In good hands

It didn't take long for Jim Schwartz to feel comfortable again in Cleveland. A matter of seconds, in fact, as he sat down at the news conference the other day that formally announced his appointment as the Browns' brand new defensive coordinator.

As he leaned toward the microphone after head coach Kevin Stefanski briefly introduced him to the assembled Cleveland media and then wisely got out of the way, Schwartz acknowledged a plaque on the back wall of the media room, launching an often-nostalgic 35-minute session.

He apologized starting off on a personal note -- although he didn't have to -- when he spoke of 
Dino Lucarelli, the now-retired long-time public relations whiz who worked over the years for the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League and Cleveland Indians, and the Browns for more than 30 years. Everyone was seated in the Dino Lucarelli Media Center. 

Lucarelli, now in his late 80s, befriended him and Schwartz went out of his way to share that. You could tell the return to his National Football League roots meant more than just another job in his 30-year career. It was the perfect way to begin the news conference. It seemed like a special moment for him.

It was easily one of the best such events I've witnessed by anyone in any sport in a long time, and I've seen numerous in my lengthy career. Made no difference that it was online. It was though I was there in person in the room. It just felt special.  

Schwartz, 56, is a veteran of news conferences, having served as a head coach (in Detroit) and an assistant coach in a variety of roles. He knows his way around media rooms. 

You could tell he was comfortable. Arms folded. Relaxed. Very anecdotal. Answered all questions fully with no reading between the lines -- except for one that will be addressed shortly -- when the topic was football.  Said all the right things, although I quarreled silently when he spoke of the ownership group.

Smiled, though, when he spoke about how much much better the pass rush will be this season. "We run a very D-line-friendly scheme," he said. ". . . We sort of let those guys go and be disruptive." My initial thought: He'll find out soon enough this is Cleveland, where fans are normally suspicious of talk like that because it rarely comes to fruition.

An answer to one of the dozen questions he handled particularly caught my attention. About halfway through the session, he was asked about building his staff on the defensive side of the football. He demurred and pivoted.

He said the staff was Stefanski's and would follow the dictates of the head coach and Andrew Berry, with whom he worked a few years ago when the Cleveland general manager worked a year in Philadelphia's front office, and he was the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Eagles.

Wait a minute. The Browns are bringing in Schwartz to change the culture of the defense and then ignoring him with regard to reconstructing that side of the ball? That sounds almost too deferential to the head man. I don't believe that for a nanosecond.

If that's the case, however, and Schwartz is basically ceding the look of the defense this season, the Browns are heading down the wrong road again. If the new coordinator is going to successful, Stefanski has to take one giant step back and concentrate even more on the offense. 

I think Schwartz, one way or the other, will get everything and everyone he needs to turn this thing around. The guess here is the defense that reports to training camp this summer in no way will resemble the group that departed just a few weeks ago following the season finale in Pittsburgh.

Trusting Joe Woods with the defense for three seasons produced disastrous results. With a savvy veteran like Schwartz now in charge, year four under Stefanski already has a gleam of hope.

Preordained?

Well that didn't take long.

In a move that suspiciously looked preordained, the Browns made veteran National Football League coach Jim Schwartz their new defensive coordinator Tuesday, a mere eight days after dispatching Joe Woods to the rolls of the unemployed.

The swiftness with which the move took place strongly suggests it was Schwartz's job to lose. It fell into place way too quickly. The Browns acted in this manner almost as though they were afraid they were going to lose him.

The front office also did its due diligence by interviewing minority candidates Brian Flores of Pittsburgh, Seattle's Sean Desai and Dennard Wilson of Philadelphia. As it turned out, none had a chance for this opening.

For what it's worth, I preferred one of the younger candidates instead of the 56-year-old Schwartz. I believe the players would respond better to someone closer to their age. 

So why Schwartz? He brings to Cleveland a reputation for fixing talented defenses that underperform. Sound familiar? Woods failed miserably the last three seasons. It'll be Schwartz's main job to completely change the culture on that side of the football.

Numerous players complained last season they weren't being turned loose. Those complaints fell on deaf ears. It was almost as though head coach Kevin Stefanski bothered too much with the offense and unwisely trusted Woods. He was the head coach in name only.

The dreaded zone defenses of Wood that often confused members of the secondary will be replaced with man-to-man pass coverage expected to improve the pass rush. The run defense improves once General Manager Andrew Berry makes up for the mistake he made last season by ignoring defensive tackle.

Schwartz, a devotee of the 4-3 front as was Woods, brings along a welcomed belligerent attitude toward opposing offenses for the first time since Gregg Williams coordinated the defense in 2018 before taking over as the interim head coach when Hue Jackson was fired.

It will be interesting to see what latitude, if any, the new coordinator will be given free rein to form a staff with which he feels comfortable.

