Gregg Williams: Browns will treat Week 17 like our playoff game

[Steel Maniac]

Agreed. Ben still has it. But maybe just maybe the loss of Bell was bigger than some may be willing to admit.

Stop... Bell doesn’t play defense

[Steelhere10]

How can a blame list be created and not contain Boswell. He was literally the worst kicker in the league and cost the team multiple wins.

Because that goes on Tomlin.

[winwithd]

But will the Steelers be able to keep from choking one away against the Bengals?

It would be quite disappointing if the Browns win but we find a way to lose to the Bungals. That would sum up the kind of Season it has been though.

[Steelhere10]

Your list with Ben on it does not even deserve a comment.

Please don't then. You keep riding Ben jock if you like but compare his int to not just the elite but every qb in the league and then come talk to me if you like.. Yes he balls out 6 games a year then have 3 stinkers where he look like he's drunk and the rest around average but ok whatever makes you sleep better.

[skyhawk]

Please don't then. You keep riding Ben jock if you like but compare his int to not just the elite but every qb in the league and then come talk to me if you like.. Yes he balls out 6 games a year then have 3 stinkers where he look like he's drunk and the rest around average but ok whatever makes you sleep better.

Whatever.

I love the double standard out there. Brees breaks records and passes for around 5,000 yards and doesn't make the playoffs in a couple of seasons and everyone is STILL sniffs his jock as top 2. Ben does it, and has his best statistical year of his career and he gets sheeeit and grief. What's the guy gotta do to get respect as elite. He certainly is.

I'm ok with a little more INT's than usual but the guy is fearless and tries to make plays.

[Starlifter]

Whatever.

I love the double standard out there. Brees breaks records and passes for around 5,000 yards and doesn't make the playoffs in a couple of seasons and everyone is STILL sniffs his jock as top 2. Ben does it, and has his best statistical year of his career and he gets sheeeit and grief. What's the guy gotta do to get respect as elite. He certainly is.

I'm ok with a little more INT's than usual but the guy is fearless and tries to make plays.

I agree with this. Aaron rogers is another example. routinely called the best in the game. remind me again green bays record this year??

[Sword]

Blaming Ben is like blaming the fork and spoon for being obese, 6 wins would be a spectacular season without him, I'm not sure what anyone believes is going to happen once Ben hangs them up, but unless Rudolph pans out, it's going to be the 80s and 90s all over again.

Pappy

This is exactly correct!!!...I watched every game from the 80's, 90's, and the rest up to last week....
Fans need to get over the interception crap, all QB's throw interceptions and several, are because of wide receivers......QB is doing so much more then just throwing the ball that you don't see....

[K Train]

Hopefully baker wakes up feelin dangerous again

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steelers forced for pull for Browns, like it or not

Posted by Darin Gantt on December 27, 2018, 6:29 AM EST

It’s not just that the Steelers have been reduced to needing help to make the playoffs. It’s that that help has to come from the Browns.

That’s a painful admission for the traditional AFC North power, that the suddenly interesting Browns hold their keys to the postseason, as Pittsburgh needs to beat the Bengals and for the Cleveland to knock off the Ravens if they want to advance.

“Pray for Cleveland. Pray for the Browns,” Steelers safety Sean Davis said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.

Joe Haden angled his way out of Cleveland in 2017 and quickly signed with the Steelers to avoid situations like this (or to be pertinent in December, period). And he said after talking to some old friends, he’s confident they can help him.

“I’ve talked to a couple of them, just giving them some motivation,” Haden said. “But at the end of the day, I know those dudes, I know how they feel over there. Even if they may not be in the [playoff] picture, they want to end on a good note.”

So do the Steelers, though it’s distasteful to them to need the Browns’ help, but not as much as their distaste with their own play.

“With the way [the season] has gone, it’s a little deflating. But at the end of the day, it’s not over. We realize that, too,” guard David DeCastro said. “You just have to know there’s a chance. As bad as you feel now, you’ll feel worse if Baltimore loses and you lose, too.”

