Cleveland Browns With Best Start Since 2004
On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns did not lose their 18th consecutive game, but they did not win their first game since 2016 either. Regardless, the team is off to its best start to a season since 2004 with a record of 0-0-1. Yes, you heard that right. The Cleveland Browns are not going to go 0-16 after they tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 21 following a 10-minute overtime period in which neither team was able to score. But how exactly did this all happen? How did the laughingstock of the National Football League manage to pull off a tie against their division rivals?
Nothing was really doing for both teams in the first quarter, but Cleveland's defense flexed its muscles on Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as they forced him to turn the ball over on an interception by rookie cornerback Denzel Ward. Through one quarter, both teams were still locked at zero but Pittsburgh's offense finished the quarter with a 37-yard reception by tight end Jesse James to move into Cleveland territory. Less than four minutes into the second, running back James Connor finished off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead.
Two more interceptions by Roethlisberger would define the rest of the half for the Steelers' offense. But while Pittsburgh turned the ball over an alarming three times in the first half, Tyrod Taylor and the Cleveland offense were unable to manufacture a single scoring drive. The deepest the Browns got into Steeler territory for the half was the Pittsburgh 32-yard line which was quickly dissolved on the next play by a 15-yard penalty by Josh Gordon for unnecessary roughness. This lead to the Steelers holding onto that 7-0 lead heading into the locker room break.
As the second half got underway, the Browns put together a 10-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a 20-yard run by Tyrod Taylor to tie the game at seven. Pittsburgh would respond quickly as they put a brief three play drive highlighted by a 67-yard catch and run by WR JuJu Smith-Schuster to retake the lead. The next drive by the Browns yielded another punt and the Steelers took advantage as James Connor ripped off a 17-yard run followed by a 22-yard run that found the end zone and gave the Steelers a 21-7 advantage. However, the Browns would not go quietly on this Sunday and stormed back in the fourth quarter.
With the Steelers deep in their own territory, defensive end Myles Garrett forced James Connor to fumble the football which was recovered by fellow defensive end Julius Peppers and taken to the Pittsburgh one-yard line. Running back Carlos Hyde wasted no time making the most of the field position and got into the end zone on the first play of the drive to put the Browns' deficit at 21-14. Despite another fumble by Pittsburgh in their own territory on the very next drive, Cleveland could not add any points to the board. But as the two-minute warning approached, Tyrod Taylor connected with Josh Gordon for a 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21.
Pittsburgh had no answer for the touchdown as they went three-and-out to give the Browns a chance to win for the first time since 2016. This was the moment, the chance for the pain of Cleveland fans everywhere to rejoice in their first win in years. Standing on the Pittsburgh 48-yard line with a chance to get within field-goal range, Taylor looked for Gordon down the sideline deep and the ball was intercepted by Cameron Sutton. Instead of potentially celebrating a Browns' win we were headed to overtime, but Cleveland still had a chance.
The Browns got the ball to start the overtime and went three-and-out which was followed by a Steelers punt. At that point, next score won the game but Cleveland went three-and-out yet again. That is when the Steelers began to drive downfield and had a shot to win it, all they had to do was have kicker Chris Boswell hit a 42-yard field goal...except he missed wide left. Yet again the Browns went three-and-out but the sixth turnover by Pittsburgh gave them their golden opportunity.
With just under a minute remaining in the overtime period, Roethlisberger was hit as he threw causing the ball to pop loose for a fumble which was caught on the fly by linebacker Joe Schobert and returned to Pittsburgh's 12-yard line. The ball was moved back to the 24-yard line due to an illegal blocking penalty by Myles Garrett but the Browns finally had their chance to end the losing streak and start the season off right. Two plays later, kicker Zane Gonzalez was on the field and the only thing standing between a Cleveland win was a 43-yard field goal.
Gonzalez kicked the ball a tad low and it was enough for linebacker T.J. Watt to get a hand on it and block it with nine seconds left in overtime. Just like that the air left FirstEnergy Stadium as the Browns were destined for a tie barring an amazing play by Roethlisberger giving Cleveland a loss or the Browns forcing another turnover and running it into the end zone. But there would be none of that the game ended in a 21-21 time, giving Cleveland its best start since they won their opener back in 2004. That is right, the Browns have started 0-1 every year since 2004 until now as they will begin the year 0-0-1. Look on the bright side Cleveland fans, at least you cannot finish 0-16 again!
Questions or comments? Email [email protected] and follow @mtvhottakes on Instagram and Facebook to know when new stories are posted.