There are those among Browns fans not exactly thrilled with this move, remembering Schwartz's five-season stint as head coach of the Detroit Lions several years ago during which he produced four losing seasons. He should be judged as an assistant coach and coordinator, not a head coach.

After entering the NFL way back in 1993 as a personnel assistant to Browns head coach Bill Belichick, Schwartz went on to coach for Baltimore, Tennessee (twice), Buffalo and Philadelphia, where he coordinated the defense for the Super Bowl LII champion Eagles in 2018.

One more situation worth keeping an eye on. It's based strictly on a hypothetical. If Stefanski continues to encounter problems from a win/loss standpoint, Schwartz is the the only one on the coaching staff with head coaching in his background who could be looked on as heir-apparent if Stefanski is dismissed during the season.

This time, it would behoove Stefanski to be a head coach and stay in constant touch with Schwartz at all times rather than trust him to concentrate on the offense. The payoff there with Woods were three seasons of bad defense and back-to-back losing seasons.

Monday's leftovers, Part 2

It's been three seasons since head coach Kevin Stefanski took command of the Browns' offense. It's also been three seasons during which he hasn't figured out how to maximize the talents of two great running backs.

And now, barring unforeseen circumstances, he won't get a fourth opportunity to see what kind of production he would've (should've?) gotten with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the same huddle. That's because Hunt is now -- or soon will be -- a free agent and the club displays no desire to resign him. Why not?

Because the head coach/playcaller in all of those seasons had no idea how to combine these two extraordinary talents in a package that ostensibly would have made life miserable for opposing defenses. It seemed as though he didn't try hard enough.

The oddity is Stefanski is a devotee of a balanced attack. More run the ball to set up the pass than the opposite. Rather than pairing them on most snaps, he alternated them. For a good part of this past season, he opened with Chubb for two series before bringing in Hunt to replace him for at least one more.

They are two distinctly different, but highly effective, runners. Chubb is a power back with astonishing speed who breaks tackles with an amazing number of yards gained after contact. Getting him on the ground requires a minimum of at least three defenders.

Hunt, on the other hand, is a slasher who constantly seeks holes with a darting, bending, arms and elbows flying style that makes him difficult to bring down. He is also a top-flight receiver with very reliable hands. In addition, he is solid on blitz pickups.

The former Willoughby South High School product, who led the National Football League in rushing as a rookie with Kansas City, produced 1,145 yards from scrimmage in 2020 under Stefanski, but his numbers have fallen precipitously since then due to injuries and limited use.

Here's Stefanski's explanation on the situation . . . 

"I really think it's a week-to-week proposition. I think there are times when (playing together) makes sense. There are other times when you want to keep those guys fresh and they're both playing at a high level whether they're on the field together or not takes a back seat to them playing at a high level and doing things you know give the (opposing) defense difficulty."

Word salad. Non-answers like that are Stefanski's specialty.

The future is not bleak at the position, however. Rookie running back Jerome Ford flashed on kickoffs in the second half of the season and figures to assume Hunt's role next season. The only negative is we'll never know how much better the Cleveland offense would have been with Chubb and Hunt together behind or beside the quarterback.

***

It's been three seasons now since the Browns selected offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. in the first round of the 2020 college draft. That's more than enough time to evaluate him and determine how wise that choice was.

Full disclosure: Three highly-ranked offensive tackles were available when the Browns were put on the clock. When Wills was selected, I bemoaned the choice, hoping instead for Tristan Wirfs, taken a few picks later by Tampa Bay. The pick was based on the recommendation of offensive line coach Bill Callahan.)

And when the Browns announced Wills, a right tackle his entire career, would be shifted to left tackle, not one positive thought coursed through my mind. Didn't like it then; disappointed with it even more now. I kept looking for reasons to be optimistic and came up empty unfailingly.

Wirfs, despite missing the last four games this season with an ankle, allowed only two sacks this season -- he's allowed just six in his three seasons --- and has consistently graded among the top 10 tackles by Pro Football Focus.

At his best, Wills was average at pass blocking and below average in the ground game. According to PFF, Wills allowed six sacks and 41 hurries and committed 10 penalties this past season. 

I saw occasional flashes of talent from him, but not nearly enough to be convinced Callahan, who certainly knows a lot more about football than I ever will, was right. How he missed on Wirfs, who has achieved Pro Bowl and All-Pro status in his three seasons, will always be baffling.

After a rough start caused by transitioning to the opposite end of the line, which proved too difficult, Wills failed to show the necessary improvement to become a solid anchor necessary to protect his quarterback's blind side.

Unless the Browns' evaluation of Wills is a rosier than mine, you can add offensive left tackle to the growing list of needs in the next draft after the glaring holes at defensive tackle, linebacker  (bigger and heavier), wide receiver and safety.

***

Speaking of the offensive line, the biggest surprise there was the play of center Ethan Pocic, who stepped right in after Nick Harris, the presumed starter after JC Tretter was cut, went down for the season with a knee in the opening exhibition game against Jacksonville.

