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Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey watch as the clock winds down during Sunday’s game. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)
PITTSBURGH — The Browns wanted to make a statement on Sunday at Heinz Field, the place that has been home to so many nightmares for them. They were playing the division-leading Steelers, a team they tied in Week 1.
“We’ve been playing a lot of good football, no matter what our record indicates,” Kevin Zeitler said after the game. “We really wanted to take a big step forward playing a great team like the Steelers and what it comes down to, they made plays, they did big things.”
It wasn’t so long ago that players were talking about how this team should be 5-0 — and they were really close to 5-0. Now they’re 2-5-1 at the season’s halfway point. Two of their last three games have been double digit losses to likely AFC playoff teams — two teams that have a chance to play in Atlanta in February.
This game came with the requisite rumors of a potential firing — this time it was the offensive coordinator, Todd Haley. No one in the locker room really wanted to talk about that, as you’d expect.
For all the progress this team has made, in this measuring stick game on a rainy afternoon against the Steelers — well, they didn’t measure up.
“We wanted to come out, especially against Pittsburgh, we wanted to come out and play a division opponent well,” Joel Bitonio said, “and they beat us pretty good today.”
The first half of the season is officially in the books. The Browns have made positive progress. They are better. How much better? It’s hard to say for sure. How much closer to turning things around? Same thing.
“So close so many times,” Zeitler said. “It has to flip.”
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