Senior NFL writers Terez Paylor and Charles Robinson discuss Cleveland’s 24:22 win over the Steelers. How much that win means to a Browns franchise and a fan base that has waited 18 seasons to head back into the postseason. We’re also looking forward to the rematch between these two teams on wildcard Sunday in Pittsburgh. Hear the full conversation on the Yahoo Sports NFL Podcast. Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.
Video transcript
TEREZ PAYLOR: The Cleveland Browns, Charles, took a playoff spot for the first time since 2002 with a 24:22 home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns finished 11th and 5th. Why was this win against a Pittsburgh team without Ben Roethlisberger, against a Pittsburgh team without Joe Haden, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward and TJ Watt? So important to the Cleveland Browns.
CHARLES ROBINSON: For me, this is a game that Cleveland – historically – is losing. It’s just the game they’re screwing up. It’s a game we’ve seen them implode within themselves in situations like this. And it didn’t happen. And I know people are going to say it’s the B-roster. And they fought to hit the B.
Anyway, I can only tell you that. The pressure on Cleveland against the Pittsburgh Steelers in that game wasn’t even close.
TEREZ PAYLOR: It was immense.
CHARLES ROBINSON: –Planet. Yes. It wasn’t even close to the same. For me, I was thinking about getting this into this game. And I thought, if they lose, what does that compare to? Well, you have to go back to 2007 when you were 10 and 6. You didn’t make the playoffs. But hey, it promised the Browns this new, better future. And then it went to hell.
And you know this is … if you’re the Cleveland Browns fans that you sit there we lose to the Jets and then to the Steelers B-Team. This is only ’07 again. We really … where did we really really move? Are we sure about that? If I win this game again, it’s for me – to win in a situation where all the pressure is on you. You have every opportunity to screw this up and you don’t. You stop a 2-point conversion.
The story goes on
They have injuries – Olivier Vernon, Donovan Peoples-Jones. Wasn’t a perfect game. But you made it. You gutted it. You have won 11 games this season. The Browns didn’t suffer two losses in a row all year long. Won 11 games. It’s amazing for Cleveland.
TEREZ PAYLOR: And why was that important, Charles? Because we keep talking when you’re on a loss program, the losses count almost twice as much as what fans believe. It’s very easy to get her off the train. And in the building too.
Hey man. Kudos to the Browns for doing business. You know what? We can do it again. Hopefully full cast of characters.
CHARLES ROBINSON: Yes. Yes.
TEREZ PAYLOR: This week baby Cleveland in Pittsburgh. Now the early guess is hey, this is the game Cleveland is going to narrowly lose. You will be back next year just like Buffalo. Law? You will lose your first playoff game if you haven’t been there in a while. You kind of learn from it. You know. But we will see. You are still playing the game. Everything can happen.
I know that. Pittsburgh’s offense – the way they fought – Cleveland’s defense is possible, but Pittsburgh’s offense – there is room here for Cleveland to possibly get this thing going.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.