October 8, 2025 • 26 mins
Ed Troup and Jacob Recht discuss the biggest storylines surrounding the Steelers matchup against the Browns, the updated injury report, and the recent history between the Steelers and Browns head-to-head records.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
One of the oldest robberies in the NFL, where he
news itself once again this Sunday at Akushore Stadium in
Pittsburgh as the one in four Cleveland Browns visit the
AFC North leading Pittsburgh Steelers, who are three and one.
The Turnpike Robbery and War will write another chapter this weekend.
This is the Steelers standard on Steelers Nation Radio, part
of the Steelers Audio Network. I am at Troop and
(00:30):
joining me is Jacob, Bret and Jacob. The Steelers lead
the overall series with the Browns eighty two sixty four
and one. The two teams have met three times in
the postseason, with the Steelers holding a two to one advantage,
but the teams are three and three against each other
in the last six games over the last three seasons,
with the home team winning every game.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, I mean, it's a pretty obvious home field advantage
between these two teams. You remember, in the beginning of
the Ben Roethlisberger era, Ben didn't have his first loss
against the Browns until gosh, what was that two thousand
and nine or twenty twelve. It was pretty deep into
his career. He was perfect against that team for so long,
and I think only suffered three losses in Cleveland, had
(01:14):
the one tie at the start that if you remember
Week one, that wacky season that Chris Boswell had when
he was missing field goals, playing hurt all year, he
missed a couple in that game, that game ended at
a tie. But other than that, I mean, besides that
tie and the three losses in Cleveland he he suffered,
I mean, Ben's been perfect against the Browns, and ever
(01:35):
since he's left, the Steelers have yet to lose a
game in the regular season at home against the Browns.
Would have struggled on the road, and as we've mentioned
earlier this week, just a big confluence of fortunate circumstances
for the Steelers. We know how successful Mike Tomalin is
following the buying his coaching career. We know how successful
(01:58):
Mike Tomlin is playing at home against the Browns. We
know how successful Mike Tomlin is coaching against rookie quarterbacks,
especially when those matchups are in Pittsburgh. So just a
whole slew of reasons why the Steelers should be favored
in this game. I think it's going to be still
a close one. You know, it's it's a division rival game.
You should always take those seriously. Very few games in
(02:20):
recent memory or even beyond that, where you've seen one
of these AFC North matchups be a blowout no matter what.
No matter what the matchup is, these teams take each
other very seriously and and and I think it's the
division that has the most respect among all four teams,
even though yes, the Browns do tend to come in
(02:41):
last most most often among all four. I do think
that Mike Talmin has his has his team ready. I
know that a lot of people criticize Mike Tomlin for
for playing into the trap game sometimes and and sometimes
that that game has been played in Cleveland. They've lost
that game in Cleveland, But I do think at home
(03:02):
he'll be ready.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
We know with the injury report, which we'll get to later.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
A lot of guys coming back from injury this week,
which should be helpful. So even though it's a you
should be the favorite team, I think Mike tom is
gonna have his guys ready, and I think they'll be
able to lock down the win here and improve the
four and one.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
These two teams will face each other quite a bit
over the years. One of the biggest rivalries in football
now since Cleveland went to Baltimore, that's kind of pivoted
the other way, right, it's more raven Steelers as the
key AFC North Rovaly. But make no doubt about it,
Brown Steelers is still huge and very big, especially from
the Cleveland Pittsburgh aspect.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
And as we said at the top.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Eighty two sixty four in one, the Steelers all time
record against Cleveland at two and one record in the postseason.
But I was surprised yesterday, Jacoby. I knew they'd played
some close games the last handful of years, but I
was surprised to see that the home team has won
every meeting in the last three years, three and three,
so the Steelers winning all three at home and then
Cleveland winning the other three in Cleveland, including that Thursday
(04:02):
night game last year in November in the snowstorm that,
again you and I have talked about several times, was
a quirky game, right, very weird game that took place
there in Cleveland in the snow, almost impossible conditions. This year,
it'll be different, at least for the first of the
two meetings here in Pittsburgh on Sunday, weather's supposed to
be sixty in the sixties. It's fall weather. It'll be
a beautiful setting the Steelers. Meanwhile, they will go to
(04:24):
Cleveland and their second to the last game on December
twenty eighth at one o'clock at the end of the year,
so next to their last game. The following week that
will host Baltimore for their final regular season game. So
who knows, could be snown at the end of December,
but it won't be this week.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
And I know it should beautiful out actually for this
game this week, and I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All those X factors that you just said should put
the Steelers in a pretty good spot. Let's talk about
our three bowl of points of the week before we
get to our injury news. First, the Steelers face the
number one ranked defense run defense on Sunday, with yards
per game seventy five point six the Cleveland Browns run
defense and average per carry just three yards. The Browns
have a four to three defense, and so far, Jacob,
(05:03):
they've been very good against the run and the Steelers
you know better against the Vikings with Kenny Gamwell ninety
nine yards rushing, but outside of that, they've been very poor.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Trying to run the football.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, I mean, the Sewers have struggled pretty much getting
some consistent run game going this year, and they're gonna
probably face their toughest opponent when it comes to the
run defense. We know, how stout, that Browns defensive front
is led by none other than Miles Garrett. If they
can find some success in the run game this week,
(05:36):
that should lead to a pretty easy victory because when
you're running the ball, you're controlling the clock, you're controlling
the time of possession. That usually leads to a success.
And if you're able to kind of break open this
Browns defensive front, then really there's not much left for
you to do offensively if you're the Steelers, simply because
(05:59):
that's their biggest length for the For the Browns overall,
they they really are pretty pretty evenly distributed with with
talent across the board, and they have a great defensive
coordinator in Jim Schwartz who's been there for a couple
of years now. But like I said, if you can
break open that run game, and it doesn't have to
(06:20):
be a groundbreaking performance, but just kind of make sure
that you're not quitting out on the run because we've
we've seen this team the Steelers do this so often
where they they don't have that success early on in
the run game and they kind of just abandoned it
entirely right where in the first quarter they get nothing
and maybe they try a little bit more on the second,
(06:42):
and then by the second half they're they're running the
ball a total of five times over the last thirty minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
You can't do that. You have to be consistent.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
If you want to if you want to have success
in the run game, you can't just abandon it entirely.
