The Steelers are really riding high after four straight victories. However, they return to division play and travel to play the offseason champions on paper, the Cleveland Browns. At this juncture in the season, all games are important and this one seems even more so. Join me, won’t you, as we relive the game in real time.
Nonetheless, a simple reminder, a knee jerk reaction is an immediate and unthinking, emotional reaction. It’s basically shooting first and apologizing later. I can safely say that’s a true definition of your’s truly and a good lot of Steeler Nation. Here’s my real-time reactions during the Steelers’ quest to extend their record to 6-4 after starting off the season so poorly.
Quarter 1
- This game worries me, but if the Steelers truly turned the corner...they will be fine.
- That stadium looks rockin’.
- With Switz on the IR, we will see the speed of Tony Brooks-James.
- Nuts. JC30 could have ripped off a nice run.
- Morgan Burnett has just made more plays in this one game than he did in his entire Steeler career.
- JuJu looked open on that third down play.
- At least they didn’t throw a pick on the first series.
- Nice boot by Berry. He is valuable this year.
- Oh no! Ola is down. Not much depth at OLB to begin with.
- He could be concussed.
- That was a weird play on first down for the Browns. Linemen need to bat balls down. Not try to get plays.
- Nuts. Hunt is dangerous and Baker showed great scrambling ability to get free on third down. He was almost sacked a couple of times.
- Oh boy! Nelson got beat by OBJ.
- No TD. But Chubb will convert.
- How often are we going to hear that damned song. I used to kind of like Cleveland Rocks.
- Mayfield took it in. I really don’t like that guy much.
- 7-0...Drats!
- Here we go. Get some assemblance of points.
- That was a nice pickup of 16 by the Juje.
- Holding. Big Al is having a tough year. But he is facing Garrett.
- Ben looks like a vagrant on the sidelines.
- Washington should have had that deep ball.
- Lets check out the flags. Could they get lucky here?
- Nice!
- I was wrong. JWash got pushed off course.
- Connor with some good running.
- Really need to tie this contest up.
- It would be a nice equalizer.
- Third and three. Impose your will.
- Trey Edmunds got dominated on that play.
- Missed opportunity.
- Bobbled snap. Not on Boswell.
- This game feels off.
- The defense needs to step up here.
- Good stop on Chubb and OBJ by Barron and Nelson, back-to-back.
- Gotta tackle! C’mon Barron.
- They aren’t sacking tonight. Getting pressure, but not finishing.
- Can’t lose Watt.
- They’ve gotta get on the board soon.
- They are moving it with the short stuff, but that’s hard to convert to points all of the time.
- 3rd down. Nothing.
- Artie Burns is hurt.
- Good to see Watt with the bat.
- The defense is their only hope.
- DJ is shaken up. Not good.
- At the end of one, it’s 7-0. But feels a lot worse.
Quarter 2
- Maybe try and get some points now. This is disconcerting.
- A hold on AV. He can’t handle Garrett.
- Johnny Holton is going to drop one here.
- And I was legitimately right.
- Oy Vey!
- Vince Williams is a stud.
- Oh my God. Tackle! 59 yards. Ridiculous.
- I like the effort. Don’t think it’s gonna work.
- And it did.
- But they get it back, just like that.
- Did Haden need to grab Hodge there?
- Landy all alone. This is so bad.
- Down 14.
- Conner is in the locker room with the shoulder again.
- JuJu is hurt now too. I think it’s a concussion.
- Got a gift on the penalty, But everybody’s getting hurt.
- Another third down. Really need to convert one.
- This offense is so anemic.
- No help anywhere.
- They score a TD here...it’s over.
- Defense needs to score or get a sack here.
- Finally a tackle on third down.
- Thang goodness that punt went int the end zone.
- Starting at the 30. Get some points on this drive...please.
- Horrible loss of seven on first down.
- Tevin Jones with a regular season catch.
- Third and one. Not good.
- A QB sneak? Yesssssssss!
- Flea-Flicker pick. Oh goodness.
- I have no words.
- Not really letting Chubb get too much.
- Nelson may have gotten a pick six on that one.
- Wow! Cleveland gave us a break.
- JJSS not coming back tonight. It is a concussion.
- They have no weapons left.
- Good catch and rumble by Vanimal.
- Good catch by DJ. Glad he’s back.
- Losing Burnett isn’t good for Cleveland. He’s been great tonight.
- Can they get points?
- That was almost disastrous.Feiler came up huge,
- But it’s second and forever.
- Mason needs to run when he can.
- This is horrible tonight. Can’t get even three.
- I hope they don’t go for it on 4th and 34.
- Cleveland isn’t going to do anything dumb here.
- Halftime...14-0 bad guys.
Quarter 3
- Defense with a little something.
- Punt inside-the-five. Wow!
- Got lucky with the penalty on the gunner.
- If you have any hope whatsoever, score points here.
- A first down on a run? Am I dreaming?
- Can’t have drops.
- Can’t have interceptions either.
- Watt with a sack. He’s got 10.5 on the year.
- Defense is trying to keep them in it.
- Oh my God. These shots to the head are ridiculous. Now DJ is going to be gone.
- Surprised that they ejected Randall?
- Johnson is bleeding. He’s really hurt.
- JWash with the big catch, but it’s coming back.
- Wow! It isn’t.
- Sure the Browns don’t have their two starting safeties, but the Steelers our without their starting running back and top two wide receivers.
- Feiler screwed up there on third and one.
- But gonna get lucky on a flag.
- Gonna get a flag on Greedy Williams with a PI on Holton.
- Still gotta get in from the three. Not going to be easy.
- Yes. TD to Samuels. But are they really back in it?
- 14-7. Browns
- T.J with the big tip.
- Gotta get it back.
- Big third down.
- Well, that’s not good. Browns converted.
- They can’t give up points here.
- They seem to be chewing up yards now.
- Still not giving up huge chunks. Huge play here.
- Dammit! Mayfield is good on the run.
- You gotta be kidding me? A flag on Hilton.
- That was offensive PI.
- End of three. 14-7
Quarter 4
- Watt with the chase.
- Another big third down. Need a sack.
- No flag. Good coverage by Nelson.
- Oh my. He missed it.
- Good field position. Get back in this,
- Big pass pass to JWash on first down
- Holton looking for PI. Nope.
- Gotta call that on Greedy.
- Can you afford just a FG here? I don’t think.
- Oh boy. 4th and one.
- Stupid.
- A defensive score would be epic here. Minkah?
- Huge third down play by Bud. Sweet.
- Holton can’t catch. Doesn’t matter that he would have been out of bounds.
- Another third down.
- And nothing.
- Good punt and bounce.
- Time is running out.
- Hunt wants to fight Watt.
- Bush with a good stop.
- Another big stop.
- But gonna have bad field position again.
- Yep.
- And it’s over. Mason is bad tonight.
- Defense is trying hard.
- That catch was crazy by Carlson.
- Over. If only Barron could have turned around. Gee.
- Another pick. Mason is mud.
- Defensive stop.
- Another chance at another interception.
- Oh. They are going for it.
- Maybe not.
- A sack.
- This is painful.
- Another sack.
- Ugly loss. No business losing this game.
- Good Lord. What is going on?
- Pouncey was punching.
- Rudolph got hit in the head with a helmet.
- Garrett is a punk.
- He and Pouncey are getting suspended.
- That’s the game. Final score: 21-7
Once again, I just shot first and I’ll apologize later. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching me do the highlights if I hadn’t been blacklisted by the major networks. Now time to watch it again and see what really happened. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.