Pocic, the tallest center in the NFL at 6-6, was a stalwart all season before landing on injured reserve in week 11 before returning three weeks later. Playing between All-Pro Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller doesn't  hurt, either.

But his strong pass protection skills, especially at his height, and ability to make solid correct line calls certainly weigh in his favor once Harris, among the smallest at a half inch above six feet, reports to training camp this summer.

Pocic, picked up as a free agent last April after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, allowed only two sacks and committed just one penalty in 819 snaps this past season. His contract expires in March. He has indicated he would like to return for at least a second season. 

After the kind of season he gave the Browns in 2022, it's hard to believe they won't accommodate him. The guess here is this time he will beat out Harris to be the line's anchor again this season.

***

There is one other big problem on defense besides blown pass coverages that needs to be addressed by the new coordinator -- the shoddy, oftentimes poor tackling. 

For whatever reason, the Cleveland defense has all sorts of problems getting opposing running backs, wide receivers and tight ends on the ground and limit the yardage they gain,. Too many times this season we've seen ball carriers slip through tackle after tackle and tack on valuable yardage.

Whether it's a matter of bad positioning to make a stop, bad timing or just plain sloppiness while attempting to wrap someone up, it's way too prevalent among the Cleveland defense. A serious lack of fundamentals are glaringly absent.

How many times have we seen defenders leave their feet and launch themselves at an opposing player? The correct answer is too many. It rarely works. Attempted arm tackles, generally caused by poor positioning, never work. 

Solid fundamental football, as a general rule, is the great separator between an average defense and one strong enough to propel teams into the postseason, As the old saying goes: Offense wins games; defense wins championships.

***

Finally . . . The final grade here for rookie placekicker Cade York is a shaky C. No question he's got the leg. Won the season opener with a 58-yard field goal. That, as it turned out, was the highlight of an inconsistent season for the fourth-round draft pick last May. He missed eight of 32 field-goal attempts, two extra points and had a league-leading three kicks blocked. . . . Cleaning up the Denzel Ward item the other day regarding how much he has actually suited up in his five seasons.: Missing 16 games due to a variety of injuries is equivalent to missing one entire season. . . . The defense recorded 43 sacks this past season, one more than 2021. . . . On third down, they converted just 38% of the time, down 1.6% from 2021. . . . Love this last one: Stefanski went for it on fourth down an incredible 42 times this past season, one more than Arizona, to lead the league and converted a league-best 23 times thanks to football's preeminent sneaker Jacoby Brissett.

Monday's leftovers

(So much to unpack. This will be a two-parter. We begin today with the further adventures of Kevin Stefanski.)

It's not exactly a secret the seat on which Kevin Stefanski sits as head coach of the Browns is getting hotter by the day. Two seasons of unacceptable mediocrity and occasional rumblings within the team's culture make that perfectly clear as to why.

The situation next season, however, will be dramatically different. Stefanski is now working without a safety net. Only one year will remain on his five-year contract after 2023. He's got to win now. A return to the postseason in 2023 might be the only thing that saves him.

He has banked one terrific season followed by two that have angered a constituency that believed he was finally the right head coach for this moribund franchise. It has reached the point where more than a few now wonder whether we've already seen the best of him. 

The Haslam family has shown unusual patience with the Andrew Berry-Stefanski front office. It sure looks as though season four under this regime will determine their fate. Two straight losing seasons raises questions. Three in a row is a trend.

As general manager, Berry is responsible for shaping the roster. There's enough room on the hot seat for him, too.

And let's not forget Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta. It seems as though the former baseball executive has strategized the Browns, by way of analytics, into a morass of mediocrity mainly through how Berry and Stefanski perform their jobs. A 15-19 record the last two seasons is the result.

(Full disclosure: I don't understand analytics or how they work. I'm old-fashioned. My eyes are my guide to whether a football team, in this case the Browns, plays well or poorly. I don't need a statistical breakdown and analysis to determine that.)

In spite of the dismal final outcomes of the last two seasons, Berry bestowed the dreaded vote of confidence on Stefanski Monday during the end-of-the-season news conference he shared with his head coach.

Although he probably didn't mean it that way, he nevertheless told the media, "I think we have a really strong head coach. He's smart. He's good with our guys. He's creative." He's also 26-24 in the last three seasons and heading in the wrong direction.

"Our goal is . . . to make sure we reach our goals and have a really productive 2023," Berry continued. "That takes all of us. We know we have a good one in Kevin." Apparently he pays attention to some of the outside noise quarreling with Stefanski's coaching style.

Still sounded like a vote of confidence to me after the last two disappointing seasons. Without actually saying it, it also sounded as though Berry had no problems with Stefanski's playcalling and would not object to a fourth season managing the offense.

With Deshaun Watson commanding the huddle for the next four seasons, that promises to be extremely interesting. A coach who loves a balanced offense relying on a quarterback considered one of the best passers in the National Football League.

