Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - Official Game Thread
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 11:47 AM EST
in 2008 Game Day Threads
88 comments
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, Dec 28, 2008 1:00 PM EST
| CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-11) | WEEK 17 | PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-4) | |||
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VS. |  |
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| Date: | December 28, 2008 | Location: | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Time: | 1:00 p.m. ET |
Stadium: | Heinz Field |
| TV: | CBS |
Favorite: | Steelers by 11 |
| Radio: | WMMS, 100.7 FM | Over/Under: | 33½ |
| SBN Coverage: | Behind the Steel Curtain | Announcers |
Gus Johnson & Steve Tasker |
At least we'll have the pleasure of having Gus Johnson announce this game. Even if the game is meaningless, I can already hear Johnson screaming, "Gradkowski...TO EDWARDS! WOW!!!", for a simple 15-yard completion. I'm not doing a positional preview today, because it's not fair to try and compare the Browns with a Steelers' second- or third-string. I would expect Ben Roethlisberger to play one or two series before leaving and getting ready for the postseason. With the Steelers' depth in Byron Leftwich at backup, our defense will still have their hands full.
There are plenty of other games this week that have playoff implications though, which will still make it an entertaining football week. If you live in the Cleveland area, these are the games you'll see today:
- Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh (1 PM on CBS)
- NY Giants vs. Minnesota (1 PM on FOX)
- Miami vs. NY Jets (4 PM on CBS)
- Dallas vs. Philadelphia (4 PM on FOX)
- Denver vs. San Diego (8 PM on NBC)
There is another game worth paying attention to in the box scores -- the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. the Baltimore Ravens. For the Ravens, if they win, "they're in". I would love nothing more than to see the Jaguars upset Baltimore and cost them their playoff spot.
FINAL PREDICTION: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Cleveland Browns 14.
The Steelers' second stringers have a lot of fire in them, and Heinz Field will still be full of fans eager to see the Steelers take out a division rival. The final score doesn't matter though, as we should all consider it a win that it will [should] be Romeo Crennel's final game as our head coach.
This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 as they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!
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Gameday Inactives
Browns: DB Travis Daniels, SS Hamza Abdullah, TE Kellen Winslow, TE John Madsen, TE Darnell Dinkins, WR Paul Hubbard, LB Leon Williams and DT Santonio Thomas
Steelers: Dennis Dixon (third quarterback), FS Ryan Clark, DB Fernando Bryant, LB Bruce Davis, T Tony Hills, T Jason Capizzi, DT Scott Paxson and LB James Harrison.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 12:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Interesting that Martin Rucker is the only apparent tight end that is active today. For the Steelers, they are being cautious with defensive player of the year candidate James Harrison.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i wish i could watch
but its not on tv and i cant find a stream. wasted my sports bar money on the ufc last night
WAR RAMPAGE
im not impressed with your performance
by troy145 on Dec 28, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Good defensive stop on the first series with stopping Parker.
Looks like Ward will stay in the game until he reaches 1000 yards for the season (13 yards away now).
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 1:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Odd to put Harrison in the flash package so deep.
And FINALLY we ran the play to Stallworth that we brought him in for: the WR screen pass. Gee, it took until Week 17 to call for it?
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 1:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
we suck
im not impressed with your performance
by troy145 on Dec 28, 2008 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It could be worse. 7-0 Green Bay
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if we played detroit today
we would lose. we just played better earlier in the season, it was an anomally.
im not impressed with your performance
by troy145 on Dec 28, 2008 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sickening to see us go for a 53-yarder in Heinz Field rather than trying to move the chains.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 1:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, why not go for it — what do we have to lose?
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 1:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There we go! Pressure by the Browns defense, followed by a Jones pick.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 1:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The offense moved the ball decently well the first drive, let’s see if they can do it again and get some points this time.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
3rd and 6 and we run the ball.
