Steelers lose to Browns: the worst post-season start in Pittsburgh’s sporting history? Yes. But it has company.

Steelers lose to Browns: the worst post-season start in Pittsburgh’s sporting history? Yes. But it has company.

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In my 20 years of sports in Pittsburgh and 46 years of following it as a supporter, I have never seen a Pittsburgh team start worse in a post-season game than the Steelers did Sunday night in the defeat for the Browns did not.

They are down 28-0 in the first quarter. They broke the ball in the end zone for a defensive attack in Cleveland during the first game. Ben Roethlisberger threw two interceptions and led a three-and-out, which was translated into another 21 Cleveland points in the remaining 14 minutes, 46 seconds before the quarterback graciously ended.

It was such a bad start, it embarrassed the terrible first quarter of the team’s last playoff effort. That was when the Steelers came down 14-0 from Jacksonville when they allowed a starting march of 66 yards to go along with a point, an interception and a downward turnaround coming at the start of the second quarter. resulted in a third attack on Jags. .

So, no, the one does not even come close.

Here are a few others that came to mind when I put together a list of terrible playoffs, which can be called at least in the same breath as the Steelers’ two most recent trips to the post-season.

1991 NLCS Game 7: After not eliminating the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the 1991 National League Championship Series, the Pirates had another chance to tie the National League pennant and advance to the franchise’s first World Series since 1979.

That hope did not last long. Atlanta’s Ron Gant struck a blow to the first innings. After that, Brian Hunter hit a first run with two runs, and the Braves hit John Smiley off the hill after scoring just twice.

Atlanta thrower John Smoltz turned in a six-hit exclusion.

The Pirates won 1-0 in Game 5 behind Zane Smith. They lost 1-0 to Steve Avery in Game 6. The Bucs therefore only managed 16 shots and two runs over the last 27 overs.

The Braves lost the World Series against the Minnesota Twins. But they would be back in the 1992 NLCS to tackle the Pirates in a rematch and …

… well, well! Roll the clip. Let’s get it right.

Ironically, the Pirates started well in that game. They jumped to a 1-0 lead and took a 2-0 lead in the ninth before THAT happened.

2. Game 7 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Like the series above, the Penguins failed to eliminate the Montreal Canadiens underdog in Game 6 when they had the chance.

Game 7 was back in Pittsburgh. If the Penguins lose, it would end up being the last game in the Mellon Arena. That is exactly what was the case.

Sidney Crosby took a 10-second penalty in the game. Brian Gionta passed 22 seconds later in the ensuing power play. Former Penguin Dominic Moore scored later in the season, and the Canadiens scored two more goals early in the second.

Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled, and the Penguins’ goalkeeper smashed his stick and almost broke the canvas across the hallway to the locker room.

Montreal eventually won the game, eliminating the Penguins and closing Mellon Arena.

3. Game 6 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: The Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers played a crazy first five games of this series containing 50 goals – and about 51 fights as memory serves.

The Flyers won the first three games. The pins scraped back to stay alive over the next two. So the series moves back to Philadelphia for Game 6.

On the infamous first shift, Claude Giroux Crosby put on a goal and scored a goal in 32 seconds in the game.

Scott Hartnell also passed in first place. And the Flyers skipped the second round with a 5-1 victory.

It was the so-called “passing of the stick game” from Crosby to Giroux.

I think it’s safe to say Crosby finally got the baton back, no?

4. Game map of the National League of 2015: At PNC Park, the Pirates hosted the Cubs and Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta in their third live game card game.

Arrieta has been unadaptable almost all year. And the Pirates knew they could not afford to go down early and give up cheap runs. The manager, Clint Hurdle, started Sean Rodriguez on first base for his defensive prowess by placing Pedro Alvarez and his bat.

In the first innings, Gerrit Cole allowed a lead single for Dexter Fowler. He stole second. Kyle Schwarber chased him in, and Rodriguez could not handle a low throw from Neil Walker, which enabled Anthony Rizzo to reach the base. Cole had to throw 22 spots.

In the first place, Andrew McCutchen managed to get a single cut. But Arrieta beats Starling Marte. And the energy was dropped from the building.

Whatever remained on the steam track was in the third innings of Schwarber’s 430-foot home run. And the game was essentially over.

Oh, except for the bench-cleaning incident and ‘S-Rod’ knocking out the Gatorade cooler.

Arrieta finishes with a complete result of five matches, including 11 results. The Cubs win 4-0.

5. Some bad games 1 start: Let’s look at a bad start to some series for the Penguins in Game 1 games.

Some ‘learning moments’ – if you will – at the beginning of the Crosby-Malkin era.

How about Game 1 of the 2007 quarterfinals against veteran Ottawa Senators? It was the first post-season game ever for that group. And they smoked 6-3, allowing three goals in the first 25 minutes. Ottawa broke through the series 4-1.

Then there was Game 1 of the 2008 Stanley Cup final in Detroit. Do you remember when Fleury fell when she took the ice for warming up? The Penguins fell open 4-0. Then again 3-0 in game 2. The Red Wings won the seros in six games.

In ’07, the Penguins looked young and not quite ready for the playoffs. They learned. And came to the finals in ’08.

Where the Red Wings also did not make them look completely ready. Until next year when …

…. OK, roll the track too.

Now we are equal.

6. Super Bowl XXX: We conclude with another of the Steelers. Super Bowl XXX vs. Dallas Cowboys who are highly popular.

Dallas got a goal in the opening field. The Steelers went three-and-out.

Troy Aikman got the ball back and threw a 47-meter bomb at Deion Sanders. You know, just to be Deion. Jay Novacek is caught. And it was 10-0 before the pizza man came home.

The Steelers are 13-0 down, then 20-7. But they scrambled back before losing 27-17, as Larry Brown intercepted Neil O’Do …

….NO!!! We do not roll the tracks. I draw the line there. Enough punishment for one day.

Tim Benz is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be re-posted. Unless otherwise stated, all emails are subject to publication.

Categories:
Penguins / NHL | Pirates / MLB | Sport | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz

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