4 changes Cleveland Browns should make against Steelers in Week 17
By Nick Pedone
2. Let Matt McCrane kick
This change would come as a complete surprise as Stefanski publicly backed Cody Parkey several times throughout the week.
"“He knows what’s expected of him. We’re counting on him and I have a ton of confidence in him,” Stefanski said."
Parkey came to Cleveland after the Browns released Austin Seibert earlier in the season. In his first five games of the year, he was perfect kicking the football, slowly shedding the double-doink nickname he earned during his time with the Chicago Bears.
In each of Parkey’s last three games, he has missed a kick. His knack for hitting the upright is becoming problematic. When the Browns needed a kick longer than 60 yards against the Jets, they elected to give punter Jamie Gillan a try instead of Parkey.
Despite Stefanski’s public words of encouragement, it’s becoming clear that the team’s faith in Parkey is rapidly dwindling. With the season on the line, the last thing the Browns need is another doink on special teams.
Since the NFL allowed their teams to have expanded practice squads this season, the Browns employ Matt McCrane, a journeyman kicker who has kicked for three teams since 2018, including the Pittsburgh Steelers in the absence of Chris Boswell.
McCrane has never missed an extra point in the NFL, a perfect 9-of-9.
His field goal kicking is a little shakier, just 8-of-12. One of those makes was an overtime game-winner for the Oakland Raiders against the Browns in 2018, another was a go-ahead make for the Steelers in 2018 over the Cincinnati Bengals.
He has had success kicking in the clutch, and that is exactly what the Browns need on Sunday.