And I know with Aaron Rodgers you want to be
more of a pass first team. But you have two
talented running backs like you mentioned Kenneth Gamewell had that
ninety nine yard performance against Minnesota, who also has a
really good run defense and just good defense overall. And
(07:12):
when you get Jalen warrenback, hopefully you'll get him back
for this week. I think it's still a question mark
whether he'll play or not, but if he does, then
it should be a huge asset to you to have
those two playmakers in the backfield as running options. I
just don't think that it's it's smart, even though you're
playing against a really good run defense to just say like, okay,
(07:33):
we're not finding the early success here. Let's just put
the ball in airon Rodgers Hans for the rest of
the football game.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Our second bowllet point of the week is the Browns
defensive line. Part of the reason why they've been so
good against the run has been their first round draft pick,
the number five pick overall, in rookie Mason Graham, who
checks in at six four, three hundred and fifteen pounds
from Michigan. So far this season, making thirteen tackles a
half a sack so number is not crazy, but at
(08:00):
that size, he takes up a lot of room on
that defensive line and a big reason why they've been
so good against the run. They also feature Malie Collins
who's three hundred and ten pounds. We know about Miles
Garrett at two hundred and seventy two pounds, and Isaiah
maguire is the other defensive lineman at two sixty eight.
They're all big, they're all athletic, and our offensive line
will need to be sound this week going up against
(08:21):
that defensive line. You know Miles Garrett, you know he's
got that personal rivalry with TJ. Watt year after year. Hey,
make no doubt about it. Miles Garrett one of the
best in the game. I still put TJ. Watt and
I'm probably a homer with that when I say it
being with the Steelers here, but overall, I think TJ.
Watt gives you more of a complete game than Miles Garrett.
But hey, make no doubt about it, Jacob, Miles Garrett
(08:42):
still one of the best in the game and still
playing at that high level for Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I mean he's a threat no matter what, even if
he's having a cold spell.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
You know, we've seen both TJ. Watt and Miles Garrett
have these.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Spells in their career where they go a couple of
games without us sack recorded. They're still threats, right, You
still have to play plan against them, and Miles Garrett
will be I think the number one topic of discussion
for the Steelers leading up to this coming Sunday. He's
a familiar fee, He's had success against the Steelers on
an individual level.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, it's definitely gonna be.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I think their biggest test is that defensive front for
the Browns.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
We'll get into more of the stats and the impact
players tomorrow and we preview and get you ready as
we scout the Cleveland Browns for this Sunday Steelers Browns
one o'clock from Aku Shurre Stadium. Our final three bullet
point of the week in this game is Brown's rookie
running back out of Ohio State and quish Shawn Jenkins.
Twenty three carries one hundred and ten yards last week
on the season, seventy two carries for three hundred and
(09:44):
forty seven yards on the season, averaging four point eight
yards per carry. Our defensive line on the flip side
of that, Jacob did better against the Vikings containing the run.
They're gonna have to be better again this week because
so far Jenkins he's been a handful, especially coming off
one hundred yard game he probably would think as a rookie,
he's now starting to build some momentum.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Yeah, Judkins has been a good help for them offensively.
I mean, losing Nick Chubb, you know, having that season
ending injury that he stuffered through a couple of years ago,
and then coming back and looking a little hobbled last year,
they were really looking to get to find his replacement
in the draft. And we know that both Judkins and Henderson,
(10:24):
who's playing in New England right now, we're very talented.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Prospects coming out of Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
And I think the Browns are happy to have someone
like Jenkins simply because you've seen the past game struggles
for Cleveland. Right Overall, offensively, the Browns really aren't anything
to write home about, but Judkins is one of those
silver linings for them. He's obviously young coming out of college,
just being his rookie year and showing in a short
(10:50):
window that he can kind of handle the load. But
he's also got to test himself, you know, the same
way we were talking about Galen Warren and Kenneth game
Well having a test against the Browns defensive front.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Jenkins has a test himself.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
I know the numbers don't really speak to that for
the Steelers rushing defense, but we know those numbers are
getting better as time has gone on, as the season
has progressed. So just because overall the Steelers ranked toward
the bottom of run yards against on defense doesn't mean
that over the last two weeks they've they've done that.
We know the numbers over the last two weeks have
(11:26):
been much better. For the Steelers defensively, so Junkins is
a rookie, has a huge test for him moving forward
this week.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Junkins also two rushing touchdowns on the season, nine receptions
for sixty two yards out of the backfield as well,
So just like what we've seen from Kenny Gamewell and
Jalen Warren, they can also throw the ball to him
as we move forward. Hey, one bonus bullet point breaking news. Yesterday,
the Browns deal Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals for
a sixth round draft pick and a fifth round draft
(11:55):
pick in exchange for Joe Flacco, so the Steelers don't
get rid of him out of their divis I thought
this was an interesting trade from a couple standpoints, Jacob.
The most obvious is in all of sports, whether you're
talking hockey, basketball, or baseball, you usually do not trade
within your division. And second with that, you don't trade
in your division within the season. So is this Cleveland
(12:16):
punting on their season? I mean, well, it's weird. Do
you know what's weird? You know what the quarterback room
is now in Cleveland. It's it's Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
A rookie.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It's Shaduur Sanders, a rookie, and it's Bailey Zappi who
was just promoted off the practice squad.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It's a mess.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It's a it's it's it's a disgusting mess in Cleveland
right now.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
But I just again, I go back to, you know,
in all in all four major sports, you don't trade division,
but to do it in season, it's very rare for sure,
And if you're gonna do it, to do it in season,
I think is almost are you punting on your season?
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
But either way Flacco, you would think with the struggles
that Browning, Jake Browning has had in Cincinnati for since
filling in for Joe Flacco three straight losses for the Bengals,
he'll probably plug Flacco in there and see what he
can do, see if he'll make a difference. And he's
a veteran quarterback that can sling the ball deep and
they have those receivers. So I think it's a good
move for the Bengals. I think it's an upgrade for them.
But meanwhile, for Cleveland, I just scratched my head on
(13:13):
the thinking behind that trade and what you get in
return too, Right, you're getting a six round draft pick,
so I again kind of puzzling for Cleveland, but thus
Brown's being Browns and always puzzling dust Steeler fans. Okay,
let's get to the injury news for the week. Yesterday,
Mike Tomlin addressing the Pittsburgh media and good news all
the way around for the Black and Goal. Joey Porter
(13:34):
will start with him with the hamstring injury practicing this week.
