Tim Benz: ‘Airing of Grievances’ after Steelers suffered a humiliating defeat against Cleveland

Tim Benz: ‘Airing of Grievances’ after Steelers suffered a humiliating defeat against Cleveland

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53 minutes ago

It was just the latest in a long list of games that the Steelers could not possibly have lost, which they inevitably lost.

This year to Washington and the Cincinnati Bengals. To the New York Jets last year. To the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos in 2018. To Ryan Mallett and the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.

Tim Tebow in the playoffs. Blake Bortles in the playoffs. The San Diego Chargers in the 1994 AFC Championship game.

You know the list.

Now a Coronavirus-plagued Cleveland Browns team with a patch depth map and a skeleton version of its coaching staff has just entered Pittsburgh, blowing the Steelers 48-37 in the post-season.

It was the most humiliating play-off defeat the team has ever experienced. And given some examples I just mentioned, that says something.

Here are the lowlights in our final “Air of Grievances” for 2020-21. And this is just a sample of what deserves to be mentioned.

The first term: It had to be the most pathetic 15 minute football in the history of the franchise.

In arguably the most comical start to a playoff game in NFL history, the Steelers fell 14-0 behind the Browns within the first six minutes of the competition.

It’s even worse than the 14-0 deficit the Steelers created for themselves against Jacksonville in the first ten minutes of the playoffs in 2017.

This is, in my opinion, the previous worst playoff game for any team in NFL history.

The first turn of the game went over Ben Roethlisberger’s head and was repaired in the final zone by Cleveland.

Way to jump on the ball, Ben.

Then Roethlisberger threw an interception on the next ride that eventually led to this ridiculously easy catch-and-run from Baker Mayfield to Jarvis Landry.

And that was more or less the ball game. But the Browns still managed to score two more rounds before the first quarter even ended.

Oh, and the second quarter continued where the team left off. Most of the offensive line false started at once with the first attempt.

The last ride of the second term: The Steelers finally showed some life in the second quarter with a rating of 13 plays. This reduced the deficit to 28-7.

Maybe they can “only” 21 rest time calm down?

Nope. The defense would not last long.

As soon as the Browns got the next kick-off with 1:38 left in the half, they marched in just one minute, ten seconds, nine plays and 64 yards, as the defense showed no resistance. Austin Hooper gets an attack to increase the lead back to 28 points.

All that anyone will talk about after this game is how bad the Steelers offense is. Do not make yourself goats. The defense was just the same kind of gong show as the offense.

Cleveland finishes with 390 total yards and averages six yards per snap.

Coordinator Keith Butler’s players were sluggish and sluggish. The approach was awful. The execution and game planning was pathetic. It was a horrible act.

Cleveland’s First Quarter Ride: The Steelers drew within 12 points at the start of the quarter.

After a point (which we’ll get to later) the Browns started riding on their own 20-year-old line.

Cleveland let the ball run in the Steelers’ throats (we’ll get to that later). Inexplicably, however, Cleveland threw out twice. It puts up a third-and-2 of the Browns’ own 22.

For some reason, TJ Watt – and his NFL-leading 15 sacks – were deployed in the coverage. Over time, Mayfield completed a short pass to Landry which he took for 17 yards and a first shot.

Three times later, Nick Chubb, who ran back, strung 40 yards through the Steelers defense for a nail-in-the-coffin, making it 42-23.

Again, dumb scheme. Worse execution.

Start game break: As we warned during the week here at ‘Breakfast With Benz’, the Browns can run the ball and the Steelers can not.

Boy, was it ever seen Sunday night.

The Steelers finished with just 52 yards on 16 vehicles, good for just an average of 3.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile, the Browns devoured 127 meters on 31 vehicles, heading for a 4.1 average.

Chubb led by 76 meters. Not to mention his 69 yards received. He’s going to be an everyday Steelers killer in his career. Kareem Hunt was good, with a total of 48 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.

Where was Watt? Minkah is missing: Speaking of Watt, he was a no show.

The defensive player of the year had three tackles – one for loss, and that was about it. Mysterious trips to the bank and being in the cover at bad times did not help.

All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been part of no turnover for the past seven weeks and completed 2020 in the same quiet way as 2019.

The Steelers defense had no turnover and no pockets against the Browns. This is great, as the Steelers led the NFL with 56 sacks and were second with 27 takeaways. The Steelers have eight sacks and three takeaways against Cleveland in the two games of the regular season.

Here’s a wild stat. Mayfield and Roethlisberger threw 102 times together. Watt, Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward and Myles Garrett were a passers-by in the match. They combined 42 bags during the season. Yet there were no bags scored by either team.

Oh, right, the points: As Mike Tomlin said after the team lost in Buffalo on December 15, “If you can not get a garden, you do not deserve to win.”

Well, that’s apparently what Tomlin conceded when he beat his own 46 on a fourth-and-1 in the first turn of the fourth quarter. His team was down 35-23 at the time.

He also dropped a fourth-and-9 score 28-0 from Cleveland’s 38. That was early in the second quarter.

In Pittsburgh we are used to waving yellow Terrible Towels. Sunday night, it looked like Tomlin was waving a white flag.

I wish the NFL would pay closer attention. Maybe we should not have looked at the second half if Roger Goodell wanted to surrender them.

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:
Sport | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz | Tim Benz Column

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