SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘Revel in Browns Misery’ Edition

No one has a shorter memory than an NFL fan base. It doesn’t matter what your team does from one week to the next as long as your rival always has a miserable outcome. The Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the most decorated franchises in professional sports over the last 50 years, also know what it’s like to get beat in the postseason. And not just beat, but beat badly. Saturday that feeling shifted – for the time being – to our rivals in Cleveland as the Browns were hammered in Houston 45-14. Predicting that Steelers Nation will revel in the Browns’ misfortunes is like predicting if the sun will rise tomorrow. It’s going to happen… But as I stated, Steelers’ fans can relate. The last three times the Black and Gold have appeared in the postseason they’ve been humbled. Big time. Losses to Kansas City, Cleveland and Jacksonville (two of the three were at home) saw the Steelers surrender over 40 points in all of those games. So for now Steelers’ fans, enjoy your opportunities to bash the Browns and their minions on social media. Our opportunity comes up today. Let’s hope that we can keep it going for another week.

The Gameday Guide

Normally the gameday guide is all we publish for gameday but with the postponement your getting this column today. In case you missed the SCB Three-Point Stance previewing the game here it is!

Should We Be So Fortunate…

If the Steelers win later today then we would head back to Baltimore for a Divisional Round matchup with the Ravens. Of course they’ll look much different than they did in week 18 as Lamar Jackson, Odell Beckham, Jr and Zay Flowers will all be back among others.

Analysis By Paralysis

Is it just me or does it seem like this game was supposed to be played like, a week ago? While it’s only been delayed a day it just seems like forever since we played in Baltimore. That all changes today and here’s the bottom line. We’ve analyzed this game six ways to Sunday so it’s just time to play it. The crowd will be a factor. The weather will be a factor and the players will be the most important factor. If you’re the Steelers all you want is for this game to be close going into the fourth quarter.

The Back End

With both Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee back for today I’m going to be curious to see how Teryl Austin rotates his secondary. Eric Rowe has played really well as a ‘downhill’ safety and that could let Minkah and Kazee play some ‘center field’ if you will. That’s where Minkah is the most dangerous. I’ m also curious to see what they do with Patrick Peterson who has filled in admirably as a free safety. Have to think he slides around the secondary.

What Scares Me…

So far through the first four games the officiating has not been the main topic of conversation. It’s rare that we go through a weekend without at least one egregious call that tips the balance of the game. I really hope this doesn’t happen today.