The Browns are Better, but Rough Around the Edges
It’s not too much of a stretch to say that the Browns looked better in this game. It’s actually pretty easy to say that, considering the turnovers they created, and the dominance showed at points in the run game. However, the Browns are not back to their glory days. They’re not great, they’re not as bad as they used to be, and it seems like they might be in a limbo of sorts. This one speaks for itself: the Browns are fine, they’re certainly better, but the Steelers are still very much elite.
Even without star running back Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers simply had their way with the Browns at many points during the game. There were stretches of play where the Browns showed they could hang, but at no point did they truly dominate the Steelers, especially with Cleveland on offense. There are still holes on this team, and especially with the absence of Joe Thomas, the Browns need a leader on and off the field.
This team is not, I repeat, is not a finished product. The Browns still have areas they need to improve on, but the upside is just how much better the defense feels. Again, Denzel Ward looks like a great pick by this team, and as long as they can stay off the penalties, they should be alright.
For the first game of the season, this one wasn’t bad at all. In fact, tying in overtime is really, really respectable when it comes to the NFL’s elite. However, the Browns will have a lofty task ahead of them when they play the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome next week. Hey, at least it wasn’t a loss.