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The Cleveland Browns got punched in the mouth on Sunday. They took on a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is better than them right now. It was evident in the way that the Steelers physically beat up on the Browns on both sides of the ball.
Every tackle was bruising and violent in nature. The highly-rated Browns offensive line was overpowered and gave ground consistently. The Browns defense was pushed around by a finely tuned Steeler attack. The Browns were dominated and it wasn’t pretty.
The thing that is important to remember is that this Steeler team has been together for years working through the good and the bad. That’s what it takes though. It takes time together in a familiar scheme with the same people week in and week out.
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The Browns are trying to get there. This years’ 4-2 start is a step in the right direction for sure, but let’s not forget that they finished installing a brand new offense just before Week One. On defense, they have been ravaged with injuries while trying to pick up a new defensive scheme.
It takes time. The Browns’ focus needs to remain on going 1-0 every week. They need to continue to get better every time they take the field. The more wins and losses they experience together, the better they will continue to get.
It’s early in the process and HC Kevin Stefanski is still off to a good start. Are they the Ravens? Not yet. Are they the Steelers? Not yet. However, they get another shot at both teams this season, and in Cleveland this time. So for the moment — keep working. Keep getting better every week. They very much have a chance at the playoffs and will play meaningful games in November and December for the first time in a long while.
The Steelers are a product of togetherness and toughness over years of time working together. That’s a very good football team that shored up the few weaknesses they exposed last week, just in time for the Browns.
This takes time, Browns fans. Stay the course. If the Steelers would have lost, it would have been a loss in Week 6, not the end of the world. They would have learned from it, made adjustments, and gotten better from it.
It should be the same for the Browns. A Week 6 defeat. A bump in the road along the way. Learn, adjust, get better, and keep it moving. On to the Bengals…
Browns vs. Steelers game recap, 3 stars, what’s next and more