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CLEVELAND – So it was … exactly what for the Cleveland Browns? A 21-21 return against their perpetual persecutors in Pittsburgh. A better result, objectively, than since Christmas Eve 2016. How many teams have come out of the first week, assured of a better record than last year? Just one, guys. Your Cleveland Browns.
And yet, they were not happy.
"There is nothing to be happy about," said Browns receiver Josh Gordon, whose only take of the day was a 17-yard touchdown at 1 minute and 58 seconds. "We are not celebrating this, we are here to win games, it is the equivalent of a loss for me."
But for a while, at least, he had the impression of something more. For an enouraging hour, after the Steelers running back James Conner had a 21-7 lead and the Browns came back with a pair of touchdowns to send things overtime, it seemed like something special. The thing that these fans have been waiting for for almost 21 months. A victory
At every turn, the Browns made their way. When Chris Boswell, the Pittsburgh kicker, missed a 42-yard throw attempt with 1:47 in overtime, the crowd came to life. When their heroes went three times after, it caused a familiar whine. When Genard Avery fired Ben Roethlisberger to force a fumble and Joe Schobert recovered him and brought him back to the Steelers' 14-yard line – the sixth Steelers game business figure! – You thought you'd win the Super Bowl.
It was undoubtedly that, no? They had 36 seconds on the clock in the goal zone, and a win is no closer than that. The players jumped and danced on the sideline. The fans held their heads in disbelief. The elusive victory was in sight.
But he did not have to be. First, a penalty pushed the start of the race to the 24-yard line. Then a race that lost a yard, a point to stop the clock and field team on the field while North Ohio held its breath and … T.J. Watt blocked the kick.
As you might expect, the air is out of the way, but a half-disappointment is a strange atmosphere in a stadium where disappointment is total. Fans applauded the players as they ran into the locker room, which was certainly a commendable effort. But still … weird.
"A tie," said quarterback Tyrod Taylor, "is just a bitter taste".
It's hard to know how to feel after a tie. The Steelers, who usually beat this team twice a year with relative ease, had absolutely the impression of having lost. They have the most hope for this season and they expected to be 1-0 after this match and not 0-0-1.
The Browns, who went from 1 to 15 in the last two seasons and 0 to 16 last season, definitely have another standard. They are working to change that.
"I think guys can see we are an improved football team," said Browns coach Hue Jackson. "But there are areas that we need to clean and clean quickly."
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Hue Jackson discusses the Browns field overtime and looks forward to seeing the band.
So, how do you look at that, Cleveland? Do you take the approach of the glass half full? Your team has imposed a total of 13 turnovers throughout last season and already has six for this season. That's downright encouraging, right?
"I just have to put everything together," said Jabrill Peppers, shaking his head and smiling.
Or do you take the half-empty perspective, deplore the missed opportunities, ask yourself why the attack was so deplorable and deplore the fact that your team and only your team could put an end to a series of 17 defeats without to win?
"It was not last year," insisted Peppers. "It's just a whole new feeling, that's all I can say about it.We have 31 new players in this team.Many more veterans and guys who have come from all over the world. places where they have proven themselves. "
"0-16 should not make you want to win.You must always be hungry to win.We accept 0-16.We take it to the chin.But it was last year, and it's 39 is a whole new feeling here now We have shown good things today.
Will they? Will it really be different this time? The Browns came out of the first week of last week's loss to Pittsburgh. They played against the Steelers and had a chance to beat them. So, you can forgive Lake Erie's pessimist if he does not want to see the rain-soaked Sunday tie as a sign of the sunnier days ahead.
But the Browns work there, they promise. And whatever you want to say about Sunday – whatever your preference for a tie – this team is literally an improvement.
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