Steelers 27, Browns 14

Even with all their struggles, I will still remain a Browns fan. But there comes a time during every lost season, where you just wish things would end.

My friends, family and loved ones in my hometown of Carey call me the Animal. I get excited, loud and extremely passionate. I don't know how else to be. It's how God created me. During football season, especially for my beloved Blue Devils, I go full bore, full energy, balls to the wall every single game.

And every time the Blue Devils end the football season, I go into what's called "hibernation mode."

Oh sure I watch and enjoy winter sports. But I decompress, I try my best to relax, and I try to find the best ways to stay warm on cold winter nights. And I just stay busy and patiently wait until the Blue Devils return in late August.

Most of the time I hate going into hibernation. I miss the Blue Devil football team terribly when they end the season, no matter what the result is.

But as for the Browns? Hibernation can't come fast enough during most years. Unfortunately, this is another one of those lost seasons. And this game against the Steelers is just a snapshot of it.

What went wrong? Let's take a look and say we didn't. How's that?

Dustin Hopkins

This one really makes me sad. Not just for the game he had today. But for where he might be headed. Hopkins was absolute money last season. He'd hit from just about anywhere!

There was a stretch there where I dreamed about him nailing a field goal to either send Joe Flacco and Co. to the Super Bowl, or to win the whole thing. To me, kicking is the second most pressurized job in sports. Right next to the closer on a baseball team.

If kickers do their job, they have a chance to go down in history as some of the all-time greatest players. But if they can't execute, they can find themselves out of a job as fast as midseason!

I don't want to see that happen to Dustin Hopkins in 2025. But as of right now he's only 16-23 on the season, which is just below 70 percent. That's not good enough. Especially when two of those field goals directly resulted in 10 points for the Steelers today.

Which leads me to my next reason the Browns lost...

Missed Opportunities

The Browns might not be going anywhere this season at 3-10. But they still had a chance to do something they haven't done since 1988: Sweep Pittsburgh.

That stat still amazes me. The Browns had some solid teams in the 80s and 90s, and a couple recent ones in 2020 and 2023, and they STILL haven't beaten the Steelers twice in a regular season in 36 years. Insane!

They had a chance today. After all, the halftime score was only 13-7. The Browns were in it. Until Pittsburgh used their mistakes against them to fuel an offense that struggled early without George Pickens.

The three biggest mistakes the Browns made led to 17 Pittsburgh points. Hopkins missed a pair of field goals, and Jameis Winston threw a bad interception to Keeanu Benton. By that point, it was too little, too late in terms of a comeback for the Browns.

Penalties Galore

The Browns are having an awful season. And one of the biggest reasons for that, is just a lack of discipline. They just don't do the little things right. False starts. Delay of game penalties. Holding on otherwise great plays that would make a difference. They're just not getting the job done with the things that seem insignificant. And this happened again today, as the Browns were flagged nine times for 81 yards. These add up. Sadly, it's added up to a miserable 3-10 record. And it doesn't get any easier next week as Kansas City rolls into town.

Hang in there, Dawg Pound.

Statistical Leaders

Jameis Winston: 24-41, 212 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs

Nick Chubb: 11 carries, 48 yards

Jerry Jeudy: 5 catches, 64 yards, TD

Source

ESPN

Picture Credit

YouTube