***

Part of the news conference dealt with the firing of defensive coordinator Joe Woods shortly after arriving back in Cleveland following the season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night and who his successor will be. 

It is being reported the Browns have requested -- and presumably received -- permission to interview assistant coaches Jim Schwartz of Tennessee, Pittsburgh's Brian Flores, Jerod Mayo of New England and Seattle's Sean Desai for the job. Another name being floated is former Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer.

Woods' up-and-down three years with Cleveland resulted mainly in communications problems, many resulting in numerous blown pass coverages, which was unusual for a team that ostensibly was loaded in the secondary from a personnel standpoint.

Arguments can be made that at least three of the Browns' 10 losses this season would have ended in victory if not for miscommunications in the secondary. Some suggest Woods' schemes proved too difficult to execute properly in the back end and that one reason was their inability to grasp what he was teaching.

What this defense needs is an attitude, a mean streak. It needs to take on the personality of its coordinator. Flores and Schwartz are known for the bellicosity of their defenses. Under Woods, the Cleveland defense played back on its heels instead of aggressively attacking opposing offenses.

Woods was also hamstrung this past season by a general manager who refused to recognize a major weakness at defensive tackle and did nothing to improve it. That the Browns were one of the NFL's worst against the run was not an accident. 

Do I have a favorite among the early candidates? I like Flores, who epitomizes the previously-mentioned attributes. He's young, can relate to the players and be in a position if the Haslams don't like what they see in the new season, they've got a ready-made head coach to step right in like -- and here is where I reveal how far back I go -- Marty Schottenheimer taking over for Sam Rutigliano in 1984.

***

After Jadeveon Clowney all but secured his departure from Cleveland after two seasons, I wonder why he lasted so long this season. While willingly complaining to a Cleveland.com reporter about how he was being misused, he revealed for the first time he refused to play on first and second downs in a week six game against Baltimore. Strictly third down for him.

And Stefanski allowed it. Instead of sending Clowney to the dressing room for the remainder of the game as a punishment, he did nothing. Clowney wasn't hurt. At least physically. His ego was bruised because he believed the club wanted to thrust Myles Garrett into the spotlight. 

Perhaps it was because Stefanski was concentrating more on being the playcaller for the offense than to bother with something like that. That the incident is just coming out now is somewhat concerning and brings into question why the lack of transparency.

***

Denzel Ward left the Steelers game Sunday with shoulder problems. That begged a question regarding the Pro Bowl cornerback's ability to stay healthy. A quick check revealed something quite interesting. Ward has never played a full season in his five-year career.

Out of a possible 82 games, he has suited up and played in -- or left due to injury -- only 66 games with  injuries ranging from concussions (he's had three), to miseries with hips, groins, calves, hamstrings and his neck.

That's 16 missed games for a high first-round draft choice (2018), who still manages to get voted to the Pro Bowl. He has missed 20% of the club's games. And the Browns rewarded him last April with a five-year contract worth $100,5 million, $71.25 million guaranteed. What a country.

Next, part two

Another season to forget

Remember the Deshaun Watson we all saw in the second half last Sunday in the come-from-behind victory over the Washington Commanders? The one who threw three touchdown passes and excited a fan base to cast their eyes toward the future?

That was an aberration. 

The real Deshaun Watson, the $230 million one, showed up Sunday in Pittsburgh, where Browns teams have gone once a season over the last half century to almost-always fail miserably, and was rudely welcomed to the long-time rival series.

Here's how his good news/bad news/very bad news afternoon unfolded: He threw touchdown passes to David Njoku and Nick Chubb; he also connected with Damontae Kazee and Levi Wallace of the Steelers  secondary that were turned into 10 Pittsburgh points; he was sacked a season-high seven times -- deftly avoiding at least four others -- and was hit another dozen times by a relentless Pittsburgh pass rush in the 28-14 loss.

Watson knew exactly how Baker Mayfield felt in his final game as a Brown in the penultimate game against the Steelers last season. Mayfield was massaged for nine sacks and 11 hits. Only difference there was Mayfield publicly -- and correctly -- criticizing the playcalling of his head coach. 

It was an embarrassing afternoon not only for Watson as he wound up his abbreviated six-game season with a 3-3 record after his 11-game suspension, but for an offensive line that was called on way too often to protect their leader, and a receiving corps that had trouble becoming available. All but one of the sacks were in the second half.

Instead of using his quarterback as a weapon on the ground, head coach Kevin Stefanski chose to drop him back 42 times against a pass rush that was teeing off on just about every play with the sole purpose of getting him on the ground. He managed to get loose six times for 44 yards.

It sure seems as though Stefanski, who should seriously consider giving up playcalling duties next season, is aiming to flip the Cleveland offense to where the pass sets up the run. But when you have a running back like Chubb, that's nonsensical thinking.