Awesome.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 1:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It worked once, but it wasn’t going to work again. I can’t believe they tried it again.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Too much of a pass/run imbalance today, towards the conservative route.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ugh…frustrating to see Rucker drop one last week and then get stripped this week.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why the Steelers have Roethlisberger in this late in a pointless game is crazy.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 2:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well, if the Steelers weren’t willing to take out Roethlisberger themselves, I guess we did it for them.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 2:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, what is he still doing in there? That’s ridiculous.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This actually looks pretty serious. Holding his head still.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If he misses the playoffs this team is done and Tomlin is in deep you know what…
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Leftwich isn’t a terrible option.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If so, at least Woerthlisberger was taken out a clean hit, as opposed to what Kimo Van Rollover did to Palmer a couple years ago.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I know you want to take care of your players, but for what seems like just a possible concussion, it shouldn’t take 15 minutes to get the guy off the field, right?
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 2:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It sounds cold right now, but Ben Roethlisberger is just about the biggest drama queen in all of football. That being said I hope his injury isn’t career threating or anything.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Can anyone on this team tackle a quarterback with terrible knees and no mobility?
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 2:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
By the way, Cincy and Oakland are both winning right now. If both of them hold on, they would both have better records than the Browns.
We need the Seahawks to beat the Cards at 4 EST. That would move the Browns into the 4 slot in the draft.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 2:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Small consolation for a disastrous season of suckitude.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fox is reporting that Roethlisberger has a slight concussion and will be okay. If that is true and I had to watch 15 minutes of the Pittsburgh medical staff go all out for a minor boo-boo, it will just reinforce the fact that Big Ben is a whiny douche.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 2:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
the score prediction of the Browns scoring 14 points, Uh, what, how is that going to happen?
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on Dec 28, 2008 3:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I had banked on either Leftwich or even the third-stringer having some miscommunication, forcing a pick six. Then, if Gradkowski faced the Steelers’ second-string defense, I thought maybe one touchdown was possible.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No, Chris, remember that everyone thinks this team is the worst football team in the history of the NFL. We couldn’t score points on a high school JV team. Everyone on this team should be cut. Oh, and they don’t care any more either, so they’re not even trying to score points.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thats ridiculous. We’d put up 20, 25 points on a JV team, EASY.
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
by BringBackKosar on Dec 28, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
here we go, just half the team should be cut, and yes this team would have trouble scoring on the Gators in college ball.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on Dec 28, 2008 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We can’t even let a punt go into the end zone without a penalty.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Time to see what this Bartel kid has to offer ;)
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ok, I missed it — who is that guy?
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gradkowski’s backup. Signed this week.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And had been on our practice squad since November 26.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Where’d he go to college?
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tarleton State
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no, seriously, where did he go to college?
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
by BringBackKosar on Dec 28, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tarleton State is Division II, so it’s a bigger deal than all these Division III schools.
by palcal on Dec 28, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
CRIBBS WITH A PASS TO RUCKER! WOOO!!!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cool, now we get to have Orpheus Roye tip our passes.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
How come he didn’t do that when he played for us?
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Because we’re the Cleveland Browns :)
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We’re one quarter away from finishing fourth in our division!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The announcers stuck doing this terrible game seem to think that a 24-point cushion is finally enough for the Steelers to rest their starters, despite the fact that the Browns have not scored an offensive touchdown in five games.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
31-0…only a few minutes until the Crennel era is over!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Frankly, I’m just glad this game isn’t in Cleveland with a stadium full of obnoxious towel-waving Pittsburgh fans whooping it up with Hines Ward egging them on from the sidelines. I never want to see that happen again.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 3:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I asked Santa to have Hines Ward raped by a transient at a bus stop for Christmas. That fat bastard never gives me what I want.
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
by BringBackKosar on Dec 28, 2008 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
One of these days, I really want to see someone just label Hines Ward, slightly after the whistle, to the point where he walks off the field totally woozy in a zigzag. And I want that guy to be a Brown.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let’s still hope the Jaguars can upset the Ravens :-X
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 3:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Woohoo. Jamal Lewis got his 1,000 yards. Pay the man his bonus.
by woodsmeister on Dec 28, 2008 4:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jamal Lewis gets over 1,000 yards. That looked like the only thing the Browns cared about accomplishing in this game.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Pressure kick coming up for the Vikings here. Make it, and you’re in.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Houston’s up big on Chicago so it won’t really matter, but I don’t know if the players know that.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
GOOD!!!!
