A Cleveland sports reporter is feeling down about the Browns chances
92.3 The Fan Cleveland Browns beat reporter Daryl Ruiter is no stranger to controversy, but at times it’s self-inflicted, and that is certainly the case this week. Ruiter was interviewed by 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, and things quickly turned negative in regards to the Browns.
Ruiter was asked how the Browns beat the Steelers on Sunday given all the injuries and COVID-19 issues, and Ruiter’s answer was simple: “They don’t.” He continued by saying that he’s already labeled this game “The Rona”, following after “The Drive” and “The Fumble”.
It’s one thing to be less than excited about Cleveland’s chances. Injuries to key players are piling up, and the team will be without others due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as gravy on top, multiple coaches, including head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive line coach (and assistant head coach) Bill Callahan, will not be able to coach on Sunday.
But while the sky may be black, it’s not falling. Cleveland just beat Pittsburgh last week, and while the Steelers were sitting many key contributors, the Browns were clearly holding their cards close to their chest in terms of the gameplan, preparing for this week.
Stefanski will still be able to script plays and come up with a course of action for the offense, and offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt will call those plays during the game. Van Pelt is highly respected around the league, with Aaron Rodgers as one of his most adamant supporters.
The Steelers can be beaten, just like anyone else
This Steelers team is also far from invincible. They started the season 11-0 and are 1-4 in their last five games. They struggled with a Baltimore Ravens team ravaged by COVID-19 and starting Robert Griffin III at quarterback. They were punched in the mouth by the Washington Football Team, and were then dismantled by the Buffalo Bills.
And to top it all off, they lost to the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, who have one of the worst offensive lines in the league, one of the worst defenses in the league, and were starting backup Ryan Finley at quarterback. Oh, and they didn’t have Joe Mixon either. And don’t forget the Steelers almost losing to Browns legend Garrett Gilbert and the Dallas Cowboys.
The odds are certainly stacked against the Browns, and it does seem unlikely that they can pull out the victory. But it’s possible. They have the better quarterback, one who has played at a near-elite (if not elite level) for the past 10 weeks. They have the best running back in the NFL, and the best pass-rusher in the NFL, though his impact after contracting COVID-19 has been diminished.
Pittsburgh has rushed for an average of 57.3 yards over the past 10 games, and just 52.2 over the past five. The Steelers win games by avoiding negative plays through the air and just continuing to throw the ball to their receivers, over and over and over.
The Browns were unable to stop that passing attack last week, as Mason Rudolph threw fade after fade, completing most of them. Everyone knew what was coming, but Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the rest of the receiving corps kept hauling them in. Cleveland must figure out a way to stop that passing attack. If they can do that, they’ll have a chance.
The Browns can win, however unlikely that may be
Offensively, the Browns have to protect Baker Mayfield, which will be difficult considering they’ll be down to their fourth-string right guard against perhaps the best front-seven in the NFL. But if the Bengals can do it, so can the Browns. Jedrick Wills Jr., J.C. Tretter, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin are far superior to what Cincy was trotting out on their line.
Stefanski was soundly beaten in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but when he was given another chance at Baltimore, he was brilliant, and the Browns would have won that game if not for a defense that provided the approximate resistance of a wet paper bag. The same thing happened in Week 6, as the Browns were pounded by Pittsburgh. Baker Mayfield was under constant pressure and was hit a ton in the worst game of his NFL career.
The Browns are a different team now, and Mayfield is a completely different QB. Stefanski may not be on the sidelines, but his work will be visible nonetheless.
The last thing Ruiter said was a rushed “I’m not writing them off! I’m just being realistic!”. It’s fine to be realistic, but there’s no need to be unnecessarily negative. The Browns are likely to lose this week, but that’s not a sure thing, and coining another “The” term is just stirring the pot for the sake of doing so.
Cleveland can win this. It may be unlikely, but it’s far from impossible. How do the Browns beat the Steelers? They overcome adversity. It’s a good thing they have a lot of practice doing that.