What we learned from Steelers’ mind-numbing loss to the Cleveland Browns

The Steelers dropped a road game to the Browns in what could prove to be the start of an unexpected losing streak.
Nov 21, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Nov 21, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field.

The Steelers lost a division road game against the Cleveland Browns in a veritable blizzard, but that is not the worst part of this loss. This was an AFC North Division loss and not only a conference loss, but a loss could be the catalyst for a losing streak that will knock us out of playoff contention.

Make no mistake, this loss is on Mike Tomlin, plain and simple. Every year since Tomlin has been the head coach, we have always lost at least one game we should have won. The game against the Browns was a game we probably should have won despite not playing our best football.

With that in mind, let’s see what we learned on the offensive side of the ball.

Steelers’ offense apparently can’t figure out how to beat teams with inferior records

As I stated above, every year since Tomlin has been our head coach, we lose at least one game we should have won. Those losses generally come against teams with inferior records. This time around, it was the Browns turn to spoil the party, so to speak.

Playing on Thursday after coming off a physical game on Sunday is never desirable, but you have to play the cards you’re dealt. This was truly a game where we had a legitimate opportunity to win the game despite not playing our best football.

If you look at the stat line from this game and only the stat line, we should have won. We outgained the Browns in every major statistical category. We converted vastly more third down attempts, roughly forty-four percent to ten percent, completed more passes, and won the time of possession.

As I have repeatedly said, when you win the time-of-possession battle, you usually win the game, except when you’re playing the Browns on Thursday night. Another fact that I offered during our discussions was the turnover battle.

That missed field goal fortunately did not result in points for the Browns but on the next possession, we trotted out Justin Fields on fourth down and were stopped. I get the fact that we were trying to mix things up, so to speak, but if you tried a fifty-eight-yard field goal on the previous possession, why not try a fifty-six-yard field goal?

Better yet, if you decide to go for it on fourth and two, leave Russell Wilson in the game. Granted Wilson did not play stellar football against the Ravens and was not ‘lighting it up’ against the Browns, but Wilson is your starting quarterback.

The time to trot out Fields was not at that moment. Perhaps that moment would have been in the red zone, where we have struggled to score points and where Fields athleticism could have been a ‘wild card’, but that did not happen.