Considering the fact they lost to the Raiders, the Steelers can no longer assume a win over the Bengals. Which is why they’re smart to keep most of their focus on their own results.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/27/steelers-forced-for-pull-for-browns-like-it-or-not/

[K Train]

I am kinda happy to see the browns show signs of life...i really think baker is hard not to like. I know im supposed to hate the browns, but my inter-divisional disdain is much more directed towards the other two.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jarvis Landry learned some important Ravens-Browns history

Posted by Josh Alper on December 28, 2018, 6:41 AM EST

The story behind the birth of the Baltimore Ravens is not a happy subject in Cleveland, but it was not one that Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry was familiar with before Thursday.

Landry was three years old when the late Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore to become the Ravens after the 1995 season. The Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 and Landry was unaware of the history that ties the two franchises together until his media session ahead of this weekend’s game between the two teams.

“So really?” Landry asked, via Cleveland.com. “The Cleveland team became the Baltimore Ravens? … Damn. That hurt, didn’t it?”

Indeed it did and there’s been plenty more pain in Cleveland since the Browns resumed play. This year has brought some of the most positive results since 1999 and beating the Ravens to keep them out of the playoffs while giving the Browns a winning season would probably rank this year at the best since the return for many fans.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/28/jarvis-landry-learned-some-important-ravens-browns-history/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Baker Mayfield playing at an MVP level over last six games

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 28, 2018, 5:45 AM EST

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has become the favorite to win the league’s offensive rookie of the year award, but with better coaching and a full season as a starter, Mayfield might be the Most Valuable Player, not just the rookie of the year.

Mayfield spent the entire offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season working with the Browns’ backups, as head coach Hue Jackson insisted Tyrod Taylor would start the season. And he spent half the season working in an offense designed by Jackson and Todd Haley. So it’s unsurprising that Mayfield got off to a somewhat slow start when he finally became the Browns’ starter in Week Four.

But with some time to develop and a better offense called by new coordinator Freddie Kitchens, Mayfield has been outstanding. In fact, as the Browns have won five of the last six games, Mayfield has played at an MVP level. Here’s a simple comparison between Mayfield and the MVP favorite:

Mayfield last six games: 115.2 passer rating, .833 winning percentage.
Patrick Mahomes full season: 114.0 passer rating, .733 winning percentage.

Mayfield has no shot at the MVP this year. But if he plays this way next year, and if he finally takes the Browns to the playoffs, he may just be the league MVP next year.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/28/baker-mayfield-playing-at-an-mvp-level-over-last-six-games/

[Steel Maniac]

So funny...

Before the draft , I stated that the QBs that I saw that had that “ it” factorcand would make it in my opinion were mayfield and Rudolph. We got Rudolph and unfortunately the Browns got smart and got mayfield.

Now some Steeler fans sit here sucking on Mayfield’s tit, begging and scratching for help. This has been a hilarious year. You couldn’t have wrote a better script in Hollywood. Lol

[RuthlessBurgher]

By Josh Alper
Dec 30, 2018, 3:30 PM EST
John Brown, Terrell Suggs active for Ravens

The Ravens listed five players as questionable to face the Browns on Sunday and four of them are in the lineup.

Wide receiver John Brown, linebacker Terrell Suggs, cornerback Tavon Young and defensive back/linebacker Anthony Levine all got the green light to play. Guard Alex Lewis was the only member of the group to fall on the wrong side of the decision.

Brown has seen his production slow since the move to Lamar Jackson at quarterback, but all hands on deck is a good thing to have when you’re trying to nail down a division title. Suggs will be in position to play in the postseason for the ninth time if Baltimore can advance to next week.

Quarterback Robert Griffen III, wide receiver Jordan Lasley, running back Buc Allen, fullback/defensive lineman Patrick Ricard, linebacker Tim Williams and defensive tackle Zach Sieler join Lewis on the inactive list.

The only Browns player listed as questionable was center JC Tretter, but he’s in the lineup. Cornerback Denzel Ward was ruled out with a concussion and headlines an inactive group that also includes quarterback Drew Stanton, wide receiver Blake Jackson, offensive lineman Kyle Kalis, offensive lineman Desmond Harrison, defensive lineman Chad Thomas and defensive lineman Carl Davis.