Chubb picked up 77 yards on the ground on 12 carries. Why only a dozen? Perhaps it's because the Steelers scored 20 straight points after the Browns broke a scoreless tie with 6:27 left in the second quarter, Watson and Njoku hooking up from 10 yards to cap a 10-play, 71-yard march.

The Steelers immediately replied with another one of those how'd-he-get-so-open plays that returned to the Cleveland secondary after a one-month absence. Rookie wide receiver George Pickens didn't even have to sneak into that secondary he was that wide open from the snap. Fellow rookie Kenny Pickett took advantage of the blown coverage and played pitch and catch with him from 31 yards.

Ninety-six seconds later, the Steelers grabbed the lead for good after Wallace, in double coverage, picked off Watson, setting up a Chris Boswell 49-yard field goal. 

The third quarter was a disaster on both sides of the ball for the Browns. The offense ran nine plays for six net yards from scrimmage. Oh . . . and another Watson pick, this one when Kazee jumped a route by David Bell and returned it to the Cleveland 25.

Six plays later, Najee Harris barged four yards for a 20-7 lead. Harris was denied a touchdown on the Steelers' opening drive in the first quarter when replays revealed he had scored. The Steelers did not challenge the call and Harris fumbled two plays later when Browns linebacker Deion Jones poked the ball loose as he tried to vault the line of scrimmage and Tony Fields II recovered at the five.

The Browns, with a little help from referee Clete Blakeman, cut the margin to six on their first possession of the final quarter. Suddenly -- and briefly -- looking like the team that played in the second half of last Sunday's game, Chubb ripped off 26 yards on two runs, Watson found Amari Cooper in zone coverage for 36 more yards and all of a sudden, the Browns were at the Pittsburgh 14-yard line.

On the second play, Watson was dropped for a 10-yard loss on second down by Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. Blakeman apparently didn't like the way Heyward threw Watson down and flagged him for roughing. I've seen worse not penalized. 

Two plays later, a scrambling Watson found Chubb waiting for a two-yard toss just inside the end zone. And that, for all practical purposes, was the Cleveland offense for the afternoon. By then, the offense was done for the afternoon, too.

Pickett removed 5:34 from the game clock with a nice 75-yard, 14-play drive, during which he converted three third downs (10, 8, 8). It featured the brothers of Steelers stalwarts T. J. Watt and Heyward. Rookie tight end/fullback Connor Heyward caught passes of 27 and nine yards and fullback Derek Watt finished it from a yard out.

The Browns wrap up yet another disappointing, underachieving season at 7-10 as tenants in the basement of the AFC North for the 16th time in 24 seasons since 1999. It also marks the franchise's 21st season with a sub-.500 record in that period. It drops Stefanski's three-season record to 26-24, the loss column growing from five in his rookie season to twice that this season.

This offseason promises to be very active. There's an awful lot that needs fixing. Living up to their credo of smart, tough and accountable also needs to be seriously addressed or changed. It's reached the point where the Haslams' patience with the current front office has to be wearing thin.

As bad as you thought

Whenever the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers get together, statistics inevitably get in the way of the story. Sunday's season finale for maybe the Steelers and definitely the Browns presents a different set of what I believe are interesting stats.

For example, this will be game number 143 in this storied but alternately lopsided series that began in 1950 when the Browns joined the National Football League after dominating the old All-America Football Conference for four seasons.

With the exception of the three years the NFL allowed the Browns to escape to Baltimore following the 1995 season, this series became one of the league's greatest rivalries due mainly to geography. The cities lie 132 miles apart -- a two-hour drive -- and are connected by the Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpikes.

From a competitive standpoint, though, that is hardly the case. It is a rivalry only in the literal sense of the word because fans from both cities are quite ardent and take all series games seriously regardless of where the teams are in the standings. 

Even though the Browns are 7-9 and finish with yet another losing season, their fans will rejoice with a victory Sunday if, for no other reason, they knock the Steelers out of the playoffs and hand head coach Mike Tomlin his first-ever losing season in 16 seasons. 

Considering how the Steelers have (man)handled Cleveland since 1988, the last time the Browns swept a season series from Pittsburgh, any time they knock off the Steelers is a time to celebrate. Does 8-9 make them feel any better about how this season has unfolded? Of course not, but it sure will feel a little sweeter because it's Pittsburgh.

In those 34 years (excluding the aforementioned three seasons) since the last Cleveland sweep, the Steelers are 49-14-1 in the series under only three head coaches who have  produced six Super Bowl champions. Two are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the third is well on his way.

While Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin were in control in Pittsburgh, the Browns ran through a dozen head coaches and three interims. Yep, I'm going to bring back a lot of bad memories. Permission granted to skip this trip down (sad) memory lane if you choose.

Following Marty Schottenheimer, who was fired after the 1988 season by Art Modell, were Bud Carson, Bill Belichick, Chris Palmer ushering in the expansion era, Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson, Freddie Kitchens and now Kevin Stefanski. The interims were Jim Shofner, Terry Robiskie and Gregg Williams.