We knew that on Monday, but Mike Tomlin's saying he's
very probable to play this week, as is Alex high
Smith with his knee. He's also in the same column
with Joey Porter practicing this week and very probable to
play as well. I think you're gonna count on Joey
Porter Junior and Alex Highsmith being a go on Sunday
unless some dramatic setback happens this week in practice.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
And they feel good about Jalen Warren too.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
He's also practicing and is expected to possibly play this
upcoming Sunday.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Meanwhile, Calvin Austin.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
And Jalen Ramsey, who we feared especially for Austin and
he might miss multiple games, and then Ramsey we weren't
sure when he went down with that hamstring injury late
in the Minnesota Viking game. Jacob good news for both
of them. Mike Tomlin feels very optimistic. They're basically day
to day this week. He's going to see how the
practice week goes. But he seemed very optimistic yesterday that
(14:26):
there's a very good chance that Austin and Ramsey both play.
If that happens, the Steelers completely healthy going into this game.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah, completely. I mean that's a big if.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Though.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I don't want to just Jinson right now and say
all will be well, but the fact that we're talking
about the possibility having no one come up on the
injury report by the end of this week is a
huge plus.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I mean, I think they can survive without a couple
of guys.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I mean, look what happened last last I shouldn't say
last week, two weeks ago at this point, you know,
with Jalen Warren popping up on the injury report by
Friday and then being ruled out by by Sunday, they
were able to survive without him, And then the last
couple of weeks they were able to manage without Joey
Porter Junior and to Shaun Elliott. So if if Ramsey
(15:11):
is out this week, I don't know if it'll be
a backbreaker because you're getting Joey Porter Junior back alongside
to Sean Elliott who was back two weeks ago with
Minnesota or against Minnesota. So I'm not saying it's it's
an end all, be all, like if you if you
miss a certain guy, then chuck this chuck this game
up for a loss. But it's it's a great sign
(15:31):
that that all arrows are pointing in the right direction.
Not necessarily saying every guy will play, but the fact
that no one is getting seemingly worse right or no
one is starting as a limited participant and then being
downgraded to doubtful, that's a good sign.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
The fact, I mean you can you can assume, and the.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Fact that all these arrows are potting in the right
direction for this week, that by Thursday night of next
week when they play the Bengals, that all should be
assuming no injuries are are are had this week against Cleveland,
that everyone should be back by the time the Steelers
traveled Cincinnati next Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Yeah, knock on wood.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
As you said for the self coming Sunday, I thought
this was very optimistic, especially with Calvin, Austin and Ramsey.
I mean we kind of you know, Porter and high
Smith hinted on Monday when they did their walkthrough getting
back onto the practice squad that they were probably going
to be a go. Today will be a pivotal day
for Austin and Ramsey because it's the first official practice
day of the week from a reporting standpoint of who's
(16:29):
in who's out. So we'll get the injury report after
the Steelers practice this afternoon on the South Side and
have an update tomorrow for you on Austin and Ramsey.
But again the arrow pointing up on them, we should
see Joey Porter, Junior high Smith, and even Jalen Warren.
This upcoming Sunday, we are going around with our Steelers
Food for Thoughts segment giving you our three bullet points
of the week, and our injury report will also dive
(16:49):
into the Steelers Browns history here in just a few minutes.
But just on the other side, for the Cleveland Browns,
they're pretty healthy too. Only one player questionable reported yesterday
for the Browns and that's Mike Hall, a defensive tackle,
not a starter, but in that mix of defensive tackles
that we talked about is Mike Hall. He's questionable going in.
Other than that, no one else reported.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Now.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
They do have a handful of players on injured reserve
from earlier this year, one being Cedric Tillman last week,
a wide receiver, very talented wide receiver for Cleveland. They
placed him on the IR last week, so he will
not be active for this game either. Hey, let's talk
Steelers Brown's history, Jacob. The first meeting October seventh, nineteen fifty.
The Browns win that game thirty to seventeen. The last
(17:32):
meeting coming on December eighth at Aku Short Stadium last season,
the Steelers winning twenty seven to fourteen against the Browns.
They will again play this upcoming Sunday, though one hundred
and forty seven meetings between these two teams. The all
time series excuse me, Steelers eighty two, sixty four and
one so far in the season, as we said, or
not on the season during the series, as we said
(17:52):
at the top of the show. Here today postseason results
the Steelers two to one all time in the postseason.
The largest victory I remember this one. You weren't even
born yet, not even close to being born yet I
was nine years old.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
This is about the time eighty eight eighty.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Nine, towards the end of Chuck Noles run as the
Steelers head coach, that I started watching the Steelers as
a kid, and I remember this one. It was an
opening day loss to the Browns fifty one to nothing.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I know a lot of guys like Craig Wolfley when
he was still around, Merrill Hodge, who we have on
the morning show every week, talk about that season to start,
because if you also remember that next week, I believe
they lost to the Bengals, like forty one to nothing
something like that. They allowed near one hundred points in
the first few games of the season. Our old Buddy
(18:38):
wolf and Meryl Hodge always cringe when you're talking about
the start of that eighty nine season.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
So you're right.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I was not around, thankfully, because I don't know if
I would survive watching that as a fan.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
I'm very well aware of it. And they go on
to make the playoffs that year. Yeah, it's crazy. It
came all the way back and.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
If my memory serves correct in the audience, please please
bear with me. I was nine years old, but I
believe that was the year they went into Houston and
beat the Oilers. Upset the Oilers with a Gary Anderson
winning field goal at the end, if my memory serves right.
And then they go on to lose in Denver against
the Broncos in the Divisional round that falling week. So yeah,
fifty one nothing and still one of the all time,
(19:19):
you know, top losses for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I remember
this one too, nineteen ninety nine. The Steelers win forty
three to nothing. I believe that game was in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
That was the first game the Browns played after rejoining
the league.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
The Steelers walcoming back into the league nicely, forty three
to nothing. That was the largest victory for the Steelers
in this series, most points scored fifty one by the
Browns in that eighty nine game. You'd have to go
all the way back to nineteen fifty four for the
Pittsburgh Steelers, they scored fifty five points back during that
fifty four season against the Browns. That was their most
points they ever put up against Cleveland. Longest winning streak.
