Nov 20, 2016 5 min read

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Where’s that been all season?

The Steelers had eight sacks Sunday in a 24-9 win over the Browns and it wasn’t necessarily the scheme, it was largely guys beating the man across from them one-on-one.

The Steelers did move defensive end Stephon Tuitt around a bit and he led the way with 2 ½ sacks, but even at that, he wasn’t coming free. He still had to beat somebody.

And thus, a team that had just 13 sacks coming into this game, exited with 21 on the season.

But isn’t that what usually happens against these Browns? Remember, last season, the Steelers went to Cleveland and had seven sacks.

So the eight-sack day is nice, but now we need to see a repeat performance this week against Indianapolis, which has given up 33 sacks this season – three more than Cleveland – to say that the Steelers have fixed their pass rush problems.

@ It was nice to see James Harrison get the team sack record.

Jason Gildon was a decent player, but the fact he held the team’s sack record seemed like something of a farce.

Joey Porter, Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood or Harrison, players far more influential on their teams, seem like much better players to hold the record.

Of course, Porter likely would have set the record – he had 60 sacks in eight seasons in Pittsburgh, seven of them as a starter – had head coach Mike Tomlin not released him to open the door for Harrison, who had largely been pushed to the side as a player, to get into the lineup.

Remember, Harrison had just four sacks 44 games in his first four seasons, which included 11 starts.

@ Come to think of it, back then, people clamored for Harrison to get more playing time, including me.

But many of those same people called Jason Worilds a bust because he couldn’t get on the field his first two seasons playing behind Harrison and a very effective LaMarr Woodley.

@ Tomlin said after the game that there was no reason to keep Harrison on the bench, “What are we saving him for?”

But he was out there as much for his play as he was for his leadership. With Cam Heyward sidelined the rest of this season, the Steelers needed Harrison to be a vocal leader as well as one who leads by example.

It’s my understanding that he did that.

And the players in that locker room have a ton of respect for Harrison.

@ The key to the Steelers unleashing their pass rush Sunday was the fact Cleveland couldn’t run the ball.

Isaiah Crowell had eight carries for 10 yards as the Browns managed just 33 yards on 13 carries.

Inside linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier were all over the place shutting down the running lanes.

Timmons said he was largely called on to roam the middle, which allowed him to get to the football, a lot.

@ Neither coach was happy with the officiating in this game.

If both sides were unhappy, you know it was a poorly officiated game by Brad Allen and his crew.

@ The Steelers dominated the Browns, but for many on social media, they didn’t dominate them enough.

The weather certainly played a factor in that. Throwing the ball outside the hash marks was not easy in this one.

But Steelers still need a receiver other than Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell to make a play in the passing game.

Eli Rogers had four catches for 20 yards. Cobi Hamilton had two for 11. Jesse James had one for five. Nobody else caught a pass.

We’ll see if that changes in the dome this Thursday.

Sammie Coates continues to be a no-show in this offense – and Sunday wasn’t the day to try to get him the ball deep – but the Steelers need to re-establish him as a weapon as they did in their 4-1 start.

@ The Steelers have not allowed a sack in three of their past four games.

@ With Cincinnati now done – the Bengals have six losses and lost A.J. Green Sunday as well – it’s now a two-horse race in the AFC North.

A win Thursday would be nice, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Steelers didn’t win in what will be a tough spot on a short week.

If the Steelers can hold serve in their remaining home games – which would include beating Baltimore head-to-head – they need a win in one of their three remaining road games – at Cincinnati and at Buffalo are others – to have a clear path to winning the division.

@ Other than Terrelle Pryor and tight end Gary Barnidge, who on that Cleveland roster looks like a player?

Joe Haden isn’t the player he once was. Neither is Joe Thomas.

But hey, the Browns have a whole bunch of draft picks, just like they did this year.

Remember that when you start complaining about a loss or wishing for draft picks.

The Browns are in year 17 of a rebuilding program. That’s what hard times looks like.