Steelers vs. Browns , Week 13: Knee-Jerk Reactions to the Steelers’ mammoth 20-13 win over the Browns

The Steelers welcome Cleveland into Heinz Field in what is more than just a revenge game. It’s pretty much do-or-die before heading into the last quarter of the season. Emotions will be high for all of us watching, as well for the players on the field. So there are going to be plenty of immediate reactions all around.

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 7-5 after starting off the season so poorly.

Quarter 1

• Here we go. Need this one for many reasons.
• Glad to kick off first and get the ball in the second half.
• This initial series will be crucial. You can’t let them score early.
• T.J. Watt just missed getting to Baker Mayfield.
• Third downs will be important.
• And they couldn’t get off the field.
• They aren’t tackling well early,
• Huge torpedo tackle by Mike Hilton on Kareem Hunt.
• Gotta hold them to three.
• This call shouldn’t change. I think Landry’s foot was in the air.
• I think it probably going to get reversed.
• Yep.
• Ridiculous to let them convert on third and long.
• The heart of the team is failing them early.

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• Run defense looked start on first down.
• Watt with a huge sack. Perfect timing.
• T.J. Is now tied for 11th all-time in franchise history with Clark Haggans at 32.5 sacks.
• At least they only got three.
• 3-0. Browns.
• Great return by Kerrith Whyte. Keep him in there.
• It’s Duck time. Let’s see what he has.
• Predictable series. Uggh!
• No escaping that sack.
• This Browns offense is looking sharp.
• Big time stop on third down by Vince Williams. Had to get off of the field there.
• Steelers need to move chains and get points on their second drive.
• Samuels helped out Duck as they get the first down.
• At the end of one, it’s 3-0 in favor of Cleveland.

Quarter 2

• Whyte is freaky fast. If he can get loose. He’ll be dangerous.
• Another third down. Need to convert.
• Duck’s not starting off hot.
• Mayfield is methodical in chewing up this defense.
• Thats going against the Steelers. Can’t get a break.
• Heyward with a big stop.
• Mayfield got destroyed by Watt and still completes it. Crap!
• Dammit! Hunt with the score.
• You can’t go down by 10 in a game like this.
• Great catch by JWash.
• Snap it quick.
• Johnson with a good run on the reverse.
• Moving the ball. But need points here. Preferably seven.
• Brought back the “cat”. Worked for seven yards,
• And a first down.
• I don’t get the false start penalty.
• And they only got three. I’ll reluctantly take it.
• Wow. Kam Kelly with a mammoth ST hit.
• It is third down and late in the half, gotta get off of the field.
• Stopped them. But why can’t we sack this guy?
• Duck...you need magic here.
• Deon Cain with a grab. Nice.
• Ohhhh! I thought DJ18 had it.
• Great and gutsy pass from Duck to Tevin Jones. Need to get in the touchdown zone.
• If they don’t throw OPI on that play to Washington, it’s going to be an amazing catch.
• Just saw the replay. It won’t be. Awesome play.
• Touchdown Steelers! That was huge,

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• Need to keep the Browns off of the scoreboard in the next minute.
• Well that was a huge miscue on ST for the Browns. A defensive score here would be awesome.
• Can’t let Hunt get that free, down that deep.
• They are letting Hunt run all over them.
• I’m going to lose my mind if they give up points here.
• That was OPI on Beckham.
• Baker may have really hurt his throwing hand on Bud Dupree’s face mask.
• That’s the half. The score is tied at ten. Wow!

Quarter 3

• Looks like Baker will be back.
• This would be a big deal if the Steelers could score early on.
• They could get Samuels for helmet-to-helmet.
• No, they got Johnson. Rookie got to keep his cool.
• Another huge catch by James Washington.
• Hartman called it.
• Play smart and get in.
• Huge third down.
• I hate Joe Schobert. Because he’s reallly good.
• Deon Cain is going too be a keeper. Way to draw the PI.
• Snell Yeah! Touchdown Steelers! 17-10.

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• How bad will the injury hinder Baker?
• Stopping them on this first drive would be nice.
• No. 6 is fine.
• Nelson really intercepted the catch credited to Carlson. But that’s the rule.
• Big third and three,
• Nice stop
• Of course, they are going to go for it and probably get it.
• The Steelers defense needs a sack or a turnover here.
• Is Heyward limping?
• No. My bad.
• Liking that penalty to set the Browns back. Now make them pay.
• And they did. Another strip sack by Bud Dupree. Heyward with the recovery. Yesssssssss!
• Man. Snell is a power guy. Great 14-yard run.
• Dammit Vanimal.
• Just get in FG range.
• I like decisive Duck. Devlin with a huge first down run,
• Every time I here the name Takitaki, I giggle a little.
• Big first down by Nick Vannett.
• End of three. 17-10. Good guys.

Quarter 4

• Duck got lucky on that third down play.
• Boz for three. Good! 20-10.
• Defense is fired up. Stop them here.
• Now hold that lead.
• Bud is bummed. He missed a sure sack.
• But Sutton and Watt with the combined sack.
• Now. Let’s drain clock and move chains.
• That pass could have been picked. Be smart.
• Pin them back deep, Jordan Berry.
• This could be a pivotal series right here.
• They are gaining yards in chunks on our defense. Don’t play too conservative.
• Edmunds helped out, but they got lucky right there when Demetrius Harris dropped that ball.
• Big time team sack by Hargrave, Heyward and Dupree.
• Held them to three. 20-13.
• Gotta be smart all the way around and drain clock.
• I guess they didn’t take my advice. Awful interception.
• Good job by Hilton to recover and knock a sure catch away from Landry at the two.
• Edmunds with a great tackle on Hunt. Saved possibly a score.
• Hargrave just came up huge at the best possible time.
• This is a long field goal attempt.
• Smart to fake it. Pinned the Steelers down deep.
• No mistakes now.
• Find a way to move the chains and waste time.
• Good challenge by Tomlin. This could be really big if they overturn the spot.
• How can they not overturn that?
• No safety or turnover. Just get out of trouble.
• BSJ = clutch. Huge block by DeCastro.
• Big 3rd and 6.
• I’m glad they trusted Hodges to throw that ball. I wish Johnson would have stayed in bounds.
• Vanimal is staring to hurt more than help.
• Pick up this third down and try to end it.
• Redemption for Vance. Really big.
• Timeouts are gone. Get a first down and it’s over.
• The Wildcat wasn’t so wild there. Talk about swallowing a hair ball.
• Be smart on this third down. I’m fine with Berry pinning them deep and having the defense try to close it out.
• Hodges missed a wide open DJ.
• Should have run the ball.
• Going to cost you a bunch of time.
• Lets do it, defense.
• Minkah with stellar coverage.
• Bud almost got another.
• Roughing. Really?
• Thats bull.
• Just like I predicted in “Bold and Bizarre Predictions”, Haden with the perfect pick.
• But I was wrong on the final score and I’m thrilled about it.
• Yesssssssss!!!
• That’s the game. Final score: Steelers 20 Browns 13.

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.