(19:53):
Cleveland from nineteen fifty to nineteen fifty three beat the
Steelers eight times in a row and that's been it,
that's been there long. This win streak since and the
Steelers twelve straight wins from two thousand and three to
two thousand and nine. This is pretty much when you
were referencing Big Ben.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
That would have been more of the Big Ben.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Early years that was extended a little bit before he
got there. And like I mentioned, I think I said
two thousand and nine or twenty twelve around there.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
But yeah, just a bad I believe, I believe ed.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
That first loss that Ben severed against the Browns was
a Thursday night road game. Of course, it says Thursday
night it's just their bugaboo, and it was in Cleveland, right,
Thursday night game in Cleveland. I'll have another one next week,
not in Cleveland, but in Cincinnati, another Ohio town, but
against against another Ohio town, another AS North team, against
(20:40):
a former AGEC North quarterback in Joe Flacco.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Yeah, I feel a lot better about that game. If
it's browning Flacco, I don't. I don't feel better about
that game.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
It's the same.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
It's the same kind of conversation we were having two
weeks ago when JJ McCarthy got not bench but just
kind of put on the on the bench because of
his lingering injury, and and the Vikings continued along with
Carson Wentz, You and I were saying, I feel a
lot better about that game if it was JJ.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
McCarthy playing similarly.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Here fast forward a couple of weeks, I feel a
lot better about that there's a night game coming up
against the Bengals if Jake Browning was the quarterback, not
so much Joe Flacco. And the reason being is because
you remember last year when the Seilers played the Colts
and Anthony Richardson, Mike Tomlin said, keep Richardson upright, don't
bang them up too much, because we're more comfortable going
(21:32):
up against Richardson we are Joe Flacco. I remember Richardson
left that game. Flacco came in and was the one
who won that game for the Colts because they spent
all week getting ready for Anthony Richardson, who eventually did
get hurt. So yeah, I'm a little more worried about
this game. But because Flacco is such a familiar phase
and knows how to beat the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
We have about five minutes left in this segment, So
let's postseason. Go through the postseason games. We said there
were three, all three. I remember, Jacob, you wouldn't remember
the ninety four divisional game you weren't born yet again,
but you'll remember the next two after this. The nineteen
ninety four AFC Divisional game, the Steelers won at three
Rivers Stadium twenty nine to nine. The following week they
(22:11):
lose to the Chargers. They get upset by the Chargers
in the AFC Championship Game. I remember this ninety four
divisional game mainly because the Steelers were one of the
best teams in football that year. That was the third
meeting against the Browns. They beat them twice during the
regular season, so they went for the three sweep and
they did it. Do you know who the Cleveland Browns
head coach was that day? Was no other than Bill Belichick. Yeah,
(22:32):
Belichick was the head coach that day for the Browns.
They went on a little bit of a run in
that ninety four season. Those two games during the regular
season were big games for the Steelers in the former
AFC Central Division, in which they went on to win.
But yeah, the Steelers win that playoff game back in
ninety four. Neil O'Donnell, the Steelers quarterback again. They get
upset the following week when they lose R eight d
(22:53):
end three more yards, couldn't get the ball to Barry
Foster in the end zone and they lose and get
upset by the Chargers. Of course, the next year ninety
four have they come back and make it to the
Super Bowl before losing to the Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Okay, let's move along.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
More recent two thousand and two AFC Wildcard game, a
wild one at ACCU sure Stadium, I think the first
playoff game at Actu Sure Stadium.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Because at Heinz Field at the time, heins Field. Yeah, yeah,
Steelers win thirty six thirty three.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
This was the wild game in which Antoine Randol takes
that punt return. I think the snow was coming down.
Chris Fumatu mala Falla scores a touchdown in this game.
The Steelers were down big.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Yeah, I mean it was a huge comeback for them.
Tommy Maddox, let that comeback.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
This is one of the good call. This was one
of the biggest comebacks I think in Steeler playoff history,
in NFL playoff history too. It might have been the
two thousand and two AFC Wildcard Game. And the big
part about that is you'll see that on NFL Network
from time to time. Is like NFL's greatest games and
greatest comebacks. The Steelers win that thirty six to thirty
(23:51):
three twenty twenty wildcard game.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Not a good one for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
This is the one, probably one of their worst playoff
games in recent memory, maybe of all time, that they
lost forty eight to thirty seven.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
And of course we know it wasn't that close.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
That was mop up time by Big Ben and company
in the second half trying to trying to come back
in this one. But the Browns came out with Baker
Mayfield and they slung it early and often. I can't
even remember what the early score was, Jacob. Was it
twenty eight to nothing, nothing in the first quarter, if.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Not that by early in the second quarter.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
But I always say this that the Browns have never
won a game in Pittsburgh when they're fans, when there
are fans in the stands, because you remember that seedon
was empty for that playoff game.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
That was the COVID season Steelers. Remember that was they
start out the season eleven to zero.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, that was just a season that you can easily
forget just because you had such high, such high expectations
with that great start, and then you'll lose your your
last four, four of your last five regular season games,
and then you lose a fifth with that playoff loss
against the Browns.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Just not a great way to end that season at all.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Like I said, some that we or one that we
all will will happily forget.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
I'll never forget the start of that game, if you remember,
was the bad snap by.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Pouts pounds over first play of the game, over Ben, Yeah, over.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Ben goes towards the end zone. The Steelers. Did they
recover that ball.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
On that opening final No, because if they had, then
it would have been a safety, so it would have
been a two nothing lead for Cleveland, which would have
been a lot better, I think, a lot more easy
to just kind of shake off two point deficit. But no,
the Browns did recover it, or maybe it went out
of the back of the end zone on its own
and that would also result in a touchdown. But yeah,
(25:35):
it was nothing within the first like twelve seconds of
the game.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Ugly, ugly, ugly, Okay, real quick, last six games. We
talked about it last December, the Steelers winning that game
twenty seven to fourteen. Also last season, on November twenty first,
that's the Thursday night game in the snow, the Browns
beat the Steelers twenty four to nineteen. The two twenty
three games again, they split this series back and forth.
The Browns thirteen to ten over the Steelers for the
(25:59):
second meeting November nineteenth. On September eighteenth, twenty twenty three,
Steelers win twenty six twenty two.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
So that there's a theme here that I'm going with.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
These are all close games, yeah, and then the previous
season before that, on January eighth, which was with the
twenty twenty two season, Steelers win twenty eight to fourteen.
And then the Browns beat the Steelers earlier that season
on September twenty second, twenty twenty two, twenty nine seventeen.
