by Bo Marchionte
Twitter @BoMarchionte

A demoralized Baker Mayfield stood alone on the 50-yard line. His hands nestled inside the neck of his shoulder pads as “Renegade” ignited the atmosphere at Heinz Field. His helmet resting behind him on the bench the same place he basically found himself after the Steelers dismantling of Cleveland 38-7.

Mayfield was the victim of playing one of the league’s best defenses that forced him into situations that for much of the 2020 he has avoided due to early leads and a potent rushing attack.

Cleveland found themselves in a very precarious position early in the game. Pittsburgh’s defense was simply too much for Cleveland to handle, forcing Mayfield into errors and the ground. Mayfield would eventually give way to back-up Case Keenum in the fourth quarter after taking on four sacks and throwing two interceptions.

“It was necessary to slow down a dangerous Browns attack,” Mike Tomlin said post-game. “One that has been ringing up a bunch of points per game.”

Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made the first big play of the game, intercepting Mayfield for his third career pick six and second with Pittsburgh in only his second season with the team.

“Just reading Baker’s eyes,” Fitzpatrick said was one of the keys to making the big play come to fruition. “I think we needed to set the tone on defense. I think a pick six on the first drive definitely is the way to do that.”

Coach Tomlin thought the play not only set a tone for the game but also altered the mindset of the Browns and how they might attack the Steelers defense going forward.

“I think it sent a message to them,” Tomlin said. “That third down was not going to be easy sledding today. We needed it.”

It was no secret that third down conversions plagued Pittsburgh’s defense and was a concern with a high-powered offense like Cleveland eyeing to take a share of the AFC North lead. Cleveland scored just seven points after averaging over thirty points per game (31.2) amid their four-game winning streak.

“We had a better plan,” Tomlin said regarding how Pittsburgh was able to stymie the Browns offense. “It starts with us as coaches and then the guys performed better, and they finished it off. But we both were JV last week, players and coaches, and we got better this week.”

Pittsburgh offense rode the wave of success created by the defense and were able to control the clock and keep Cleveland limited in their opportunities to be successful.

James Conner buried his head and tightly tucked the football into his stomach as he made his way towards the goal line. His legs became the powerful leverage against three Cleveland Browns defenders trying to stop his momentum to surpass the coveted white chalked line for the touchdown.

Conner prevailed in his quest and helped deliver a knockout punch even though just minutes into the second quarter.

Conner’s score capped off a seven play, 88-yard drive that jettison the Steelers ahead 17-0 and off to their fifth victory in as many games. The Steelers have been 5-0 once before in their history, in 1978, when their unbeaten streak reached a franchise record seven games.

“When you can jump out to a lead, especially with a defense like we have. It just gives you a little bit of breathing room,” Ben Roethlisberger said after adding another win to his head-to-head record against Cleveland that now stands at 24-2-1.

Conner finished with his third 100-yard rushing game (101) this season which is two shy of tying his record five set in 2018. He looked rejuvenated today, making crisp cuts and powering for extra yards throughout the entire game.

“We didn’t have to throw many in the second half when you have a lead like that,” Roethlisberger said. “It felt like an old Bill Cowher offense. I thought James (Conner) ran the ball well in the second half. Benny (Snell Jr.) coming in there and doing some things and the line really created openings for them.

Rumblings among some of Cleveland’s most coveted journalist were suggesting the decision way before Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski pulled the third-year quarterback. Stefanski served as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator when Keenum enjoyed his most successful season in his seven-year career.

Their 4-1 record prior to losing today coincided with the Browns leading at the half in all four of their wins. In their two losses, Cleveland was trailing and showing that playing from behind may not be an option for success in their run heavy offense.

Pittsburgh shut down the leagues number one rushing attack holding Cleveland to just 75 yards rushing well below their league leading 188.4 yards per game prior to their Week 6 match-up versus the league top run defense.

“This was a group that thrived – to the tune of 188 yards per game,” Tomlin said. We didn’t wait ill the end of the week to acknowledge that we couldn’t allow that to happen. Today is really kind of born out of our commitment to minimizing that element of play and it came together for us.”

Even with just 5,260 fans in attendance late in the fourth quarter chants of “Here we go Steelers, here we go,” were heard through the press box glass.

This was a big win an excessively big win.

“Appreciative, and now we transition our attention toward the Battle of the Oasis in Tennessee.

A battle of unbeatens next week when the COVID-19 delayed match-up against the Titans finally comes to a head.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt