While We’re Waiting… NFL Week 17, Big Ten Struggles and LeBron’s Year
January 2, 2011Bulls 100, Cavs 91: Rose Dominates Third Quarter in Chicago Comeback
January 2, 2011Do we really have to do this again? Do you really want me to tell you about the keys to the game based on the strengths and weaknesses of the Browns and the Steelers? Do I have to talk about the Browns’ thin defensive secondary needing to keep Mike Wallace in front of them? Do I need to speak of the the importance of the defensive line and linebackers containing Ben Roethlisberger and wrapping up when they get their hands on him? I really don’t think I need to write it, and I don’t think you guys want to read it. This is the last game of the year, so let’s do something else.
Let’s talk about coach Eric Mangini and whether or not he will be the coach on Monday.
Gotcha. Did you really think that was where I was going to go with that?
Let’s talk about the Browns’ draft prospects and what positions of need they should….
Did I get you again? Not that either.
Playing Pittsburgh to end a season feels right to me. It might be the Buckeyes fan in me that enjoys facing Michigan in the final game of the regular season. Expectations for this rivalry turned around for me in just one season because the Browns found a way to beat the Steelers once a year ago. It gives me hope to know that even in last year’s meaningless contest that this team might actually be interested in competing in these contests about half as much as we want to see them win it.
I didn’t go to the Steelers game in Cleveland last year when the Browns won. I had to rely on my brother to tell me about Steelers fans having to come to grips with the fact that they didn’t win as they left our stadium. It was great to hear because let’s be honest. The Steelers vs. Browns game in Cleveland has nearly been a Steelers home game at times since 1999 as they had more reason to spend outlandish dollars in the secondary market to show up in their horrendous colors and speak in that brutal, alien accent.
As we have just entered into the new year, a lot occurs to me. I wrote about it once before because I became a father this year in April. I wrote about how the Browns had a 6-7 year window to put this team together because I started understanding the Browns when I was about 6 years old for real. I got to grow up in a time when the rivalry with Pittsburgh mattered. In October of 1986 the Browns rattled off seven straight victories over the Steelers before dropping one in 1989. That sweep of the Steelers in ’86 was the first for the Browns since 1969.
The Browns’ victory a season ago ended an almost unbearable streak of thirteen victories for the Steelers over the Browns. Right now the Steeler streak in the rivalry is one. But even one in a row should leave these guys desperate to end it. It will if they care half as much as we do, I guess.
4 Comments
Damn! Thanks for that link, it was fun to watch!
Steelers 35, Browns 14…Mangini and Daboll fired Monday….Holmgren takes over as coach and Marty Mornhinweg is hired as OC with promise to be promoted to HC in 2 years.
BOOM!
Christopher, you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about…how are we gonna score two TD’s against them?
Scooter
A boy can dream.