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Steelers Hold off Browns 21-18 in Season Opener

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The Pittsburgh Steelers traveled to Cleveland Ohio and did what they expected to do, and what you and I expected them to do: Win the game, which they did in a 21-18 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers are now 1-0, and the Browns are 0-1. Although it’s just one game, and the 1968 Steelers also started 1-0 before finishing 1-13, winning that first game can set the tone for the rest of the season, especially when your team has committed to being ‘all in’ on winning a Super Bowl, which is the case with the Steelers.

 

Of course, fans and media alike have always considered it an easy win for the Steelers when they face the Browns. After all, they did sweep the Browns the last two seasons, and the Browns finished an awful 1-15 last season. Some folks may fell like the Browns are the doormat of not only the AFC North Division but also the NFL. They’re expected to just roll over against teams like the Steelers and lose about 10-15 (maybe 16) games a year.

 

Well, apparently no one sent the Browns that memo, because 1. It’s a new season when every team starts 0-0, and after the Browns had a pretty decent draft with hopes of improving in 2017 and 2. despite the loss, the Browns kept it close most of the game. And I still stand by the fact that it doesn’t matter what two teams have done or what their record is or was: On Any Given Sunday, a team can ‘show up’ and beat their opponent. It happened in 2014, 2013, 2009, 2006 and 1991 when the Steelers faced a struggling Browns team and lost.

 

Let’s be honest, many Old-School Steelers fans are still stuck in the 70’s when the Steelers truly dominated the Browns every season, but of course, that was the first Browns team that played from 1946-1995 and then left Cleveland and became the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers are facing the new Browns team which began in 1999 and at times (well, lots of times) have looked like the first Browns team: Horrible. But dominance means victory, which is what the Steelers did against the Browns today.

 

So for those who were disappointed that the Steelers only beat the Browns 21-18, ask yourselves this question: What if the Steelers would’ve lost to the Browns today? That should help put things back to perspective.

 

Despite the close margin, the Steelers did trail the Browns at all in this game, and they took an early 7-0 lead after forcing the Browns to punt on their first possession. The special teams then made their mark when LB Tyler Matakevich stepped in front of Browns P Britton Colquitt) and blocked the attempted punt, which rolled into the endzone and stayed there until Steelers LB Anthony Chickillo fell on it for the score. It was the first blocked punt for a TD for the Steelers since 1998. The Steelers also blocked a punt in the preseason as well, so they might be a unit to keep an eye on this year.

 

You might want to keep an eye on Browns rookie QB DeShone Kizer as he showed great poise in his first regular-season game. I remember watching Kiser at Notre Dame, and I came away impressed. He was also impressive on his team’s next drive as he drove the ball down the field on the Steelers defense like he’d been doing it all his life and he eventually scored his first NFL TD on a 1-yard sneak, which tied the game at 7.

 

It was easy to think that the Browns stole the momentum after that, but I figured it was a matter of time before the Steelers imposed their will on the Browns and the Browns at times submitted their will to them.

 

One of the Steeler players who helped his team impose their will on the Browns was TE Jesse James who caught the Steelers new two touchdowns on consecutive drives. Maybe he’s still ticked off over the Steelers acquisition of TE Vance McDonald because Head Coach Mike Tomlin felt the position needed improvements, but James played as he did in last year’s Divisional Round Game vs. KC: Pretty good. James scored on a 4-yard TD pass from QB Ben Roethlisberger in the 2nd quarter and on a shovel pass from Big Ben in the 3rd quarter to extend the Steelers lead to 21-10. James finished the game with six catches for 41 yards.

 

James was good, but he wasn’t the best receiver on the field. That honor belonged to the best WR in the NFL: Antonio Brown. Although he didn’t score a TD (to the dismay of those who wanted to see him dance) But Brown had an incredible game in which he causes 11 passes for 182 yards, including an incredible leaping catch in front of 3 Browns that helped seal the victory for the Steelers. He also had an impressive 55-yard catch that helped st up James first TD.

 

Roethlisberger also helped impose the Steelers will on the Browns as he passed for 263 yards, two scores and an interception that was tipped near the endzone. For those who think retirement is on his mind, needed to watch this game. Big Ben wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done for his team.

 

The Steelers defense also imposed their will on the Browns as they may have found something that has been truly missing the past few seasons: Their pass rush. The Steelers sacked Kizer 7 times today, including two from 1st round pick TJ Watt, who continues to look like Kevin Greene in my opinion. Just like his brother JJ Watt (of the Houston Texans), TJ Watt knows how to get to the QB and if he keeps it this up, he will be fun to watch. Watt also got his first NFL interception when he snatched a Kizer pass out of the air late in the 3rd quarter.

 

Other Steelers who got sacks today: Chickillo (2), DT Jason Hargave (1), DE Cam Heyward (1), and new Steelers CB Joe Haden, formerly of the Browns. The Steelers need this type of production from it’s defense, especially if they want to get past the New England Patriots when it counts.