All close games, and it probably will be another close
game this week, but hopefully the Steelers will be able
to pull it out.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
When we come back.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
We're going to talk to Ray Filpaldo of the Pittsburgh
Post Gazette get his thoughts on the Steelers at the
bye week as they head in to play the Cleveland
Browns this upcoming Sunday.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
It is the Steelers
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Standard with Ed Trup and Jacob bret Here on Steelers
Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network
One of the oldest robberies in the NFL, where he
news itself once again this Sunday at Akushore Stadium in
Pittsburgh as the one in four Cleveland Browns visit the
AFC North leading Pittsburgh Steelers, who are three and one.
The Turnpike Robbery and War will write another chapter this weekend.
This is the Steelers standard on Steelers Nation Radio, part
of the Steelers Audio Network. I am at Troop and
(00:30):
joining me is Jacob, Bret and Jacob. The Steelers lead
the overall series with the Browns eighty two sixty four
and one. The two teams have met three times in
the postseason, with the Steelers holding a two to one advantage,
but the teams are three and three against each other
in the last six games over the last three seasons,
with the home team winning every game.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, I mean, it's a pretty obvious home field advantage
between these two teams. You remember, in the beginning of
the Ben Roethlisberger era, Ben didn't have his first loss
against the Browns until gosh, what was that two thousand
and nine or twenty twelve. It was pretty deep into
his career. He was perfect against that team for so long,
and I think only suffered three losses in Cleveland, had
(01:14):
the one tie at the start that if you remember
Week one, that wacky season that Chris Boswell had when
he was missing field goals, playing hurt all year, he
missed a couple in that game, that game ended at
a tie. But other than that, I mean, besides that
tie and the three losses in Cleveland he he suffered,
I mean, Ben's been perfect against the Browns, and ever
(01:35):
since he's left, the Steelers have yet to lose a
game in the regular season at home against the Browns.
Would have struggled on the road, and as we've mentioned
earlier this week, just a big confluence of fortunate circumstances
for the Steelers. We know how successful Mike Tomalin is
following the buying his coaching career. We know how successful
(01:58):
Mike Tomlin is playing at home against the Browns. We
know how successful Mike Tomlin is coaching against rookie quarterbacks,
especially when those matchups are in Pittsburgh. So just a
whole slew of reasons why the Steelers should be favored
in this game. I think it's going to be still
a close one. You know, it's it's a division rival game.
You should always take those seriously. Very few games in
(02:20):
recent memory or even beyond that, where you've seen one
of these AFC North matchups be a blowout no matter what.
No matter what the matchup is, these teams take each
other very seriously and and and I think it's the
division that has the most respect among all four teams,
even though yes, the Browns do tend to come in
(02:41):
last most most often among all four. I do think
that Mike Talmin has his has his team ready. I
know that a lot of people criticize Mike Tomlin for
for playing into the trap game sometimes and and sometimes
that that game has been played in Cleveland. They've lost
that game in Cleveland, But I do think at home
(03:02):
he'll be ready.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
We know with the injury report, which we'll get to later.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
A lot of guys coming back from injury this week,
which should be helpful. So even though it's a you
should be the favorite team, I think Mike tom is
gonna have his guys ready, and I think they'll be
able to lock down the win here and improve the
four and one.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
These two teams will face each other quite a bit
over the years. One of the biggest rivalries in football
now since Cleveland went to Baltimore, that's kind of pivoted
the other way, right, it's more raven Steelers as the
key AFC North Rovaly. But make no doubt about it,
Brown Steelers is still huge and very big, especially from
the Cleveland Pittsburgh aspect.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
And as we said at the top.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Eighty two sixty four in one, the Steelers all time
record against Cleveland at two and one record in the postseason.
But I was surprised yesterday, Jacoby. I knew they'd played
some close games the last handful of years, but I
was surprised to see that the home team has won
every meeting in the last three years, three and three,
so the Steelers winning all three at home and then
Cleveland winning the other three in Cleveland, including that Thursday
(04:02):
night game last year in November in the snowstorm that,
again you and I have talked about several times, was
a quirky game, right, very weird game that took place
there in Cleveland in the snow, almost impossible conditions. This year,
it'll be different, at least for the first of the
two meetings here in Pittsburgh on Sunday, weather's supposed to
be sixty in the sixties. It's fall weather. It'll be
a beautiful setting the Steelers. Meanwhile, they will go to
(04:24):
Cleveland and their second to the last game on December
twenty eighth at one o'clock at the end of the year,
so next to their last game. The following week that
will host Baltimore for their final regular season game. So
who knows, could be snown at the end of December,
but it won't be this week.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
And I know it should beautiful out actually for this
game this week, and I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All those X factors that you just said should put
the Steelers in a pretty good spot. Let's talk about
our three bowl of points of the week before we
get to our injury news. First, the Steelers face the
number one ranked defense run defense on Sunday, with yards
per game seventy five point six the Cleveland Browns run
defense and average per carry just three yards. The Browns
have a four to three defense, and so far, Jacob,
(05:03):
they've been very good against the run and the Steelers
you know better against the Vikings with Kenny Gamwell ninety
nine yards rushing, but outside of that, they've been very poor.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Trying to run the football.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, I mean, the Sewers have struggled pretty much getting
some consistent run game going this year, and they're gonna
probably face their toughest opponent when it comes to the
run defense. We know, how stout, that Browns defensive front
is led by none other than Miles Garrett. If they
can find some success in the run game this week,
(05:36):
that should lead to a pretty easy victory because when
you're running the ball, you're controlling the clock, you're controlling
the time of possession. That usually leads to a success.
And if you're able to kind of break open this
Browns defensive front, then really there's not much left for
you to do offensively if you're the Steelers, simply because
(05:59):
that's their biggest length for the For the Browns overall,
they they really are pretty pretty evenly distributed with with
talent across the board, and they have a great defensive
coordinator in Jim Schwartz who's been there for a couple
of years now. But like I said, if you can
break open that run game, and it doesn't have to
(06:20):
be a groundbreaking performance, but just kind of make sure
that you're not quitting out on the run because we've
we've seen this team the Steelers do this so often
where they they don't have that success early on in
the run game and they kind of just abandoned it
entirely right where in the first quarter they get nothing
and maybe they try a little bit more on the second,
(06:42):
and then by the second half they're they're running the
ball a total of five times over the last thirty minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
You can't do that. You have to be consistent.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
If you want to if you want to have success
in the run game, you can't just abandon it entirely.
