1) This was RB Najee Harris’s first successful run of the day, and it was a nice one! He found a hole sealed by LT Dan Moore and TE Zach Gentry and hit it hard for nine yards and a first down.
Take another look at the backside of that play, where TE Pat Freiermuth is working on Myles Garrett.
2) The first play in this clip is from the Steelers’ first drive. Anthony McFarland’s only touch of the day was chased down by Garrett after a meager one-yard gain. The next play McFarland was on the field Ben faked the pitch to him, rolled out to his right and connected with WR Diontae Johnson for a 17-yard gain.
When the Steelers put McFarland back out there on their second drive they knew he would have the proverbial blinking red light on his helmet. The Browns smelled blood, thinking they were looking at the same play they had stuffed the prior drive and nine of the 11 defenders on the field bit HARD on the play.
I was surprised as anyone to see a 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger running a naked bootleg, but it was a smart call with the play fake to give Roethlisberger some clean green to work with.
On the back-end, Johnson put on a route-running clinic. He was in lock-step with his corner for most of the play. He sold the vertical route and the moment the defender turned his head to run, Johnson cut off the curl and sat down underneath a 10-yard cushion.
3) I have very few criticisms of WR Diontae Johnson. He’s an elite route runner and separator(⬆️), he has the hands to make those get-off-the-couch catches, and he’s a willing and capable run blocker. The one thing I’ll say is I’d like him to be more aware of his body language, specifically post-play.
He was open in a big way, for a long time on this play, but Ben’s primary read was to the other side of the field. Once that fizzled out he turned his eyes and made the throw – granted, poorly. One might argue that your primary read in a trips situation should always be to that side, but that’s a separate discussion.
We’ve seen Diontae holding his palms up after plays on a number of occasions this year, clearly frustrated with the game and, likely, his quarterback. Letting your opponent see your frustration gives them the advantage; anyone who’s seen Karate Kid knows that.
4) As you probably know the Browns came into the game on Sunday as the#1 rushing attack in the NFL. After four quarters of great team defense, they no longer occupy the top spot in that category.
I think DT Isaiah Buggs was also held here by the center. After he’s taken to the ground he gets back up and does the “fourth down” hand sign in the general direction of his sideline, but he’s clearly doing it AT the Browns’ center. He’s gotta watch himself with the new taunting rules.
5) It wasn’t a banner day for NFL Officiating. This is a grab bag of some of the more egregious ‘fficial flubs, starting with the one all of our uncles still won’t shut up about: the play that concussed K Chris Boswell was in fact a dirty, illegal hit.
When DT Malik McDowell sacked Ben and landed with his full 295 pounds on the QB, the referee – who was standing five yards from the play – threw a flag without hesitation. After a brief discussion, that very same referee announced to the stadium and the world that he had changed his mind.
Clowney got away with one, too.
As I pointed out in the above tweet, this is after the officials flagged RT Chukwuma Okorafor for being (at most) inches out of position on one pass set on the Steelers’ first drive. Later there was a questionable holding call against Kendrick Green on Ben’s two-point conversion scramble. It’s okay to call a high strike zone, but you gotta give those high strikes both ways.
Steely Cam 