Pittsburgh –For a large portion of the game, particularly after the first quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated their victory over the Cleveland Browns. Overall, it helped the Steelers secure their tenth victory, putting them at 10-3 on the season and just one win away from securing a postseason berth. With a victory over the Baltimore Ravens in two weeks, they will also have a clear route to winning the AFC North.
Having stated that, the game’s winners and losers are as follows:
Cam Heyward won.
Cam Heyward is playing some of his finest football at the age of 35. In discussions about Defensive Player of the Year, he is not given enough credit for his performance thus far this season. Against the Browns on Sunday, Heyward recorded two additional sacks, and his strength is still very much intact. He is able to age so gracefully because of this, but despite suffering from a serious groin injury, he hasn’t lost a stride.
Throughout the season, Heyward has excelled as a run defender and pass rusher. All of this is made possible by him, who is a crucial component of the Steelers’ pass rush.
Cordarrelle Patterson was the loser.
Cordarrelle Patterson had a difficult game, but the Steelers should reduce his offensive snaps. On Sunday, it felt like something went wrong almost every time he touched the ball. Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris were operating at a high level during the time. As the Steelers have frequently done with Patterson this season, Patterson was utilized more overall to try to make up for George Pickens’ absence. However, a fumble and four failed carries won’t give the impression that Patterson is a net positive to the offense most of the time.
The team may certainly use Patterson in the event of an injury, but given Warren and Harris’ recent performances, there isn’t much justification for giving him extra playing time.
The Steelers’ offensive line won.
The last time the Steelers played the Browns, their offensive line was placed on skates, allowing Myles Garrett to take three sacks. The Browns were overpowered in the trenches on Sunday by the Steelers, despite Garrett’s late sack in this one. Compared to the first game, they found greater running room in the run game, and they mainly neutralized Garrett’s influence for the majority of the game.
Although the Browns’ front was celebrating their victory in the first game, the Steelers have demonstrated in recent weeks that this offensive line is beginning to come together and form a strong team. They are on the rise, but they are by no means elite.
Arthur Smith lost.
This season, Smith has called some excellent games, such as the crucial game in Cincinnati last week, but his game plans versus the Browns have fallen far short. Smith, like any offensive coordinator, made some wise decisions, such as the ones with the Pat Freiermuth and Van Jefferson touchdowns. The Browns were able to stay in the game far longer than they should have because of his use of players like Patterson in unfavorable circumstances and his overall passing attack strategy, which lacked sound process.
Before he began to work the offense more out of man coverage beaters and condensed stacks, Smith’s passing strategy was often subpar.
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