Pregame
Has there been a less meaningful game in the Browns revival since 1999?
First quarter – The Browns lead with the score tied
People are going to get mad at me today because I'm going to talk about the Steelers and how good they are. … But it can't be helped. … Hines Ward, for instance. Is there a Hines Ward on the Browns roster? I don't think so. Nor is there a Troy Polamala, a James Harrison. … Glory hallelujah, the Browns force a punt. … Chris Mortensen tells us Bill Parcells can walk away with another $9 million from Miami if the Dolphins are sold. … This tells us two things: If Parcells is remotely interested in the Browns, Randy Lerner should call him. … And Parcells is a genius for writing the contract that way. … Direct snap to Jerome Harrison, who runs up the middle against the league's best defense. … OK. … News flash: The Browns offense just crossed the 50. … A 53-yard field goal attempt? On what is probably your last game as head coach? Wow. … Does that decision sum up the season? … Shaun Rogers spent a timeout jawing at the Steelers bench, for some unknown reason. … On first down Ben Roethlisberger finds Wards for 21 yards, giving him 1,000 yards (again) for the season. … Keep jawing. … When you're 4-11. … Sean Jones stops the drive with an interception. … Hoo hoo. … The Browns are using lineman Scott Young a lot as a tight end. … The quarter ends and the Browns are now 21 in a row without an offensive touchdown. But they did cross the 50. … Pittsburgh 0, Cleveland 0.
Second quarter – Pittsburgh scores twice; it's over
Now FOX reports that Bill Cowher will not coach in 2009. … It's what's been rumored all along. … Randy Lerner will try to talk to Cowher, of course, but the general feeling is that Cowher will not coach next season. … Almost nine minutes into the second quarter and the score is still 0-0. … Heath Miller gets a big catch over the middle and Willie Parker bursts through a hole and missed tackle to score the game's first touchdown. … Troy Polamalu just single-handedly destroyed a Browns possession. Jumped the snap and forced a hold on first down. Forced a Martin Rucker interception on second down. Blew up a wide receiver screen on third down. What a player. … And I still do not see a Troy Polamalu wearing an orange helmet. … Ben Roethlisberger has been on the ground for a couple minutes here. … This is the exact reason Tony Dungy played backups last season in the season finale. … Hate to see a guy get hurt that way. … Roethlisberger gives a thumbs-up as he's taken off on a stretcher. … Byron Leftwich comes in and completes a third-down pass. … A few plays later Leftwich avoids the rush and scores a touchdown. … Cripes. … The Browns may need an act of Congress to beat the Steelers. … It just does not matter who plays for the Steelers. They will beat the Browns. … The Browns have now gone 22 quarters without an offensive touchdown, and Bruce Gradkowski has thrown for 20 yards the first half. … Pittsburgh 14, Cleveland 0.
Third quarter – Make it 23 quarters and counting
Scott Young is flagged for holding. … At this point I think two things matter a lot to the Steelers: They do not want to see their winning streak over the Browns end, and they do not want to be the first defense to give up a touchdown to the Browns. … I've just been told that the Browns and Steelers have played 26 times since 1994, and the Browns have won three of the games – two in the Chris Palmer era. … Mike Tomlin still has starters on the field. … Willie McGinest is relentless out there today. … A Steelers interception sets up a Pittsburgh field goal. … This game is over. … Josh Cribbs threw a pass and completed it! To Martin Rucker. … But the Browns punt. … I'm running out of stuff here folks. … Pittsburgh 17, Cleveland 0.
Fourth quarter – The embarrassment continues
Hines Ward continues to show the Browns how to play football. … So do the Steelers. … There's one team on the field today. … The Browns just got flagged for having 12 on the field for a Steelers extra point. … How in the world? … It's turned into a party for Pittsburgh in Heinz Field. … A pass goes off Jamal Lewis' hands and Pittsburgh intercepts and returns for a touchdown. … 31-0. … Which illustrates as well as anything the gargantuan gap between the Steelers and the Browns. … Good luck to whoever takes over this team. … With 7:00 left, the Steelers are up 31. … And that's a wrap for this live blog.
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An NFL record: 23 quarters without an offensive TD. The 4th string QB is in now, but not when the streak started!
So much talk about RAC not shouldering all the blame, and he seems like a nice guy, but the coaching has been miserable. If I can figure the next play and watch the defense jog and try to arm tackle, then have to watch terrible clock management, hear "More Cribbs this week", "that loss was disappointing", etc… the injuries hurt, the lackluster playing hurt, but the coaching isn't good at all.
Wow… the announcer just summed it up: "Hines Ward is great because he doesn't give up – he expects great things to happen". The Browns do NOT expect good things to happen… they hope nobody breaks a big play against them (but we all expect it to happen).
Ah, but at least we can say that this was a RECORD-SETTING SEASON for the Cleveland Browns!
And look on the bright side: in his four years, Crennel spared the players the challenge of hoisting him on their shoulders.
Brighter: This miserable season is over. It's hard to imagine the next one being worse or even as bad.
Brightest: The Cavs play this evening!
too bad the lions didn't get a chance to play the browns. no doubt they would have racked up one against the worst cleveland browns team i have ever seen.
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