Browns’ Kessler out with concussion, McCown back as starter

Now 0-11, the Browns are, despite their routine failures throughout the years, in uncharted territory.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense received the memo.

Playing their first game in almost a month at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals (3-6-1) couldn’t move the ball consistently or make an extra point.

The Lions players who lived through that miserable season praised the way then-coach Rod Marinelli kept the team as focused as he could, even as the loss pile went from a mound to a mountain. Steelers fans don’t acknowledge the existence of football until the 70s, which they dominated.

COACHING: C – The Steelers stopped a four-game losing streak, but they had trouble putting the Browns away.

The Browns have a big off-season ahead of them, but they need to identify five offensive linemen that can be great as a unit, whether they are on the roster now or how they can acquire them either in the draft or free agency. Rookie first-round pick Artie Burns recorded his second career interception to thwart Cleveland’s first drive at the 4-yard line. Yes, there was wind, but it’s nothing Roethlisberger hasn’t faced before. Jordan Berry punted three times, averaging 39.3 yards per punt. “It’s been worth the wait, especially being around a Hall-of-Famer quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger) and good guys like (center Maurkice) Pouncey and Antonio Brown, good professionals like that”. Jackson also said he was not pleased with comments from receiver Terrelle Pryor, who said after Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh that having the quarterbacks hit as often as they were was “bullcrap” and that he was exhausted of seeing the quarterbacks get hit. The key is trying to maximize every second of down time in between. On second thought, this shouldn’t surprise many people considering how the Browns have played throughout the season and eventually collapsing in the second half when it mattered the most.

The Browns’ record is one thing. Wanting him to be a part of this thing not only today, but for the remainder of the season and for “fork in the road” type weeks.

And there’s another reason he’d like to see the Browns win a game. After another Browns penalty they had a third crack at it, and finally punched the ball into the endzone with Le’Veon Bell. Rookie C.J. Prosise had a 72-yard touchdown run on Seattle’s fifth offensive play – the longest run ever by a Seattle player since CenturyLink Field opened in 2002. Despite having missed a PAT, placekicker Cody Parkey did nail a 24-yarder to get his team to nine points on the day. “(Kicking field goals) never wins. He finished with two tackles against the Browns, but he was active in the defense. That drive took 15 plays.

Bell turned in a performance Sunday reminiscent of Steelers’ running backs of old.

The losses are now coming with lumps for the Browns. Cameron Heyward, Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Shamarko Thomas, and DeAngelo Williams all sat out, but the guys who replaced them performed just as well. Game by game, play by play, a team loses and loses and loses. Talented rosters like the Bengals and a potential miracle hidden within the Browns holds no ground against the perennial contenders. Shelton, Kirksey and Jamie Collins most notably.

Aaron Rodgers was 26 of 41 for 355 yards and three touchdowns, but he couldn’t keep up with what his defense gave up. It just needs more talent to fuel it.

“This is bullcrap. We can’t keep doing this and we can’t keep getting our guys hit”. He didn’t do anything spectacular, but he was extremely methodical and did just enough to get the ball to his playmakers in space.

In seven games this season, Bell has 579 yards rushing (4.5 per carry) with 53 receptions for 415 yards for the 5-5 Steelers.

And that’s kind of been the problem this season for the Steelers, who piled up 48 sacks during Butler’s first year as coordinator in 2015, but have failed to create any consistent kind of havoc in the pocket so far in 2016.