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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Scribble in my notebook as the Cleveland Browns set an NFL playoff record with 28 points in the first quarter to take a 35-10 halftime lead over Pittsburgh. The Steelers made four … count them … FOUR turnovers in the first half. The Browns have been exceptional in all aspects of the game.
1. In the first game of the game, Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey passed the ball over the header of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He was so high and so far the ball has ended up in the Pittsburgh end zone, where it was picked up by Cleveland goalie Karl Joseph for a TD. Pouncey had a few other shots that weren’t targeted.
2. Seeing that snap, you would have thought it was Pouncey’s first playoff game. But he’s a veteran, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. On their next possession, Roethlisberger panicked under the pressure and threw an interception at MJ Stewart.
3. Then the Browns set up another quick TD when Baker Mayfield hit Jarvis Landry on a 40-yard pass. It took 5 minutes, 14 seconds and a pair of turnovers to give the Browns a 14-0 lead. It was an absolutely magnificent start to the game. The third TD came on an 11-yard drive led by Kareem Hunt.
4. The Browns weren’t done. Roethlisberger threw his second interception of the first quarter, Cleveland safety Sheldrick Redwine making an excellent catch. Then Hunt scored another TD. They had a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
5. Nick Chubb rushed for 17 and 28 yards on his first two carries in the game. At the start of the game, Pittsburgh looked like the team that hadn’t been training all week. They also gave silly penalties and the Browns were very clear.
6. The Browns turned three Pittsburgh turnovers into three touchdowns. The other remarkable part of the first half is how the Browns’ offense passed Steeler’s defense. The holes were huge. The Steelers looked confused. Pittsburgh tackled badly. The Steelers seemed much more focused against Pittsburgh last week as their game meant nothing to the Steelers.
7. Meanwhile, the Browns were playing without pressure and full of confidence. The Browns’ early start in this game is notable as they have only had one practice all week due to COVID restrictions.
8. Think Browns interim head coach Mike Priefer has been a football coach for 26 years. He was coached at four different colleges. The Browns are his sixth different NFL team. His title with the Browns is that of Special Teams Coordinator. But in those 26 years of coaching, he was only a head coach for one game. It was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.
9. I doubt there has ever been a playoff game like this where a team is not only without its head coach, but also a key assistant coach. Not only was Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski out of that game due to COVID-19, the Browns were with Bill Callahan. He is the coach of the team’s offensive line, and also very close to Stefanski. During matches, Callahan stands next to Stefanski. Callahan’s office is right next to Stefanski’s at the team’s headquarters in Berea. Callahan was one of four assistant coaches who weren’t in the Browns for that game.
10. I knew Priefer and Stefanski were on the Minnesota coaching staff in 2016. That’s when Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer had emergency eye surgery. which gave Priefer 24 hours to prepare for head coaching against Dallas. Why was Stefanski not given the job? In 2016 Stefanski was the running back coach. I forgot Stefanski didn’t become QB coach until 2017. He never called the games until the last three games of 2018. He was Minnesota’s offensive coordinator in 2019.
11. All this to underline the speed with which Stefanski, 38, has climbed the coaching ranks. I don’t know if he’ll win it, he should be the NFL Coach of the Year for leading the Browns to an 11-5 record. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was calling the pieces tonight. Van Pelt hasn’t called any games in a game since 2009, when he was Buffalo’s coordinator. But he has extensive experience as a QB coach.
12. Because Pro Bowl goalie Joel Bitonio (COVID) was out, the Browns ended up starting Michael Dunn at left guard. This was not the plan at the start of the season. The Browns had veteran Chris Hubbard and rookie Nick Harris as backup linemen. Both have knee problems.
13. I had to look for Dunn. He played in Maryland, where he was the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. He was not caught in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was on practice teams with the Rams, Jacksonville, Miami and Browns. This is the first time he’s been on the field for a real NFL game.
14. Starting the cornerback for Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson (both with COVID) is Robert Jackson. Ahead of last week’s game against Pittsburgh, Jackson’s regular-season NFL defense experience consisted of a total of six shots. He played 67 shots in the 24-22 win over the Steelers.
15. I mentioned all of these obstacles the Browns faced to emphasize how remarkable the performance in the first half was. Cleveland should have been the team that wasn’t ready to play. Instead, it was Pittsburgh, a team with no additional challenges.
16. Chubb had 53 yards on eight carries, Hunt had 44 yards on four carries. Mayfield was precise, 10 of 15 passes for 111 yards. He had two TD assists.
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