After a wild week in Berea, a video call with their head coach was the best possible way for the Browns to end it.
In the space of six days, the Browns learned that they would play their playoff game without Stefanski, their calm and collected head coach, who has been pulling the team together all season to push through numerous unprecedented obstacles due to COVID-19 restrictions. Video restrictions, canceled practices and injuries have never eroded his confidence in the Browns, but now he could not be there for his team’s biggest game after the toughest week.
Then the ripple effects of more positive COVID-19 tests worked in. Left-back Joel Bitonio, the longest-serving Browns player to endure the 0-16 season in 2017 but inspired numerous teammates with his steady leadership. Cornerback Denzel Ward, who missed his second straight game, was also cornerback Kevin Johnson and KhaDarel Hodge, an integral piece on each of their positions.
Attacking coach Bill Callahan and attacking coach Scott Peters were also unavailable. So did Jeff Howard, the coach of the defense. So was coach Drew Petzing, one of the endpoints.
And to top it all off, the Browns practiced once a week. They were only able to step on the grass at their team’s headquarters on Friday.
“We had a ‘next man on’ mentality all season, ‘Priefer said on Thursday.” That goes for the head coach, coordinators, other coaches on the staff and every player on our football team. We plan to do our best on Sunday night. “
The Browns complied with that plan on a historic level.
Cleveland recorded four hits in the first quarter and stunned the Steelers 28-0. The defense twice intercepted 17-year-old veteran full-back Ben Roethlisberger to set up two of the touchdowns, leading the Browns to the highest point of the first quarter by any team in NFL playoff history.
They were not finished. Cleveland added another power play in the second quarter to build up a 35-7 lead and tie the NFL record for most attacks by a team in the first half of a playoff game since 1992.
“Postponing to the second half and then getting seven points on the board without even having to step on the field is great,” Baker Mayfield said. “It started, and everyone on the sidelines was like, ‘Let’s take this lead. Let’s keep it going. Let’s just do our job. “Being 28-0 up in the first quarter is, of course, an incredible start. You just have to make money. ‘
The Browns knocked out their AFC North rivals, but the task was not over. Pittsburgh rallied in the third quarter to reduce its backlog to 35-23. The Browns offense went quiet, and the defense struggled to contain Roethlisberger’s parade.
Those moments were usually when Stefanski went to work. His ability to dig into the playbook and find momentum-spinning plays has helped the Browns score numerous points this season. The team was very fond of it, which is why he is a possible candidate for the NFL’s Coach of the Year award.
The Browns have found a way to persevere anyway. Mayfield hit running back Nick Chubb with a short pass that turned into a 40-yard turn to the end zone. The lead was lifted again and the victory was officially sealed when lineout player Sione Takitaki intercepted Roethlisberger for the fourth time with 3 minutes left while the Bruines took a 45-29 lead.
“They had momentum,” Priefer said. “As our defense has been doing all year, they’ve been turning around at key moments. That’s exactly what it was.”
Stefanski put on a show, even though he knew he would not be there. He relies on the offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who in his absence took over duties for the offense to keep the offense rolling. He has confidence in Priefer, who once served as acting head coach with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, to lead the team as head coach.
But most of all, he knew that under unprecedented circumstances, his players could still play their best game.
“This team is not my image; it’s the Cleveland Browns,” Stefanski said Wednesday. “We established an identity. We did it in the spring. We told the guys how we were going to play. We made sure we would bring players here who fit the form, and I think the guys understand “Perfect how we play and how we win. It does not change whoever is on the sidelines.”
The Browns backed their coach Sunday with one of the most memorable performances in franchise history.
So it only made sense for the Browns to call their coach in the locker room. Stefanski had messages for everyone in the team while loud music and cheering echoed around the locker room, but Sunday’s most important message came from the players themselves.
They will gather around their coach, whether he is with them or not.
“We believe in the people in this room, no matter what,” said baker Baker Mayfield. “It’s a team. Whether we’re personal or not, we’ve been through it all. We stick together.”