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 14 against the Browns. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Big Bro Scho and #PayKyle are at the game today, so you are stuck with Lil’ Bro giving knee jerk reactions today.
• Browns win the toss so the Steelers start with the ball.
• Steelers get the Browns to jump on the very first snap.
• Despite getting five free yards, the Steelers go three and out. There was a Mike Williams target, but the ball was thrown out of bounds.
• T.J. Watt shows why he’s the man and throws Nick Chubb for a 5-yard loss on the first play.
• That was a nice blitz pickup by Nick Chubb or else Patrick Queen would have killed Jameis Winston.
• Alex Highsmith shows that he’s back and gets the sack on third down. Teams trade three and outs to start.
• Calvin Austin fields it in Brown’s territory and returned it to the 36. Already in Boswell range, but the offense needs seven here.
• Najee Harris busts through for about 20 yards and the Steelers are in the red zone.
• Steelers convert the third down but had a formation penalty. They have to settle for three. Steelers 3, Browns 0.
• Browns quickly across midfield.
• Kazee needs to come away with that pick.
• Steelers get them to third down, but they allow Winston to scramble and hit a wide open Jerry Jeudy for the touchdown. Browns 7, Steelers 3.
• Steelers offense seems discombobulated.
• Seriously? They’re going to call intentional grounding because Wilson overthrows a receiver while he’s getting hit? It was going to be a punt anyway.
• The pass protection looks like it did two games ago. Right now the Browns are playing like the better team that lost the previous matchup.
• Steelers throw the Browns for a loss on third down, but a phantom roughing the quarterback penalty gives them the first down. That one was pretty bad.
• Steelers get to stop on the next set of downs and force the punt. They take over at their own 10.
• Scotty Miller gets 9 yards on first down to almost triple the Steelers passing total so far.
• Seriously? The Steelers can’t get the 1 yard on second down and are nowhere close throwing it deep on third down? This offense is embarrassing right now.
• Holy crap… Elandon Roberts just decimated an offensive lineman on that stretch play.
• That’s the end of the first quarter. The Steelers follow up their big week last week with 14 passing yards in the first quarter without George Pickens. Browns 7, Steelers 3.

2nd Quarter

• Two incompletions to start the quarter and the Steelers get the ball back at their own 20 after the punt sales into the end zone.
• Will we see a different offense or more of the same?
• The obligatory second and 10 run play goes for -5 yards as nobody blocked the defender. So much for the Steelers wanting to get revenge on the Browns. They look awful.
• Wilson has to take off on third down and doesn’t get anywhere close. Browns punt and after a decent return and have the ball at almost midfield.
• Beanie Bishop disrupts the screen timing and Keeanu Benton pulls in the interception! Steelers in business at the Browns 31.
• Good Lord, what was that? This passing offense is ridiculously bad without George Pickens.
• Steelers get bailed out on the pass interference call on another moon ball that looked nowhere close. I don’t know if he would have had a chance with that ball or not, but CA3 was obviously held.
• After a screen to Freiermuth, Wilson scrambles to get the first down and the Steelers are at the 1-yard line.
• Najee Harris pounds it in and the Steelers take the lead and gets seven points off the turnover. Steelers 10, Brown 7.
• Browns with a quick three and out. Steelers have it at their own 19. Let’s see if the offense can at least flip the field if not put up more points.
• After two Jaylen Warren runs, Russell Wilson runs the read option and keeps it around the end for a nice first down.
• Jaylen Warren running tough and the Steelers are across midfield.
• Russ gets the first down on the quarterback sneak.
• Wilson connects with Mike Williams on the long pass but it’s called back for offensive pass interference. It looked more than what it actually was, but I get why they threw it.
• Jaylen Warren gets back to penalty yardage on a screen pass.
• There’s a Mike Williams reception that counts but it’s 2 yards short of the first down. Brings on Boswell from 54 yards. Steelers 13, Browns 7.
• Cam Heyward collapses the pocket and gets the sack.
• Was that a timeout on defense to save clock with three minutes left in the half? If it was, I despise it.
• That’s twice now on a third and long Winston has been on the move and connected. The first time was for a touchdown. This time puts the Browns across midfield.
• That was a crazy Jerome Ford run. First he gains 4 yards, then he’s thrown back to where it could be no gain, then he ultimately gets seven.
• Browns in field goal range coming out of the two minute warning. They’ve got a chance to score before the half and they get the ball to start the second half.
• Browns into the red zone for the first time today.
• DeShon Elliott with a great pass breakup on third down.
• From 38 yards, the Browns missed the field goal. That’s pretty big.
• Steelers complete one pass but let the clock roll down and take the lead to the half. Steelers 13, Browns 7.