Since the 1999 resurrection, the Browns are 10-43-1 against the Steelers, winning only once in Pittsburgh. This will be their 10th attempt to sweep the season series since '88. With Tomlin at the helm, by the way, the Steelers are 47-10-1 against the Browns with just the one loss in Pittsburgh. 

Alone at the top of the list of fecal disturbers against the Browns for the Steelers was Ben Roethlisberger, who was drafted five spots after Davis selected Kellen Winslow Jr. for Cleveland in the 2004 college draft. Big Ben feasted on the Browns with a 26-2-1 record that might be an all-time NFL record for excellence against one team.  

Not sure this will make you feel even a little better, but the Browns at one time back in what is now referred to as the good, old days were actually a championship-caliber  franchise and made the Steelers look like the Browns of the last two decades, winning 48 of the first 78 games in the series.

Okay, the game. In order to quality for another post-season appearance, the Steelers must win Sunday, then hope the New York Jets either beat or tie Miami and Buffalo either knocks off or ties New England. The Browns win and the two teams share third place in the AFC North.

The Steelers come into this one with the kind of momentum in the last couple of months of the season that generally produces football in January and February, having won three in a row and five of their last six games due mainly to a Steelers staple -- a stingy defense.

It coincides with the return in midseason of All-Pro outside linebacker (T)rent (J)ordan Watt, who missed seven games with a partially torn pectoral muscle in week two as the Steelers lost six of their first eight and seven of their first 10 games.

Watt, who had four of the Steelers' nine sacks and a handful of hits and hurries against Baker Mayfield in week 17 last season, is still not 100%, but his presence in the lineup on the strong side of the Steelers' defense has provided positive results.

The defense has to play well, quite frankly, because the offense is terrible. The Steelers, who have scored more than 24 points just once this season and that was in a 37-30 loss to Cincinnati, average a mere 17.5 points a game. 

The keys to this one for the Browns, aside from seeing if quarterback Deshaun Watson can sustain his rapidly improving passing stats, is how well the defense handles rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, Roethlisberger's successor who is 6-5 and has led the Steelers to last-minute victories the last two weeks. 

The Cleveland secondary has played very well lately, which probably means the run defense, which hasn't, probably will see a heavy dose of running back Najee Harris, coming off his first 100-yard game of the season last week. 

Offensively, look for more Watson on the ground, taking advantage of his special RPO skills, setting up more screen opportunities and the Browns'  version of a large dose in Nick Chubb. Keep an eye on offensive right tackle James Hudson III, filling in for the injured Jack Conklin. The pro sophomore was responsible for three of Watt's' sacks last season.

Winning must-win games this season is the reason the Steelers are still relevant. To borrow a favorite line of successful coaches, the Steelers will somehow "find a way" to insure Tomlin's record of avoiding a losing season remains intact. The Browns will "find a way" to once again come up short as they finish the season 7-10 and become sole occupants once again in the division basement. Make it:

Steelers 17, Browns 13

Mid-week thoughts

Ready for a joke? Joe Woods wants to return to the Browns as the defensive coordinator for the fourth straight season. Really. 

You're not laughing, are you? Celebrating? Probably.

"I hope I get the opportunity (to return)," Woods told the Cleveland media Thursday in their weekly get-together. "But that's not my decision." Yep, you read that correctly. If nothing else, the guy's got temerity after three shots at getting it right and failing. 

It sounded as though he knows what lies ahead and seemed to be lobbying through the media. Like he knows his job is hanging by a thread. "Hopefully, I get to talk to you guys again," he said as he left. Time to update his résumé. (You'll have to find someone else to kick around next season.) 

In what was likely his last news conference, Woods cited how well the defense played in the second half of the last two seasons. But playing well for half a season isn't going to cut it.

The first half of those seasons were so egregiously awful from a performance standpoint, the Browns were practically out of contention for the postseason midway through the last two seasons. This season, in particular, because they entered it riding the coattails of a terrific second half in 2021.

To be fair,  Woods was saddled with arguably the National Football League's worst defense in his first season in 2020 when General Manager Andrew Berry chose to rebuild the offense first before concentrating on the defense in 2021 and slapped together a patch-work unit.

The result was an 11-5 team that allowed more points (419) than it scored (408). The Browns made the playoffs (for the first time in nearly two decades) because the offense won games by simply bludgeoning opponents. That's why Woods entered season two with a blank slate.

Season two produced an awful first half and solid second half that elevated the Browns to top 10 status from a statistical standpoint. The fact the first-half-of-the-season defense of 2021 reappeared the first half of this season before straightening out again halfway through pretty much doomed him.

Excuses can be offered that it was difficult to coordinate the defense when injuries all but wiped out the strength of the linebackers room. But there are no excuses for a secondary that played the first half of this season in a state of confusion.

