The NFL Playoff picture is complete after yesterday’s action, and the Steelers will get another shot at the Browns, after falling to Cleveland yesterday, 24-22 in the regular season finale. Sunday’s game will kick off at 8:15 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers carrying the AFC’s third seed into the game against the number-6 Browns, who barely held on yesterday.
After falling behind 24-9, the Steelers charged back on touchdown passes from Mason Rudolph to Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster, but a potential game-tying two-point conversion from Rudolph to Claypool sailed high and the Browns then ran out the clock to win the game and clinch a playoff spot.
After the game, coach Mike Tomlin refused to talk about the playoffs, focusing instead on the team’s performance in Cleveland. He said he was not surprised that Rudolph played well, going 22-for-39 passing for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Tomlin was asked what the Steelers could take away from a game in which they played shorthanded, with starters Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward, and T.J. Watt being rested for the playoffs, Terrell Edmunds and Chris Boswell injured, and Joe Haden and Eric Ebron placed on the reserve/covid list along with reserve Cassius Marsh.
Cornerback Haden is the only one of the three additions to the covid list who is known to have tested positive, and he would have to miss the playoff game. The status of Ebron and Marsh is still to be determined.
On the injury front from Sunday’s game, linebackers Vince Williams and Marcus Allen and wideout Claypool all left the game, but Allen and Claypool returned. Tomlin said none of the injuries appeared to be significant, but he will have an update tomorrow.
The Steelers’ sideline turned lively when defensive linemen Carlos Davis and Isaiah Buggs got into a scuffle, apparently over playing time. Defensive lineman Chris Wormley and Tomlin had to step in and break it up.
Comments