That was a disaster.
But not a surprise.
Losing at Cleveland on a Thursday night is embedded in the Steelers’ DNA, symptomatic of a mushy middle-level football operation that needs something even more radical than replacing Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons to shake its doldrums. This isn’t Minecraft.
You expect things to go bad.
The Steelers expect things to go bad.
Then they do.
Especially at Cleveland on a Thursday night.
But yet the Steelers cling to antiquated notions set in stone as irreversible policies, Joey Porter Jr. on his way to Dallas even as the Steelers’ remaining defensive backs can’t cover and the Browns’ 92-second drive to a game-winning field goal is too easy.
But that’s OK, because Art Rooney II won’t be pushed around.
Except by Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt.
Art Rooney II saved money.
Except with Heyward, Watt and DK Metcalf. Nick Herbig, too, who has disappeared. (Keeanu Benton will be invisible his whole career.)
The main problem might be ownership.
Not paying Porter makes you wonder about the amount of cash on hand. Lack masquerading as thrift. The Steelers had cap room.
That loss hurts.
It’s easy to see the season crumbling, and by way of simple description: The Steelers aren’t very good.
It’s also easy to see them winning nine or 10 games, but not a playoff game. Same as it ever was.
Whatever it is the Steelers need, they haven’t got.
Aaron Rodgers isn’t good enough. He’s OK for 42. But he’s 42. Rodgers has his moments but misses too many throws, is totally immobile and his tantrums have negative optics, maybe bad effect.
The defense keeps betraying its price tag. Missed tackles. Couldn’t cover. Got beat physically. Conceded 21 points in the second quarter on three drives that covered 192 yards.
Twenty-four points at Cleveland should win. If the Steelers have Porter, they do.
Chris Boswell missed a field goal. The Browns’ kicker didn’t. Do the math. Boswell is the NFL’s highest-paid kicker, but no longer its best (if he ever was).
You’re going to blame Mike McCarthy. But he’s the saving grace.
Derrick Harmon got hurt.
Jamel Dean got hurt.
It seems like a defeat that’s damaging beyond the standings.
It already feels like trading Porter was a mistake.
That loss is embarrassing.
“The Browns is the Browns.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster said it.
Tomlin recently quoted such on TV.
But the Browns have won five straight Thursday night home games vs. the Steelers. National TV. The football world watching.
The Steelers and Browns have played 14 games this decade, with each winning seven.
The Steelers are outdated in so many ways.
Including their superiority complex.
Maybe the Steelers is the Steelers.