If fans comments and overall general reaction on social media to the mess in Berea are any indication, a growing number in Browns Nation will be awfully disappointed if Woods is not working elsewhere in the NFL next season.

If head coach Kevin Stefanski, who concentrates way too much on the other side of the football to begin with, hasn't figured out by now that Woods isn't getting the most out of a very good unit on paper, then he never will. 

His job security depends on the performance of the entire team and if one of those three units falters, mediocrity generally follows. The Browns' 15-18 record since 2020 is the definition of mediocre. One more season like the last two and Stefanski will assume the hot seat Woods is about to vacate.

The hope is whoever replaces him brings a more fan-pleasing aggressive style. His passive approach to defense was antithetical to the way defense should be played.  It would also help if Stefanski paid more attention to that side of the football.

Monday leftovers

In some ways, it's fascinating to see how fans and a few members of the media react after a Browns victory. Take Sunday's 24-10 road triumph against the Washington Commanders for example.

At halftime, most everyone in -- or associated with -- Browns Nation no doubt were moaning at various levels of anger and frustration after watching them pretty much go through the motions in the first 30 minutes. It was cringeworthy, embarrassing.

Fast forward to after the same game, about an hour later, and you'd swear the fans and media couldn't wait for the start of the 2023 National Football League season. All it took was a solid second half from all three units. It was truly complementary football, a rarity for the Browns this season.

Deshaun Watson played easily his best game -- no, make that half -- of the season, immediately kick-starting conversation about what loomed for the elite quarterback. His break-out three-touchdown half in just his fifth game back from suspension prompted crazy, wonderful thoughts and dreams of the future.

The NFL's most frustrated fan base -- and it's not even close -- has been teased so badly and so often by this franchise over the years, they'll glom on to just about anything positive at this point. They thought the two-decade-long days of gloom and doom were finally over after the surprising 11-5 season in 2020.

The last two mediocre seasons erased that notion. The Browns haven't been terrible in that span. They just haven't learned how to play up their talent quotient, dropping games along the way they should win and occasionally upsetting stronger opponents.

They began this season with a momentum of hope created by a defense that shocked just about everyone by playing top-10 football statistically in the second half of the 2021 season. Add that to an already superior offense and it's off to the races and back in the postseason, right?

With few exceptions, the 2022 defense that started was the pretty much same that finished last season. Coordinator Joe Woods and head coach Kevin Stefanski were sanguine in anticipation of great success. It didn't take long to discover success from the previous season does not necessarily carry over to the next season.

If we're pointing fingers of guilt as to why the Browns will finish under .500 and in the AFC North cellar this season for the umpteenth time in this century, all fingers are directed at the defense. 

Just about everything fell apart, especially in the secondary. Blown assignments, thought to have been corrected last season, resurfaced and became commonplace. Then a plethora of injuries robbed the defense of most of its veteran linebackers. Ball game.

So now you see why I believe Watson's performance in the second half against Washington will have no impact whatsoever on how the offense operates in 2023. It's nice for one game. And that's the point.  It's just one game. 

This carryover-to-the-next-season nonsense is the stuff of public relations. Gotta keep the Browns relevant and in the spotlight, and the fans brimming with hope. Let's see what it's like Sunday after the season finale in Pittsburgh.

Too much is going to happen from a personnel standpoint during what could be --  should be? -- an active offseason that'll reshape the roster and coaching staff (not Stefanski). The bet here is this front office is in trouble if there's a third straight disappointing season.

***

Watson's throwing was spotty all afternoon Sunday.  He received no help from his receivers in the first half, during which he was sacked four times. His offensive line gave him plenty of time to throw, but the inability of receivers to adjust and become available had to frustrate.

On the first of Watson's three scoring throws in the second half, though, Amari Cooper helped by grabbing a 10-yard stick-route at the Washington 36 on third down, pivoting and breaking a tackle, then running untouched the rest of the way down the sideline. 

The second on the next possession was the prettiest because of its perfect execution. Donovan Peoples-Jones lined up slot left at the Washington 13-yard line on another third down. He ran a shallow cross left to right into a vacant area created by a clear-out. Watson hit him in stride from about eight yards and the rest was easy. Just like it was drawn up.

You could almost see it coming.Watson had delivered his best two passes on the afternoon to set up this touchdown, clicking on darts of 28 yards to Cooper and 21 more to tight end David Njoku. It was a brief glimpse of what the Browns expect from him the next four seasons.

Touchdown number three on the next possession was basic reading and then taking advantage of a zone defense. First down at the Washington 33. Cooper immediately recognized the defense. So did Watson. Cooper found the soft spot about 20 yards downfield. The ball arrived with well-timed precision and Cooper barged his way into the end zone 

***

Finally . . . Nick Chubb needs 47 yards against the Steelers next Sunday to establish a personal best in yards gained from scrimmage and has a good chance -- he needs 52 yards -- to join Jim Brown in the 1,500-yard club. Brown did it three times -- 1,527 in 12 games in his second season (1957), 1,544 in his final season (1965) in 14 games and a club-record 1,863 yards in 1963 in 14 games. . . . The Cleveland defense, which had only eight takeaways in the first 11 games (4-7 record), have stormed back with 11 in the last five games (3-2). . . . The offense has turned the ball over to the opposition at least once in 12 of the 16 games.