And I know with Aaron Rodgers you want to be
more of a pass first team. But you have two
talented running backs like you mentioned Kenneth Gamewell had that
ninety nine yard performance against Minnesota, who also has a
really good run defense and just good defense overall. And
(07:12):
when you get Jalen warrenback, hopefully you'll get him back
for this week. I think it's still a question mark
whether he'll play or not, but if he does, then
it should be a huge asset to you to have
those two playmakers in the backfield as running options. I
just don't think that it's it's smart, even though you're
playing against a really good run defense to just say like, okay,
(07:33):
we're not finding the early success here. Let's just put
the ball in airon Rodgers Hans for the rest of
the football game.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Our second bowllet point of the week is the Browns
defensive line. Part of the reason why they've been so
good against the run has been their first round draft pick,
the number five pick overall, in rookie Mason Graham, who
checks in at six four, three hundred and fifteen pounds
from Michigan. So far this season, making thirteen tackles a
half a sack so number is not crazy, but at
(08:00):
that size, he takes up a lot of room on
that defensive line and a big reason why they've been
so good against the run. They also feature Malie Collins
who's three hundred and ten pounds. We know about Miles
Garrett at two hundred and seventy two pounds, and Isaiah
maguire is the other defensive lineman at two sixty eight.
They're all big, they're all athletic, and our offensive line
will need to be sound this week going up against
(08:21):
that defensive line. You know Miles Garrett, you know he's
got that personal rivalry with TJ. Watt year after year. Hey,
make no doubt about it. Miles Garrett one of the
best in the game. I still put TJ. Watt and
I'm probably a homer with that when I say it
being with the Steelers here, but overall, I think TJ.
Watt gives you more of a complete game than Miles Garrett.
But hey, make no doubt about it, Jacob, Miles Garrett
(08:42):
still one of the best in the game and still
playing at that high level for Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I mean he's a threat no matter what, even if
he's having a cold spell.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
You know, we've seen both TJ. Watt and Miles Garrett
have these.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Spells in their career where they go a couple of
games without us sack recorded. They're still threats, right, You
still have to play plan against them, and Miles Garrett
will be I think the number one topic of discussion
for the Steelers leading up to this coming Sunday. He's
a familiar fee, He's had success against the Steelers on
an individual level.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, it's definitely gonna be.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I think their biggest test is that defensive front for
the Browns.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
We'll get into more of the stats and the impact
players tomorrow and we preview and get you ready as
we scout the Cleveland Browns for this Sunday Steelers Browns
one o'clock from Aku Shurre Stadium. Our final three bullet
point of the week in this game is Brown's rookie
running back out of Ohio State and quish Shawn Jenkins.
Twenty three carries one hundred and ten yards last week
on the season, seventy two carries for three hundred and
(09:44):
forty seven yards on the season, averaging four point eight
yards per carry. Our defensive line on the flip side
of that, Jacob did better against the Vikings containing the run.
They're gonna have to be better again this week because
so far Jenkins he's been a handful, especially coming off
one hundred yard game he probably would think as a rookie,
he's now starting to build some momentum.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Yeah, Judkins has been a good help for them offensively.
I mean, losing Nick Chubb, you know, having that season
ending injury that he stuffered through a couple of years ago,
and then coming back and looking a little hobbled last year,
they were really looking to get to find his replacement
in the draft. And we know that both Judkins and Henderson,
(10:24):
who's playing in New England right now, we're very talented.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Prospects coming out of Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
And I think the Browns are happy to have someone
like Jenkins simply because you've seen the past game struggles
for Cleveland. Right Overall, offensively, the Browns really aren't anything
to write home about, but Judkins is one of those
silver linings for them. He's obviously young coming out of college,
just being his rookie year and showing in a short
(10:50):
window that he can kind of handle the load. But
he's also got to test himself, you know, the same
way we were talking about Galen Warren and Kenneth game
Well having a test against the Browns defensive front.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Jenkins has a test himself.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
I know the numbers don't really speak to that for
the Steelers rushing defense, but we know those numbers are
getting better as time has gone on, as the season
has progressed. So just because overall the Steelers ranked toward
the bottom of run yards against on defense doesn't mean
that over the last two weeks they've they've done that.
We know the numbers over the last two weeks have
(11:26):
been much better. For the Steelers defensively, so Junkins is
a rookie, has a huge test for him moving forward
this week.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Junkins also two rushing touchdowns on the season, nine receptions
for sixty two yards out of the backfield as well,
So just like what we've seen from Kenny Gamewell and
Jalen Warren, they can also throw the ball to him
as we move forward. Hey, one bonus bullet point breaking news. Yesterday,
the Browns deal Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals for
a sixth round draft pick and a fifth round draft
(11:55):
pick in exchange for Joe Flacco, so the Steelers don't
get rid of him out of their divis I thought
this was an interesting trade from a couple standpoints, Jacob.
The most obvious is in all of sports, whether you're
talking hockey, basketball, or baseball, you usually do not trade
within your division. And second with that, you don't trade
in your division within the season. So is this Cleveland
(12:16):
punting on their season? I mean, well, it's weird. Do
you know what's weird? You know what the quarterback room
is now in Cleveland. It's it's Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
A rookie.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It's Shaduur Sanders, a rookie, and it's Bailey Zappi who
was just promoted off the practice squad.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It's a mess.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It's a it's it's it's a disgusting mess in Cleveland
right now.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
But I just again, I go back to, you know,
in all in all four major sports, you don't trade division,
but to do it in season, it's very rare for sure,
And if you're gonna do it, to do it in season,
I think is almost are you punting on your season?
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
But either way Flacco, you would think with the struggles
that Browning, Jake Browning has had in Cincinnati for since
filling in for Joe Flacco three straight losses for the Bengals,
he'll probably plug Flacco in there and see what he
can do, see if he'll make a difference. And he's
a veteran quarterback that can sling the ball deep and
they have those receivers. So I think it's a good
move for the Bengals. I think it's an upgrade for them.
But meanwhile, for Cleveland, I just scratched my head on
(13:13):
the thinking behind that trade and what you get in
return too, Right, you're getting a six round draft pick,
so I again kind of puzzling for Cleveland, but thus
Brown's being Browns and always puzzling dust Steeler fans. Okay,
let's get to the injury news for the week. Yesterday,
Mike Tomlin addressing the Pittsburgh media and good news all
the way around for the Black and Goal. Joey Porter
(13:34):
will start with him with the hamstring injury practicing this week.
