Browns open as 2-pt favorites

[ikestops85]

ehh... the difference is Hoyer isn't stinking the place up or old as dirt.

I was referring to Gilbert.

[feltdizz]

I was referring to Gilbert.

got it..
.

[sick beats]

Spread dropped to 1.5 or even just 1. So more $ is being placed on Pgh than the Browns, for whatever that is worth, which means nothing. The Steelers often carry lines that are not a product of reality; with so many Steeler fans, it impacts the betting line. Considering how poorly this team has played in 4 out of their 5 games, I think the Browns should be favored. They have been in every game and beat some decent teams already this year.

[feltdizz]

Spread dropped to 1.5 or even just 1. So more $ is being placed on Pgh than the Browns, for whatever that is worth, which means nothing. The Steelers often carry lines that are not a product of reality; with so many Steeler fans, it impacts the betting line. Considering how poorly this team has played in 4 out of their 5 games, I think the Browns should be favored. They have been in every game and beat some decent teams already this year.

I'm shocked every time we lose to the Browns... we should always be favored.

[sick beats]

I'm shocked every time we lose to the Browns... we should always be favored.

Normally, I'd agree. But not this year. And starting last week, they might be learning how to win close ones instead of always losing them.

[hawaiiansteel]

Keisel: “Browns are the best team we’ve played”

By Ray Fittipaldo

The Cleveland Browns are in last place in the AFC North with a 2-2 record, but veteran defensive end Brett Keisel said Friday they are the best team the Steelers have played this season.

“We better be ready to rock when we get up there,” Keisel said after practice.

The Browns almost came back from a 24-point deficit against the Steelers in the season opener at Heinz Field. They trailed 27-3 at halftime, but came back to tie the score early in the fourth quarter. Shaun Suisham saved the team’s lots of embarrassment by booting the winning field goal as time expired.

The Browns got back into the game by running the no-huddle offense, and Keisel expects them to use it again this week.

“Obviously, we’ll be prepared for it a little more,” he said. “When we came out in the second half we weren’t ready for their tempo. We were on our heels from the get-go, and we were on our heels until we were able to make enough plays at the end to finish it. We have to make sure we come out with energy. Every game, we’ve been scored on, on the first drive. We have to find a way to come out and find a way to get a stop.”

The Browns also had great success with their running game (191 yards) and with their play-action passing game. They have continued to use the same concepts in recent weeks, including their 25-point comeback win last week in Tennessee.

“They’re going to want to do some of the things they did on us in the second half when they were successful,” Keisel said. “We’ll see where that goes. Cleveland is playing good football. They had a come-from- behind win last week so we have to be ready.”

[URL]http://sportsblogs.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers-steelers-blog[/URL]

[WindyCitySteel]

Normally, I'd agree. But not this year. And starting last week, they might be learning how to win close ones instead of always losing them.

Eh, the Titans lost that more than the Browns won it. Until they prove otherwise, they're still the Browns and Ben still owns them.

That defense stinks and is decimated now with injuries. They just gave up 28 to Locker and Whitehurst and average a league worst 6.4 YPP allowed. You could stick 11 orange barrels out there and not give up 6.4 YPP.

Steelers 41 Browns 14

The Factory of Sadness is open for business as usual.

[hawaiiansteel]

STEELERS-BROWNS: 'THIS GAME ACTUALLY MATTERS'

Jim Wexell
Publisher SteelCityInsider.net
Oct 11, 2014



The Steelers and Browns usually end the season against one another. This year, they're wrapping up a series that could define each team's playoff chances.

The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Cleveland as underdogs for the first time since 2003, when the then 3-7 Steelers beat the Browns 13-6 to begin a turnaround into their second Super Bowl era.

The Browns are favored this time because of the way they rallied against the Steelers in this season's opener.

Trailing 27-3 at halftime, the Browns used a combination of no-huddle offense, misdirection passes, and a patient running game to tie the Steelers 27-27 with 11:15 left in the game. The Browns drove to the Pittsburgh 35 on their next possession, but a couple of incompletions and a couple of pre-snap penalties forced them to punt and the Steelers eventually won the game at the final whistle on a 41-yard field goal.

The Steelers understand this game won't be easy. They even seem to be braced for a community uprising.

"This is probably as big of a game in Cleveland in awhile," said Ben Roethlisberger. "I anticipate it being a hostile environment, maybe like nothing we've ever seen up there before."

The 3-2 Steelers can put some distance between them and the 2-2 Browns with a sweep of their AFC North series. To do it, they'll have to better handle the three aforementioned aspects of the Browns' offensive attack:

* No-huddle offense -- The Browns turned up the tempo right out of the second-half chute in the opener, and the Steelers were not only gassed at times they were confused. Some blamed the slow pace of the playcalling from the sideline, but certainly much of the communication problems had to do with new players and new positions in the opener. The Steelers say those communication issues have been fixed since then.

"Oh, man, that's a beautiful thing that we have now," said one rookie, defensive end Stephon Tuitt. "When we first started training camp it was teaching communication. Right now it's better than ever. Everybody kind of knows what everybody's doing.

Nobody's nervous to talk to the partner beside them. We're like brothers with everybody communicating and understanding the defense as one."

Will the Browns run more no-huddle this time?

"Let 'em," said defensive end Cameron Heyward. "We'll be ready."

* Misdirection passes -- Browns QB Brian Hoyer is mobile and can throw on the run, and he tore up the Steelers with his ball-handling. The flow went one way, but Hoyer and the ball often went the other, and many times he found tight end Cameron Jordan wide open for a chunk gain.

How have the Steelers addressed this problem?

