The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle or nephew Warren might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 12 against the Browns. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Cleveland wins the toss. Steelers will receive the football.
• Nice second down run from Jaylen Warren. Will need a lot of those tonight.
• Steelers face with a third down and one, and Fields enters the game.
• Unfortunately Mount Washington had a false start. So Wilson comes back in.
• Muuuth!!!
• There goes Russ holding the ball for way too long again and takes a sack. Steelers will have to punt.
• Check that the Steelers are going to try a really long field goal. But unfortunately Bos misses to the right. Browns take over. I would not have been trying a 58-yard field goal in this weather.
• Browns quickly to a third and long. If the defense could get off the field here would be big.
• False start by the Browns takes it from third and long to third and longer.
• The defense holds them short and the Browns will punt. And that would be a shankapotamus.
• Unfortunately Kazee gets called for blocking out of bounds. That will cost the Steelers 15 yards of field position.
• Another false start. This time on Connor Heyward. The Steelers are playing very sloppy football right now.
• After a nice run by Najee, Russ holds the ball again and runs out of bounds for a loss of two. That will probably go down as another sack.
• There is George Pickens continuing to do George Pickens like things. How about a 32-yard grab.
• The Steelers complete on third down and six, but only for 5 yards. At this spot on the field I’d like to see them go for it, and it looks like they will but bring Fields in.
• Not only did that play not get a first down. It actually lost yards. There was no creativity in it at all. Starting to get a little frustrated watching the offense bogging down.
• The defense holds the Browns to a second straight three and out.
• Another nice catch by George Pickens on 3rd down.
• That’s the end of the first quarter with no score.

2nd Quarter

• The Steelers run the ball on first and second down and combined pick up maybe a yard. Third down and long to start the second quarter.
• Calvin Austin with a long pass down to the 25-yard line. The Steelers offense is in business.
• Najee breaks about four tackles to lose 5 yards and then fumble. Luckily Russ was there to jump on it. That was not a very pretty play.
• Last week and this week it looked like Najee has quit trying to get skinny and get through small holes at the line. That had been working for him I don’t know why he stopped.
• Steelers now faced with 3rd and 10. I’d like to see them pick this up and keep the drive going and not just settle for a field goal attempt.
• Russ ends up checking it down to Warren who comes up short of the first down
•  The Steelers with another false start on the field goal attempt. Boswell will now have to try from 48 instead of 43.
• Luckily for the Steelers Boswell knocks it through. Steelers 3 Browns 0.
• Back-to-back pass plays are complete by the Browns. It’s gained them 23 yards so far.
• You thought the Steelers would maybe pin the Browns deep and the defense would hold them and get the offense better field position, but the Browns are already at midfield.
• This is now looking like a different Steelers defense. They are not playing very physical right now.
• The Browns are faced with a fourth down and one and looks like they will go for it. This would be great if the Steelers could get a stop, but the way the defense has been on this drive I don’t expect it.
• The Browns pick it up with a run easily for 5 yards.
• To top everything off Patrick Queen is now down on the field.
• Cleveland faced with a second down and one on the two-yard line. After the Steelers have dominated most of the half they are going to give up the lead.
• Chubb makes it in easily. Why is it that other teams know how to score touchdowns in the red zone but the Steelers bog down every time. Browns 7, Steelers 3.
• I hate to knock on Arthur Smith, but I’m starting to be able to predict his plays based on the formations. That was the problem with Matt Canada. He needs to get out of that.
• Russ fumbles and the Browns recover. That was total carelessness with the football by Russell Wilson in the pocket.
• Steelers getting no pressure with their pass rush.
• The Steelers defense holds and Cleveland will attempt a field goal. It’s good. Browns 10, Steelers 3.
• Don’t forget the Cleveland will start the second half with the football. The Steelers could let this one get out of control very quickly.
• I am not sure how that was not an interference call. You can’t just use your backside and knock somebody to the ground because you have no clue what’s going on with the play.
• You know the Steelers might want to think about doing something with Myles Garrett. He has typically done nothing against the Steelers but they are letting him wreck this game. That’s the half. Browns 10, Steelers 3.

3rd Quarter

• Do I really have to stay up and watch this game? If the Steelers don’t play any better I’m going to wish I didn’t.
• Suddenly the Steelers are letting Jameis Winston throw the ball all over the field for completions.
• That was another easy completion for the Browns, but Elliott separated the receiver from the football and the Steelers recover.
• I’ve seen them send Patterson on the same motion on a run play for three or four plays now. You can’t keep running the same play over and over.
• I can’t believe this crap forth down and one and the Steelers are handing the ball off on a deep drop 5 yards in the backfield. The play calling is idiotic tonight. A formation with the running back 7 to 8 yd deep on 4th and a half a yard?
• Thank God the defense held and the Browns punt.
• What kind of in ineptitude can they come up with for the offense this time around.
• After picking up an initial first down, the Steelers are now facing third down and 10. No consistency in the offense tonight.
• Van Jefferson wide open down the left sideline. Steelers convert the 3rd and long.
• The Steelers offensive line is getting manhandled in the run game. There are no holes anywhere for our running backs and Cleveland players are in the backfield constantly.
• Third down and one and we are running a slow developing run play again that loses yards. Will this idiocy ever stop!
• So the Steelers blow another opportunity at scoring a touchdown and will trot Boswell out again to try a field goal.
• The Steelers take a time out and then send the offense back out on the field. I don’t really have any confidence in this one either. The Steelers are going to turn it over on downs for the third time tonight.
• Oh my goodness we threw it. Muth catches it for a first down.
• On second and 6 it’s a high snap to Russ. He does get the ball, but ends up taking a sack.
• Now the Steelers on 4th down will send out the field goal unit. Tired of not seeing touchdowns.
• Hard to even see if the kick was good through all the snow, but it was. Browns 10, Steelers 6.
• The third quarter will come to an end with the Browns facing a fourth and very short in Pittsburgh territory.  Browns 10, Steelers 6.