We knew that on Monday, but Mike Tomlin's saying he's
very probable to play this week, as is Alex high
Smith with his knee. He's also in the same column
with Joey Porter practicing this week and very probable to
play as well. I think you're gonna count on Joey
Porter Junior and Alex Highsmith being a go on Sunday
unless some dramatic setback happens this week in practice.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
And they feel good about Jalen Warren too.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
He's also practicing and is expected to possibly play this
upcoming Sunday.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Meanwhile, Calvin Austin.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
And Jalen Ramsey, who we feared especially for Austin and
he might miss multiple games, and then Ramsey we weren't
sure when he went down with that hamstring injury late
in the Minnesota Viking game. Jacob good news for both
of them. Mike Tomlin feels very optimistic. They're basically day
to day this week. He's going to see how the
practice week goes. But he seemed very optimistic yesterday that
(14:26):
there's a very good chance that Austin and Ramsey both play.
If that happens, the Steelers completely healthy going into this game.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah, completely. I mean that's a big if.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Though.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I don't want to just Jinson right now and say
all will be well, but the fact that we're talking
about the possibility having no one come up on the
injury report by the end of this week is a
huge plus.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I mean, I think they can survive without a couple
of guys.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I mean, look what happened last last I shouldn't say
last week, two weeks ago at this point, you know,
with Jalen Warren popping up on the injury report by
Friday and then being ruled out by by Sunday, they
were able to survive without him, And then the last
couple of weeks they were able to manage without Joey
Porter Junior and to Shaun Elliott. So if if Ramsey
(15:11):
is out this week, I don't know if it'll be
a backbreaker because you're getting Joey Porter Junior back alongside
to Sean Elliott who was back two weeks ago with
Minnesota or against Minnesota. So I'm not saying it's it's
an end all, be all, like if you if you
miss a certain guy, then chuck this chuck this game
up for a loss. But it's it's a great sign
(15:31):
that that all arrows are pointing in the right direction.
Not necessarily saying every guy will play, but the fact
that no one is getting seemingly worse right or no
one is starting as a limited participant and then being
downgraded to doubtful, that's a good sign.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
The fact, I mean you can you can assume, and the.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Fact that all these arrows are potting in the right
direction for this week, that by Thursday night of next
week when they play the Bengals, that all should be
assuming no injuries are are are had this week against Cleveland,
that everyone should be back by the time the Steelers
traveled Cincinnati next Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Yeah, knock on wood.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
As you said for the self coming Sunday, I thought
this was very optimistic, especially with Calvin, Austin and Ramsey.
I mean we kind of you know, Porter and high
Smith hinted on Monday when they did their walkthrough getting
back onto the practice squad that they were probably going
to be a go. Today will be a pivotal day
for Austin and Ramsey because it's the first official practice
day of the week from a reporting standpoint of who's
(16:29):
in who's out. So we'll get the injury report after
the Steelers practice this afternoon on the South Side and
have an update tomorrow for you on Austin and Ramsey.
But again the arrow pointing up on them, we should
see Joey Porter, Junior high Smith, and even Jalen Warren.
This upcoming Sunday, we are going around with our Steelers
Food for Thoughts segment giving you our three bullet points
of the week, and our injury report will also dive
(16:49):
into the Steelers Browns history here in just a few minutes.
But just on the other side, for the Cleveland Browns,
they're pretty healthy too. Only one player questionable reported yesterday
for the Browns and that's Mike Hall, a defensive tackle,
not a starter, but in that mix of defensive tackles
that we talked about is Mike Hall. He's questionable going in.
Other than that, no one else reported.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Now.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
They do have a handful of players on injured reserve
from earlier this year, one being Cedric Tillman last week,
a wide receiver, very talented wide receiver for Cleveland. They
placed him on the IR last week, so he will
not be active for this game either. Hey, let's talk
Steelers Brown's history, Jacob. The first meeting October seventh, nineteen fifty.
The Browns win that game thirty to seventeen. The last
(17:32):
meeting coming on December eighth at Aku Short Stadium last season,
the Steelers winning twenty seven to fourteen against the Browns.
They will again play this upcoming Sunday, though one hundred
and forty seven meetings between these two teams. The all
time series excuse me, Steelers eighty two, sixty four and
one so far in the season, as we said, or
not on the season during the series, as we said
(17:52):
at the top of the show. Here today postseason results
the Steelers two to one all time in the postseason.
The largest victory I remember this one. You weren't even
born yet, not even close to being born yet I
was nine years old.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
This is about the time eighty eight eighty.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Nine, towards the end of Chuck Noles run as the
Steelers head coach, that I started watching the Steelers as
a kid, and I remember this one. It was an
opening day loss to the Browns fifty one to nothing.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I know a lot of guys like Craig Wolfley when
he was still around, Merrill Hodge, who we have on
the morning show every week, talk about that season to start,
because if you also remember that next week, I believe
they lost to the Bengals, like forty one to nothing
something like that. They allowed near one hundred points in
the first few games of the season. Our old Buddy
(18:38):
wolf and Meryl Hodge always cringe when you're talking about
the start of that eighty nine season.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
So you're right.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I was not around, thankfully, because I don't know if
I would survive watching that as a fan.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
I'm very well aware of it. And they go on
to make the playoffs that year. Yeah, it's crazy. It
came all the way back and.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
If my memory serves correct in the audience, please please
bear with me. I was nine years old, but I
believe that was the year they went into Houston and
beat the Oilers. Upset the Oilers with a Gary Anderson
winning field goal at the end, if my memory serves right.
And then they go on to lose in Denver against
the Broncos in the Divisional round that falling week. So yeah,
fifty one nothing and still one of the all time,
(19:19):
you know, top losses for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I remember
this one too, nineteen ninety nine. The Steelers win forty
three to nothing. I believe that game was in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
That was the first game the Browns played after rejoining
the league.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
The Steelers walcoming back into the league nicely, forty three
to nothing. That was the largest victory for the Steelers
in this series, most points scored fifty one by the
Browns in that eighty nine game. You'd have to go
all the way back to nineteen fifty four for the
Pittsburgh Steelers, they scored fifty five points back during that
fifty four season against the Browns. That was their most
points they ever put up against Cleveland. Longest winning streak.