"Read our keys," said new nickel CB and last week's hero Brice McCain. "Read our keys, read our keys, read our keys. If your eyes are right, misdirection passes -- you'll be all right."

* Running game -- The Browns may be lacking at wide receiver with the suspension of Josh Gordon, but Hoyer has moved the offense efficiently because he's only turned the ball over once, has only been sacked five times, has the aforementioned athletic tight end, and most importantly has the NFL's fourth-ranked run game at his disposal.

That run game plowed through the once-proud Steelers run defense for 191 yards (6.2 avg.) in the opener, and it's not as if the Browns had Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly in their backfield.

Terrance West, a third-round rookie out of Towson, led the Browns that day with 100 yards on 16 carries. He had replaced an injured Ben Tate -- a former reserve with the Houston Texans -- after Tate had rushed six times for 41 yards. The third back, undrafted rookie Isaiah Crowell out of Alabama State, rushed five times for 32 yards and two touchdowns.

All three have continued to run effectively -- West 4.4 ypc., Tate 5.9, Crowell 4.8 -- and are healthy for this game against a Steelers run defense that has played significantly better the last three weeks.

After allowing 5.2 yards per carry against the Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the first two games, the Steelers allowed only 3.6 per carry against the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Bucs, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

What have the Steelers done to adjust their run defense?

"Tackle," said Heyward. "And just be more physical at the line of scrimmage. If we don't win the line of scrimmage up front, that puts a lot of pressure on our DBs, even on our linebackers. We've got to set the tempo, stay in our gap, don't lunge when we tackle, make sure we wrap them up, and get them on the ground."

The Browns, obviously run the ball much better than the Steelers' last three opponents. They even stick with it when they fall far behind. In the second half against the Steelers, the Browns ran 20 times for 129 yards. Last week, after trailing the Tennessee Titans 28-10 at halftime, the Browns ran 20 times for 84 yards.

"Yeah, they're staying patient with the run," Heyward said. "You've got to give them credit. Some people would've abandoned the run. They're one of the few teams that sticks to their game plan and just tries to wear you down as the game goes on."

The Steelers will be aided, no doubt, by James Harrison's still-prominent run defense on the weak-side edge. More playing time from inside linebacker Vince Williams is also a chip that coordinator Dick LeBeau could use. Tuitt is also on the verge of more playing time. And maybe LeBeau can get a few snaps from massive rookie tackle Daniel McCutchen.

"Of course, we're not where we want it yet," Heyward said of the team's run defense. "There were two runs last week that we gave up, but we just are starting to come together as a group and we're holding people under what they want to get."

All the Browns "want to get" is a split with the Steelers to announce themselves as contenders in the AFC North for the first time since that 2003 upset loss to the Steelers begat a five-game Browns losing streak and the start of a non-playoff skid that's lasted until this day.

"This is a game that usually is played in December, when sometimes our records aren't what they need to be in the playoffs," Heyward said. "But this game actually matters a lot more. And Cleveland wants to make a statement. They want to say they're back, and they want to say they can win this game."

[URL]http://pit.scout.com/story/1462449-steelers-browns-this-game-actually-matters?s=68[/URL]

[sick beats]

Eh, the Titans lost that more than the Browns won it. Until they prove otherwise, they're still the Browns and Ben still owns them.

That defense stinks and is decimated now with injuries. They just gave up 28 to Locker and Whitehurst and average a league worst 6.4 YPP allowed. You could stick 11 orange barrels out there and not give up 6.4 YPP.

Steelers 41 Browns 14

The Factory of Sadness is open for business as usual.

LMAO

[WindyCitySteel]

Here's the thing about the Browns offense, too. Top five in the league in rushing, sacks allowed, and penalties committed. First in the league at turnovers, only giving away 2.

In other words, they've had to play near mistake free football to barely beat two teams who are a combined 3-7.

You want to crown their ass, crown 'em! But in a few hours, I think the Browns are going to show that...

[8467thekraken]

I don't know what happened in the 2nd half of the first game we played against them this season, but I would like to think the first half of that game is a better representation of the Steelers than the 2nd half.

And with all of the Browns' injuries for this game, I think our offense is too much for them.

Close after the first half. I will say 16-10 Browns.

But the final will be 34-22 steelers.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

We can point fingers at both sides of the ball. I still think with our offensive talent, we should be getting more points on the board. Not that that makes a pass for the defense but with the NFL rules, eventually you will come across teams like Denver that you will just have to out score.

Agreed. To give a bit more perspective, it would be almost impossible today for a D to be anywhere near as good as the Steelers D of '08 (as a recent example of a great D).

[feltdizz]

Normally, I'd agree. But not this year. And starting last week, they might be learning how to win close ones instead of always losing them.

Tennessee stinks... I wouldn't put any stock in coming back vs a bad team.

I thimk we blow them out this game. Ben and JH play well in Cleveland

[sick beats]

Tennessee stinks... I wouldn't put any stock in coming back vs a bad team.

I thimk we blow them out this game. Ben and JH play well in Cleveland

If TN stinks, how would you rate Tampa and Jville?

[sick beats]

Here's the thing about the Browns offense, too. Top five in the league in rushing, sacks allowed, and penalties committed. First in the league at turnovers, only giving away 2.

In other words, they've had to play near mistake free football to barely beat two teams who are a combined 3-7.

You want to crown their ass, crown 'em! But in a few hours, I think the Browns are going to show that...

We will find out in a little bit. I just think the Browns are better than Tampa and Jville, and if we don't play better than we did against those two, we lose. IF we play better than we have the last 2 weeks, we can win. Will we?