Stuck in neutral

The Cleveland Browns who played in the first half of their 24-10 victory Sunday against the Washington Commanders were either in a stupor, trance or hypnotic state because they sure didn't look ready for 60 minutes of football.

The offense looked listless -- there's a stronger word out there, but let's just go with listless -- while their buddies on defense couldn't get off the field. That's because the offense couldn't stay on the field long enough to matter.

Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz cooperated a bit by throwing three interceptions -- one to Denzel Ward and a pair to Grant Delpit -- that helped put a whopping three points on the board in the first half via a Cade York 37-yard field goal after Ward's theft at the Washington 36 on the third play of their initial possession of the game.

How can anyone come to that conclusion with a 14-point victory, you ask? Hold on.

A subsequent brain fart moment by Kevin Stefanski arrived after the defense enjoyed a rare a moment of success, forcing the Commanders to turn over the ball over on downs at the Cleveland 40. Five plays later, the Browns were at the Commanders' seven-yard line courtesy mainly of a 35-yard burst by Nick Chubb.

Here's where the malodorous flatulence emanates. York again capitalized on the turnover with a 25-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 6-0. Hold on. Washington special teamer Khaleke Hudson was flagged for offsides. This is where it gets interesting.

As I was writing in capital letters with five exclamation points, DO NOT TAKE POINTS OFF THE BOARD!!!!!, Stefanski took the points off the board. Guess I wasn't shouting loudly enough, Referee Bill Vinovich must not have believed that was Stefanski's decision and went over to him, apparently to make certain nothing got lost in the translation. 

So instead of a six-point lead, the head coach elected to accept the short penalty and go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the Commanders' three. Guessing analytical analyses dictated going for the TD when conventional, rational thinking would keep the points on the board.

Deshaun Watson, who was having a nightmarish first half  (3 for 8 for 23 yards and three sacks) to begin with, picked up exactly 36 inches on, of all things, a quarterback draw that had no chance at best.

Still holding on? Good. It'll be worth it.

It got better -- and then worse, embarrassingly worse -- after Delpit picked off the first of his two interceptions, undercutting Curtis Samuel near midfield. The third play of the subsequent drive found Watson frantically scrambling on third down, avoiding several sack attempts, in an effort to extend the play.

He raced to the right flat, finally spotted an open teammate and threw a short pass in desperation. Traveled maybe 10 yards  It landed between the 7 and 8 on his uniform. Right tackle Jack Conklin, perhaps sheepishly, swatted it to the ground. The illegal touch penalty was declined, of course. Conklin was credited with a target.

After the three-and-out, the Commanders began the next drive just outside their goal line after punter Corey Bojorquez pinned them at their four-yard line. Eleven minutes and 48 seconds remained in the half.

When Wentz went airborne with his 6-5 frame and broke the plane of the goal line with his long reach on fourth and a foot a while later, it was the 21st play of the seemingly interminable 96-yard drive and removed an incredible 11:27 from the game clock. It was sustained by five successful third-down conversions.

So . . . ? Hold on. Here it comes

The Browns owned the football for four plays and just 115 seconds in the quarter, heading to the dressing room down in more ways than the 7-3 score. Whatever Stefanski said in the locker room resonated. The team that emerged for the second half in no way whatsoever resembled the one that entered.

The faces and uniform numbers were the same. But this group was different, They all began playing as though they wanted to win. Watson looked in mid-season form, although it was only his fifth game back from suspension,

He completed six of 10 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns. After targeting him just once in the first half, he found Amari Cooper three times for 105 yards and two long touchdowns (45 and 33 yards) sandwiched around a 13-yard strike to Donovan Peoples-Jones on a clearing route as the offense scored on their first three possessions of the half.  All of a sudden, Stefanski looked like a genius.

A switch somewhere was flipped and the Cleveland offense turned the first 27 plays of the second half into 222 yards and the three scores in 14 minutes and 31 seconds. Just like that, it was 24-10.  (Joey 
Slye's 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter avoided the second-half shutout for the Commanders.)

The Cleveland defense, meantime, took the offense's cue and shut down the Commanders' offense, limiting them to just 118 second-half yards -- only 46 yards on the ground after getting battered for 90 in the first 30 minutes -- and just one third-down conversion after six in the first half,

If you're searching for a reason the Browns are 7-9 heading into the season finale next Sunday in Pittsburgh, try this: This team for some puzzling reason has the ability to turn it on quickly, but also the ability to shut it off just as quicjky. That very well could be the reason they are 7-9 and stuck in neutral.