PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Browns are back in the playoffs with a 24-22 win against a Steelers team quarterbacked by Mason Rudolph. Next week the Browns will face a Steelers team quarterbacked by Ben Roethlisberger, in Pittsburgh, as the post-season begins. The teams split games this year, each winning at home.
Several of the thousands in attendance moved to tears as quarterback Baker Mayfield was the last to leave the field saluting the crowd.
Cleveland’s last postseason game was in 2002, at Heinz Field. A game where they blew a lead to Tommy Maddox in a Wild Card game.
Rudolph returned
There was no incident between the Browns and Rudolph following his last visit to Cleveland, there was a quick conversation and handshake after the game.
Rudolph would go 22 of 39 for 315 yards and a pair of touchdowns and a costly interception. The third-year quarterback led the offense to nearly 50% on third down and completed a couple of fourth downs including a 4th and 10 TD to Chase Claypool. Mike Tomlin said Rudolph showed he has improved and called his performance ‘gritty’.
Sack streak continues
With an 8-yard sack of Baker Mayfield in the second quarter by back-up defensive lineman Chris Wormley, the Steelers NFL record streak of 73 straight games with at least one sack continued. Alex Highsmith would get to Mayfield late in the first half to end any shot of a late Cleveland drive.
Wright choice
Not known for his leg strength, and albeit it in calm conditions by Cleveland standards, Matthew Wright kicked a pair of 46 yard field goals. One long enough to reach the net seven yards behind the goal posts. Filling in for the injured Chris Boswell for the third time this year, Wright is 4 of 4 on field goals and 7 of 7 on extra points.
Dobbs shows legs
Mike Tomlin said it’s a possibility that Josh Dobbs could dress for the playoff game after Dobbs played a couple of handfuls snaps, rushing for twice for 20 yards and throwing five short passes, completing four for two yards.
“We thought his mobility could be an X-factor,” Tomlin said. “It’s a little known trivia fact that Dobbs ran for 850 his last year at Tennessee. Running is an asset to him and so we wanted to infuse that into the game.”