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right to the Panthers game, where John Kasay kicks the game winner to clinch the division!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Now Carolina has a FG for the game — it’s good!
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 4:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yep, seeing why kickers are crucial when it comes down to it!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, then a kickoff out of bounds to give BREES of all people a shot at a Hail Mary now.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The season is over! YES!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Can you believe it? The Eagles needed…
1. A Buccaneers Loss
2. A Bears Loss
And they got them both. Now, it’s win and in for Dallas/Philly.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Bucs have had quite the fall from grace. A few weeks ago they played the Panthers in a prime time game for second in the NFC, now they’re out of the playoffs.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 28, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gradkowski passer rating of 1.0.
Has that ever happened before? Has there ever been a lower passer rating? Can a quarterback get a 0.0 rating?
by ploni on Dec 28, 2008 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Turned me off to wanting Gradkowski next season :-p
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Garcia in his second game for the Browns had a QB rating of 0.0
by Roger Dorn on Dec 28, 2008 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Why the hell did CBS suddenly switch us from Miami/NYJ to Ravens/Jaguars? I wanted to see the Jets/Dolphins!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 28, 2008 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It’s appropriate that the era of Crennel’s Browns closed out by setting 2 impressive records:
Browns record – shut out 2 consecutive games
NFL record – no offensive touchdowns in 24 consecutive quarters
by palcal on Dec 28, 2008 5:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Triv is saying that Savage is already gone.
by palcal on Dec 28, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, PFT has that story as well.
by Fundamentals on Dec 28, 2008 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Seahawks tied with the Cardinals. If Seattle wins, the Browns pick 4th.
How much longer until CBS switches to the Phins/Jets game? The Ravens are up 17 and the game is boring…
by Fundamentals on Dec 28, 2008 6:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You can switch to FOX and see the Cowboys getting drilled 34-3.
Wade Phillips for our next Defensive Coordinator.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough. Switch both games. The Seattle game has an impact on the Browns and, well, the MIA/NYJ game just seems better to watch. 41-3, by the way. Still think Jerry Jones has his coaching staff in place for next year?
by Fundamentals on Dec 28, 2008 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Uhhh, no. Wade Phillips is GONE.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 7:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, it appears some got their wish. Savage is gone…Romeo undoubtedly soon after.
They better knock this hire out of the park. I don’t care who they hire as long as they deem them to be the best men for the job.
by gahnki on Dec 28, 2008 6:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Someday, I’d like to see a discussion as to why Randy Lerner escapes blame in these circumstances. Did Savage and Crennel make some mistakes? Undoubtedly. However, they made the decisions that they felt were appropriate and would help the franchise. They put in countless hours and study to these decisions. You can make the argument that they weren’t ready for the challenge, or were ill-equipped to succeed. Fine. But, who hired them? Who made that decision to put them in charge? I think its really easy to pass blame to those two, but if they did so poorly, doesn’t that reflect on Lerner?
by Fundamentals on Dec 28, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well I think that Butch Davis was a good hire at the time. He was a hotshot coach that had a winning record everywhere he went.
Savage and Crennel both were regarded as great hires.
It’s not like Lerner has brought in junk. He has spent his money on the biggest and best so far. I don’t see how he can be viewed as a “bad” owner.
by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 28, 2008 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously as owner, Lerner is ultimately at fault for making a series of bad hires.
Unfortunately, he does not have any public shareholders to whom he had to answer.
by palcal on Dec 28, 2008 6:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Can’t say I have a problem with Randy Lerner at all. He has displayed to me that he wants the Browns to win and that entails firing 2 guys even though he’ll have to pay a large amount of their remaining contract
by Roger Dorn on Dec 28, 2008 7:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And all of his hires were the “it” men when he got them. Only retrospectively do they look bad.
by fwembt on Dec 28, 2008 7:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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