Cleveland Browns: Instant reactions from tough Week 13 loss

The reignited rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers reached a fever pitch in Week 13. What can Browns fans take away from the game, as their team worked to get back to .500?

The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are officially back. As one of the NFL’s premier arch rivalries, many contests between the orange and brown and black and yellow have been one-sided since Cleveland’s return to the league in 1999. But most fans expected a knock-down, drag-out war between the Browns and Steelers in Week 13, and that is exactly what they got.

By halftime, only one touchdown had been scored between the two teams. Pittsburgh’s lack of offense showed, and their use of the wildcat formation would prove to be the best offensive attack that they could muster. The Browns also struggled throughout the first half of the game, only scoring 10 points before halftime on mostly sloppy drives.

Pittsburgh did show off their defensive prowess, with T.J. Watt firmly dominating over Cleveland right tackle Chris Hubbard all game long. The game was…rough, including injuries to quarterback Baker Mayfield, and defensive linemen Sheldon Richardson, Chad Thomas, and Olivier Vernon.

When all was said and done, the Cleveland Browns dropped this one to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a final score of 20-13. It is exceedingly likely that their season is over, or, at the very least, their playoff dream is over. But what can fans take away from Cleveland’s annual trip to Pittsburgh? Let’s take a look at two instant reactions, and try for some positive takeaways for the Dawg Pound.