 

Unfortunately, the Steelers also had their struggles as well: As good as the defense was, the pass defense still needs work as they committed several penalties that helped aid the Browns on offense. They should know better than to lead with their helmet, which is what CB William Gay and S JJ Wilcox often did. And of course, it drew flags. Plus, Wilcox’s hit on Brown’s WR Corey Coleman came after Coleman crossed the goal line after Kizer found him on a 3-yard score to close the Steelers lead to 21-18. Wilcox would then leave the game after getting shaken up on his hit.

 

RB Le’Veon Bell also struggled in his first action since the last year’s AFC Championship Game. As we know, he missed all of the training camp and the Steelers Preseason games because he waited to sign the $12.1 million Franchise Tag. Well, Bell didn’t help his cause or the Steelers as he finished with 32 yards on only ten carries. I know that Bell will eventually come around, but I would love to ask him how missing training camp has helped him so far.

 

All in all, the Steelers got the W. That’s all that matters. Sure the offense could’ve scored more, and the defense could’ve played better on specific drives, but it’s only the first game of the season, with 15 more to go. Tomlin and his crew will make adjustments and improvements as the season goes on, but I bet they’ll tell you that it’s easier to make those adjustments when you win. And if you’re trying to secure Homefield advantage or even a first-round bye for the playoffs, then piling up those wins are crucial. No matter how pretty of ugly they are.

 

So go ‘head and call the Steelers 21-18 win vs. the Browns an ugly win. And I’ll tell you this: A win is a win, and no matter how you look at it, the Steelers are 1-0.

 

Notes: DE Stephon Tuitt left the game with a shoulder injury early in the first quarter. This comes a day after Tuitt signed a six-year contract extension worth $61 million. Chickillo filled in for LB Bud Dupree, who was inactive because of injury. Roethlisberger surpassed HOF Fran Tarkenton for 10th place in career completions (3,811) in NFL history.

 

Please email Ray at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

Follow him @urbanmediaRay on twitter

 

Pittsburgh 21, Cleveland 18

Sept. 10, 2017

Post-Game Notes

 

TEAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Team                 Kickoff Weekend Wins AFC Teams

                Pittsburgh                                    43

Denver                      37 (Plays on Monday Night)

Indianapolis                   33 (Game in Progress)

LA Chargers              32 (Plays on Monday Night)

New England                                 32

 

 

 

Head Coach Mike Tomlin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QB Ben Roethlisberger

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOST PASS COMPLETIONS IN

                Rk.      PLAYER, YEAR                                          NFL HISTORY

  1. John Elway, 1983-98                                   4,123
  2. Eli Manning, 2004-current                           4,072 (Plays on Sunday Night Football)
  3. Warren Moon, 1984-2000                            3,988
  4. Drew Bledsoe, 1993-2006                           3,839
  5. Ben Roethlisberger, 2004-current           3,828
  6. Philip Rivers, 2004-current                          3,811 (Plays on Monday Night Football)

               

MOST PASS COMPLETIONS IN

                Rk.      PLAYER, YEARS                                       NFL HISTORY

  1. John Elway, 1983-98                                   51,475
  2. Warren Moon, 1984-2000                            49,325
  3. Eli Manning, 2004-current                           48,214 (Plays on Sunday Night Football)
  4. Ben Roethlisberger, 2004-current           47,077
  5. Fran Tarkenton, 1961-78                             47,003

 

WR Antonio Brown

 

 

                Rk.      STEELER, YEARS                                     100+ YARD GAMES

  1. Antonio Brown, 2010-current                   30
  2. Hines Ward, 1998-2011                              29
  3. John Stallworth, 1974-87                             25

 

 

 

 

MOST DOUBLE-DIGIT RECEPTION

                Rk.      STEELER, YEARS                                     GAMES IN STEELERS HISTORY

  1. Antonio Brown, 2010-current                   14
  2. Hines Ward, 1998-2011                              7

T3.       Heath Miller, 2005-2015                              3

Yancey Thigpen, 1992-97                           3

 

 

 

RB Le’Veon Bell

 

                Rk.      STEELER, YEARS                                     SCRIMMAGE YARDS

  1. Heath Miller, 2005-15                                  6,577
  2. Louis Lipps, 1984-91                                   6,406
  3. Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current                       6,097
  4. Willie Parker, 2004-09                                 6,075
  5. Lynn Swann, 1974-82                                 5,534

 

ENTERING THE GAME

                Rk.      STEELER, YEARS                                     SCRIMMAGE YARDS

  1. Jerome Bettis, 1996-2000                           7,242
  2. Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current                       6,097
  1. Franco Harris, 1972-76                                   5,947
  1. Willie Parker, 2004-08                                 5,622
  2. Antonio Brown, 2010-14                              5,341

 

TE Jesse James

 

 

 

G David DeCastro

 

CB William Gay

 

S Mike Mitchell

 

 

CB Joe Haden

 

 

LB Anthony Chickillo

 

 

LB Tyler Matakevich

 

LB Ryan Shazier

 

LB T.J. Watt

 

 

 

 

 

 

DE Cameron Heyward

 

 

 

 

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