4th Quarter

• 4th and inches and the Browns are going to go for it. I figure they will probably make it. They did. Easily.
• How about a wide open pass inside the 10 yd line. The Steelers are really sucking with their play calling and their execution tonight. They do not deserve to win this game.
• If the Browns score a touchdown here this game is over. With this weather and the Steelers offense there’s no way they can come back.
• Elandon Roberts is now down on a knee. That’s not good when we need his run stopping ability on 3rd and goal from the one and a half yard line.
• Njoku was wide open on 3rd and goal but dropped the ball.
• The Browns are going for it on 4th and goal. The Steelers had him in the backfield but Winston escapes and runs for the touchdown. Turn out the lights this party is over.
• Cleveland converts the two-point conversion. Browns 18, Steelers 6.
• Smart play there by the Browns. Making that two-point conversion makes it so the Steelers have to score two touchdowns. The Steelers haven’t scored a touchdown in over seven quarters. Which is why I said this party’s over.
• After a nice run by Fields, they keep him in the game. The problem is they’re going to have to throw the ball at some point with him in there. Because the Browns were ready for him to run it the second play he was in there.
• Cleveland gets called for roughing the passer. The Steelers are back in business deep into Cleveland territory.
• Now that they’re deep into Cleveland territory let’s get predictable with the play calling running up the middle on first down.
• Najee gets a catch and takes it down to the 5-yard line. First and goal Steelers.
• An end around run from the 5-yard line is not going to work. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
• Cleveland’s defensive back gets a penalty for unsportsman like for yanking off George Pickens mouthpiece.
• The Steelers answer by going up the middle with Jaylen Warren for the touchdown. Browns 18, Steelers 13.
• Herbig with the strip sack! Steelers recover! They need another touchdown here.
• Pickens was open in the end zone, but I think he didn’t see the ball in the snow. Actually I think it was Pickens looked to the outside and Russ threw it to the inside.
• It’s now third down and seven.
• Calvin Austin III on a post pattern catches the touchdown pass. Steelers take the lead.
• Steelers to go for two to try to make it a three-point lead. Again I hated the play call. A fade to Cordarrelle Patterson? Steelers 19, Browns 18.
• First down pass from Winston is batted down by Larry O. Unfortunately it was all for naught as JPJ gets called for holding.
• Hey look the Steelers haven’t been able to guard Jerry Jeudy all game so they leave him open here and the Browns are in business in Steelers territory.
• Third down and 10 and I can’t watch.
• Intercepted by Donte Jackson! Now the offense needs to just drive the ball and run out the clock.
• How about a very predictable run-on first down.
• Fields is into the game. So you know this will be a run.
• They handed off to Najee. Steelers will be faced with a third and short. Cleveland takes their first time out.
• Third down and four. Field stays in the game. I think I would rather have Russ in here and throw it.
• Fields throws the ball long for Pickens and it’s incomplete. Pickens wants a flag but doesn’t get it.
• Waitman’s punt is a shankapotamus. The Steelers went conservative wanting to lean on their defense, but they didn’t take a terrible punt into consideration. They should have gone to make the first down that series.
• Not the place where you wanted a 16-yard punt. Now the pressure’s right back on the defense.
• They couldn’t get Winston on the ground, he gets rid of it and one of his tight ends drops it.
• Elliott tips the third down pass. Fourth down and four for the Browns.
• The Browns are a perfect three for three on fourth down tonight.
• There’s Jerry Jeudy in front of JPJ again. He has torched him tonight.
• Third down and two at the 25-yard line.
• And now it’s bedlam. The Browns were called for a penalty that initially it said the Steelers were declining to make it fourth down. Now the Steelers have taken the penalty and it’s third down and seven.
• Any surprise that they threw it to Jerry Judy there in front of JPJ?
• Beanie Bishop then gets called for a defensive delay of game. The Steelers defense is imploding.
• Chubb runs it down to the one.
• The Steelers have really misplayed this game from a coaching standpoint inside the last 4 minutes.
• Chubb gets in for the touchdown. Steelers are going to lose this game. This one lies squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff.
• Browns are going for two. A false start will back them up. It’s no good. Browns 24, Steelers 19.
• Needing a touchdown let’s just check down to the tight end.
• 16 seconds to play and the Steelers have the ball on the Browns 44-yard line. Issue is they are out of timeouts.
• I don’t think I’ve been this ticked off at the end of a game for a long time. It’s not often that I lay most of the blame on a loss on the coaching staff, but there were way too many mistakes by the coaches tonight.
• The Hail Mary comes up short and the Steelers lose. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle (Warren too), you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me so I can ready myself for the Week 13 game against the Bengals. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.