If you watched just the first half of the Steelers and Browns matchup Sunday, you would have thought the Steelers could have won 41-3.
They won, but the script certainly didn’t play out that way.
Led by QB Brian Hoyer, the Browns came storming back, tied the game at 27, and it took a last second drive by Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers to a 30-27 victory over Cleveland.
To say it was a game of two halves is an understatement, as the Steelers crushed the Browns in the first half, only to have to sweat out a game Cleveland should have never been in.
There’s a lot more to say, but right now we want your reactions to this opening day win – and if it signals the start of a winning season or a long one after this outing?
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
DrGeorge
September 7, 2014 at 5:07 pm
It appeared that the Brown’s no-huddle in the second half caught the defense by surprise and ran them ragged before they figured out how to defend it. Like Ben R., Hoyer apparently is more effective operating from that formation. The Steelers defense is very young and this was a learning experience for them. I still think they lack talent at key positions, especially CB and D-line, but the second half collapse seemed more related to their inexperience than a lack of talent. The defense will build on this and get better. LeBeau will see to that.
The inability of the offense to score a TD in the entire second half is far more troubling. For a long stretch, we failed to make first downs or complete a long pass. I thought Ben R. might have been injured, but apparently not. So I lack any explanation for it.
The Ravens looked almost as bad in their loss to the Bengals today and will be super-motivated at home on Thursday night. The Steelers will have little time to rectify their mistakes. Frankly, the Bengals look better than the Ravens or the Steelers at this point, but a win over the Ravens on Thursday would give the Steelers a leg up in the standings before playing the following week at the resurgent Panthers. Luckily, we don’t play the Bengals until Dec. 7. Between now then then, this team must get a whole lot better.
Jay
September 7, 2014 at 8:14 pm
I too was frustrated at the offensive second half ineptness especially at how weakish our tackles are but 27 points should be enough to beat any Brian Hoyer led team!