CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – That’s all folks.
The Browns continue their tradition of losing regular season games in Pittsburgh by dropping the season finale 28-14 to the Steelers ending a miserable season of disappointment and underachievement.
Here are our Top Takeaways from the grand finale of the 2022 campaign.
1. The Browns were incapable of booting the Steelers from the playoffs, so the Dolphins did it for them.
2. Following four straight third place finishes, the Browns returned to the basement in the AFC North. It’s their 16th last place divisional finish since 1999.
3. After an 11-5 season and being mere plays away from the conference championship in January 2021, the Browns have failed to sustain success under Kevin Stefanski after they follow up an 8-9 campaign in 2021 with a 7-10 finish in 2022.
4. The 7-10 finish is the 17th double digit loss season in the 24 since the franchise returned in 1999. Who can wait for the 25 years of failure celebration that is to come this fall?
5. Welcome to the 10-plus loss in a season club Stefanski. Sincerely, Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson and Freddie Kitchens.
6. Failed leadership on the part of Stefanski the last two seasons – and not quarterback play or drama – is at the heart of the Browns failures. Stefanski is safe and not going anywhere for multiple reasons including the self-preservation society that permeates the organization and will not recommend to ownership that they do what is necessary to bring in a no-nonsense football leader that commands instant respect from the locker room to run the show. Over the last two years Stefanski has shown he is incapable of effectively managing big personalities and conflicts and overcoming the same roster adversity many other teams around the league successfully handle, which is part of being a head coach in the NFL.
7. To be a fly on the wall while the trio of Paul DePodesta, Andrew Berry and Stefanski lather up the excuses for this mess to the Haslams.
8. Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in Pittsburgh but there will be Steeler fans calling for his ouster because they missed the playoffs and finished 9-7. After starting 2-6, Pittsburgh ended the season by winning seven of their last nine games.
9. The tradition of losing in Pittsburgh during the regular season continues for the Browns. The losing streak is now 19 dating back to 2003.
10. The game was lost when the Steelers scored 20 unanswered points, including 10 in the closing 1:47 of the first half, on four straight drives. Pittsburgh’s outburst was aided by a pair of Deshaun Watson interceptions.
11. Nick Chubb ripped off a 15-yard run late in the third quarter to push him above 1,500 for the season. Chubb joins Jim brown, who did it three times – 1958 (1,527), 1963 (1,863) and 1965 (1,544) – and in fewer games, as the only players in team history to do it. Chubb finished the day with 77 yards on 12 carries. He also caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
12. Watson played 24 quarters post suspension. He looked like a $230 million QB that cost six draft picks in two of them, and we’re being generous. Not great by any stretch. Watson’s final numbers Sunday: 19-29 for 230 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a rating of 84.0. He was sacked six times in the loss.
13. Don’t tell Jadeveon Clowney, but Myles Garrett took another step towards the Hall of Fame with his 16th sack, tying his single-season franchise record that he set a year ago.
14. Odds are Joe Woods has coached his final game for the Browns. His defense got manhandled again. They allowed the Steelers to convert nine of 15 on third down, surrendered 148 yards rushing, which is the 10th time in 14 games that has happened, and were gashed on three scoring drives of 75 or more yards. Oh, and the defensive communication breakdowns in the secondary returned for an encore on Kenny Pickett’s 31-yard touchdown to a wide open George Pickens.
15. From missing Najee Harris’ touchdown run in the first quarter to missing a blatant facemask on a sack of Watson, the officiating once again was atrocious with terrible calls affecting both teams.
16. There’s always next year, but with Stefanski returning, don’t bet on it.
17. Let the offseason of undeserved optimism commence!