Browns to Steelers: Thank you very much.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from a Browns bye week Sunday …
1. The Steelers did the Browns two favors. First, they beat the Ravens, 17-10, to keep them from running away with the division. Second, they showed (again) how to beat the Ravens. You don’t beat the Ravens with gadget plays. You beat them with physical defense, controlling field position and outplaying them on special teams. The Steelers sacked Lamar Jackson four times, stripped him twice, and forced an interception. They scored 12 points on the turnovers and they blocked a Baltimore punt for a safety. T.J. Watt came up big again in an AFC North game with two sacks, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery. The Steelers defended their home turf in division victories over the Browns and Ravens and both times Watt turned a probable Steelers loss into a victory. He is the MVP of the AFC North.
In the early going, T.J. Watt is the MVP of the AFC North. Credit him for two wins in five games.
2. So the Steelers are in first place (2-0). Why is that good for the Browns? Had the Ravens (2-1) won, I would have ceded them the division title. This early? Yes, because their last three division games are all at home and they’re getting healthier by the week. The Steelers can’t sustain first place because no defense can win more than a handful of games over an entire season, and their offense is brutal except for receiver George Pickens. So the Browns (1-2) have some life. Their division hopes will come down to November 12 in Baltimore. The following week they host Pittsburgh. If they win both, the season finale in Cincinnati might be meaningful. The Bengals (0-2), who slaughtered the Cardinals, have four division games over the last eight weeks. They will only be a factor if Joe Burrow’s calf injury heals completely.
3. Speaking of the Cardinals, quarterback Josh Dobbs had a rough day with three turnovers against the Bengals. It doesn’t change my opinion that the Browns should never have traded him. Dobbs’ performance regresses the longer he plays, as defenses get a read on him. In baseball parlance, he’s a good relief pitcher – not a starter. In football parlance, he’s a good backup and excellent teammate.
4. The Browns return to action Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, the best team in the NFC. The 49ers play physical football like Pittsburgh and Baltimore. They would be comfortable playing in the AFC North. The only time under coach Kyle Shanahan they played the Browns, they killed them, 31-3, in Santa Clara, CA, in 2019. The only positive thought I have about this game this early is that the 49ers are 2-7 all time playing in Cleveland. That’s all I’ve got.
5. Nobody mentions the Jaguars when discussing contenders in the AFC. Their hard-earned 25-20 win over Buffalo in London was a revelation. They have so much more than just a rising quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. Their receiving corps is awesome, their defense is fast and aggressive, and they are mentally and physically tough. And Doug Pederson is a top five coach. If they come out of their schedule against AFC North teams 3-1, they can be a top 2 AFC playoff seed.
6. So here are my current top 5 coaches in NFL (not a career ranking list): 1. Andy Reid, 2. Kyle Shanahan, 3. Doug Pederson, 4. Sean McVay, 5. Mike Vrabel.
7. Because everyone by now is screaming, ‘What about Harbaugh? What about Tomlin?’ I’ll round out my top 10: 6. Nick Sirianni, 7. Mike Tomlin, 8. John Harbaugh, 9. Pete Carroll, 10. Sean McDermott.
8. Harbaugh and Tomlin each has a fatal flaw keeping him out of the top 5. For Harbaugh, it is consistently dumb game management. For Tomlin, it is a blind spot in hiring competent offensive coaches.
9. As for Bill Belichick, his apparent demise with the Patriots is resembling the demise of his idol, Paul Brown, in Cleveland. Stubbornness, a long run of bad talent decisions, and refusal to adapt. I’m beginning to think this is his final year with New England.
10. Tough turnaround for Buffalo in London v. Jags after huge win over division rival Miami. They’re still a tough out, but will miss linebacker Matt Milano a bunch.
11. The best NFL studio personality – bar none – is Michael Irvin. The Playmaker brings it on every hit. His energy is infectious and he never fails to make me laugh.
12. Why is Gregg Williams getting so much play in local media? Is he hanging around for a Browns defensive consultant position under Jim Schwartz next year?