(19:53):
Cleveland from nineteen fifty to nineteen fifty three beat the
Steelers eight times in a row and that's been it,
that's been there long. This win streak since and the
Steelers twelve straight wins from two thousand and three to
two thousand and nine. This is pretty much when you
were referencing Big Ben.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
That would have been more of the Big Ben.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Early years that was extended a little bit before he
got there. And like I mentioned, I think I said
two thousand and nine or twenty twelve around there.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
But yeah, just a bad I believe, I believe ed.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
That first loss that Ben severed against the Browns was
a Thursday night road game. Of course, it says Thursday
night it's just their bugaboo, and it was in Cleveland, right,
Thursday night game in Cleveland. I'll have another one next week,
not in Cleveland, but in Cincinnati, another Ohio town, but
against against another Ohio town, another AS North team, against
(20:40):
a former AGEC North quarterback in Joe Flacco.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Yeah, I feel a lot better about that game. If
it's browning Flacco, I don't. I don't feel better about
that game.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
It's the same.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
It's the same kind of conversation we were having two
weeks ago when JJ McCarthy got not bench but just
kind of put on the on the bench because of
his lingering injury, and and the Vikings continued along with
Carson Wentz, You and I were saying, I feel a
lot better about that game if it was JJ.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
McCarthy playing similarly.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Here fast forward a couple of weeks, I feel a
lot better about that there's a night game coming up
against the Bengals if Jake Browning was the quarterback, not
so much Joe Flacco. And the reason being is because
you remember last year when the Seilers played the Colts
and Anthony Richardson, Mike Tomlin said, keep Richardson upright, don't
bang them up too much, because we're more comfortable going
(21:32):
up against Richardson we are Joe Flacco. I remember Richardson
left that game. Flacco came in and was the one
who won that game for the Colts because they spent
all week getting ready for Anthony Richardson, who eventually did
get hurt. So yeah, I'm a little more worried about
this game. But because Flacco is such a familiar phase
and knows how to beat the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
We have about five minutes left in this segment, So
let's postseason. Go through the postseason games. We said there
were three, all three. I remember, Jacob, you wouldn't remember
the ninety four divisional game you weren't born yet again,
but you'll remember the next two after this. The nineteen
ninety four AFC Divisional game, the Steelers won at three
Rivers Stadium twenty nine to nine. The following week they
(22:11):
lose to the Chargers. They get upset by the Chargers
in the AFC Championship Game. I remember this ninety four
divisional game mainly because the Steelers were one of the
best teams in football that year. That was the third
meeting against the Browns. They beat them twice during the
regular season, so they went for the three sweep and
they did it. Do you know who the Cleveland Browns
head coach was that day? Was no other than Bill Belichick. Yeah,
(22:32):
Belichick was the head coach that day for the Browns.
They went on a little bit of a run in
that ninety four season. Those two games during the regular
season were big games for the Steelers in the former
AFC Central Division, in which they went on to win.
But yeah, the Steelers win that playoff game back in
ninety four. Neil O'Donnell, the Steelers quarterback again. They get
upset the following week when they lose R eight d
(22:53):
end three more yards, couldn't get the ball to Barry
Foster in the end zone and they lose and get
upset by the Chargers. Of course, the next year ninety
four have they come back and make it to the
Super Bowl before losing to the Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Okay, let's move along.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
More recent two thousand and two AFC Wildcard game, a
wild one at ACCU sure Stadium, I think the first
playoff game at Actu Sure Stadium.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Because at Heinz Field at the time, heins Field. Yeah, yeah,
Steelers win thirty six thirty three.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
This was the wild game in which Antoine Randol takes
that punt return. I think the snow was coming down.
Chris Fumatu mala Falla scores a touchdown in this game.
The Steelers were down big.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Yeah, I mean it was a huge comeback for them.
Tommy Maddox, let that comeback.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
This is one of the good call. This was one
of the biggest comebacks I think in Steeler playoff history,
in NFL playoff history too. It might have been the
two thousand and two AFC Wildcard Game. And the big
part about that is you'll see that on NFL Network
from time to time. Is like NFL's greatest games and
greatest comebacks. The Steelers win that thirty six to thirty
(23:51):
three twenty twenty wildcard game.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Not a good one for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
This is the one, probably one of their worst playoff
games in recent memory, maybe of all time, that they
lost forty eight to thirty seven.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
And of course we know it wasn't that close.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
That was mop up time by Big Ben and company
in the second half trying to trying to come back
in this one. But the Browns came out with Baker
Mayfield and they slung it early and often. I can't
even remember what the early score was, Jacob. Was it
twenty eight to nothing, nothing in the first quarter, if.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Not that by early in the second quarter.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
But I always say this that the Browns have never
won a game in Pittsburgh when they're fans, when there
are fans in the stands, because you remember that seedon
was empty for that playoff game.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
That was the COVID season Steelers. Remember that was they
start out the season eleven to zero.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, that was just a season that you can easily
forget just because you had such high, such high expectations
with that great start, and then you'll lose your your
last four, four of your last five regular season games,
and then you lose a fifth with that playoff loss
against the Browns.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Just not a great way to end that season at all.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Like I said, some that we or one that we
all will will happily forget.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
I'll never forget the start of that game, if you remember,
was the bad snap by.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Pouts pounds over first play of the game, over Ben, Yeah, over.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Ben goes towards the end zone. The Steelers. Did they
recover that ball.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
On that opening final No, because if they had, then
it would have been a safety, so it would have
been a two nothing lead for Cleveland, which would have
been a lot better, I think, a lot more easy
to just kind of shake off two point deficit. But no,
the Browns did recover it, or maybe it went out
of the back of the end zone on its own
and that would also result in a touchdown. But yeah,
(25:35):
it was nothing within the first like twelve seconds of
the game.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Ugly, ugly, ugly, Okay, real quick, last six games. We
talked about it last December, the Steelers winning that game
twenty seven to fourteen. Also last season, on November twenty first,
that's the Thursday night game in the snow, the Browns
beat the Steelers twenty four to nineteen. The two twenty
three games again, they split this series back and forth.
The Browns thirteen to ten over the Steelers for the
(25:59):
second meeting November nineteenth. On September eighteenth, twenty twenty three,
Steelers win twenty six twenty two.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
So that there's a theme here that I'm going with.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
These are all close games, yeah, and then the previous
season before that, on January eighth, which was with the
twenty twenty two season, Steelers win twenty eight to fourteen.
And then the Browns beat the Steelers earlier that season
on September twenty second, twenty twenty two, twenty nine seventeen.
All close games, and it probably will be another close
game this week, but hopefully the Steelers will be able
to pull it out.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
When we come back.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
We're going to talk to Ray Filpaldo of the Pittsburgh
Post Gazette get his thoughts on the Steelers at the
bye week as they head in to play the Cleveland
Browns this upcoming Sunday.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
It is the Steelers
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Standard with Ed Trup and Jacob bret Here on Steelers
Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network
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