Your AFC North Wildcard Playoff Game Open Thread

Didn’t these squadoos just partake of one another a week ago? Anyway, should you wish to know just how badly Cleveland is screwed going into this tilt, read below.

TO THE GAME!

Browns/Steelers:

-I still can’t wrap the old bean around the fact that Cleveland is 11-5 and not 8-8 or so and barely scraping into this game. Well, the last part is correct, but still.

-Coach Stefanski is down and out so Alex Van Pelt will get the play-calling duties. This actually could turn into an advantage if the guy isn’t way in over his head. He should have slightly different tendencies than the boss. The honor of prowling the sidelines goes to some special teams co-ordinator fella by the name of Priefer. What does I know about him? He hates headphones and he coached a game for the Vikes back in 2016 when Zimmer had emergency surgery.

-Ben’s short passing game should be enough to get by this week but doesn’t bode well for next round. If he has toss longer throws beyond 10 yards he’s just as effective as the likes of Lock and Minshew. Ewww.

-Ordinarily the Steelers d-line would tear the opposing unit to shreds with blitz packages and such but this Browns o-line is among the very best in the league, equally adept at both run and pass blocking.

-They will be missing Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio as well as their best cb, their 2nd-best cb and possibly their 3rd-best cb. Also not playing is their 2nd-best pass rusher. “Hey Browns, congrats on making the playoffs, now just attach these 10 pound dumbbells to each of your ankles and away you go!. GOOD LUCK!”

-If there is prayer for Cleveland it would appear to lie in the run game. If they can control time of possession and field position (as the Colts did yesterday) they can make this their game.

-It would actually be better for the league if the deeply-flawed Steelers would go down tonight instead of next week. That way a national audience could see a Browns team that isn’t missing a huge number of its moving parts.

Say hello below.