatrick and Watt for a long time

Clay Cesspool should just be quiet... seriously.

Coming to the defense of the way Juju was treated as a matter of "class" is a losing position.

1. If Juju feels he was treated outside the norm, he should speak for himself.
2. Given Juju's recent history with dancing on logos, even he is probably smart enough to realize speaking up about "class" is a bad idea.

I hovered over the Download Image link and copied the link address.Note the file name and extension (it's how you can tell it links direct to the file itself)
https://i.ibb.co/vPtvDL4/PXL-20210115-014232100-2-exported-1610675127450.jpg

This just in: The Steelers will be sitting all of their starters again this week.

A different angle....

I remember a time when we would be complaining about their level of class while they moved on and prepared for their next game. They had a focus because their next game meant something while ours were usually just us getting closer to the offseason.

I agree. I would love to quickly get to the point where beating the Steelers isn't that big of a deal.. sure, be glad you won but it's not like you have a big celebration every time..

I don't know that we're even really there with the Bengals, yet.

Every division win is a big deal.

Lousy dancer to boot. Just sayin.'

Thanks. Could not figure it out.

No sweat. It took me a few minutes to figure it out with that site and I knew what I was looking for, lol

Somewhat unrelated, I read this week, in a headline, a 2nd, or secondary headline, under the main,

" John Elway fired in the nicest way possible"

There's a little gleam in that statement, when I hear it.

So much for this optimism......three drops yesterday. Ugh.