3rd Quarter

• What are they thinking? The Steelers don’t put it into the end zone and let the Browns run it back to the Steelers 39-yard line. Why?
• After the first play the Browns bait Joey Porter Jr. into retaliating for a 15-yard penalty. What a disaster to start the half.
• Just like that the Browns are in the red zone.
• This time it’s the Browns with offensive pass interference. Donte Jackson sold that one like the Browns were selling it in the first half.
• There’s another extended scramble by Winston on third down but this time he throws it over the receiver. Steelers hold to another field goal attempt.
• He missed it again! This time it’s to the right. Browns could have done the double-dip scoring in the middle eight but miss both field goals.
• The screen pass isn’t there so Russ throws it into the ground. Then the Steelers have their obligatory run on second and 10 and get nothing.
• Muth with the big catch on third down with Wilson scrambling!
• Jaylen Warren is just running crazy today. That’s a first down run on first down.
• Warren takes it into the red zone on the swing pass.
• There’s a touchdown to Van Jefferson! That read option had him wide open. And he wasn’t the only one. Steelers 20, Browns 7.
• The Steelers defense could go a long way in putting this game away right here. Let’s get it done!
• Dante Jackson down on the turf. Not good.
• Here comes the Browns first fourth down attempt of the game after converting a bunch in the last matchup.
• Elandon Roberts buries it for a 5-yard loss!
• Najee gets a lot more than 3 yards there if he doesn’t stumble out of the backfield.
• There’s a 20+ yard gain to Mike Williams!
• MMMMUUUUUTTTTTHHHHH!!! The Steelers answer the fourth down stop with a touchdown! Steelers 27, Browns 7.
• Come on defense, it’s still the third quarter. You can’t play soft and run out the clock now.
• Browns get the fourth down conversion on the quarterback sneak.
• Browns move the ball into the red zone to end the quarter. Steelers 27, Browns 7.

4th Quarter

• As bad as the third quarter started for the Steelers, the fourth is the same for the Browns. First they have a false start, then Cam Heyward gets another sack! An unsportsmanlike penalty after the play has the Browns punting after one play where they started the quarter in the red zone. Crazy!
• Steelers pinned deep inside their own 5-yard line. How about a nice time consuming drive?
• Instead it’s a three and out.
• A nice punt by Waitman to minimize a shift in field position.
• Wow. Another 15-yards against the Browns for unsportsmanlike. Then Renegade plays and the Browns false start. They’re now inside their own 20!
• Browns convert on fourth and three. The refs give them an extra 10 yards although he was obviously down. Steelers challenge and easily win but it is a first down.
• Another 5 yard loss on a run for the Browns.
• Here comes another fourth down attempt. Can the Steelers get off the field this time on fourth and six?
• They do not. Getting one fourth down stop here could almost end this game and it has yet to happen.
• Is T.J Watt really dinged up?
• I guess not as he’s back on the field.
• I know the Browns are using a lot of time, but I don’t like this soft underneath defense for the entire fourth quarter.
• Steelers made that way too easy. Yes it took five minutes, but it’s the philosophy that bothers me. Steelers 27, Browns 14.
• Now the offense will probably have the same conservative approach way too early. There’s a loss of one on first down.
• That’s a fantastic catch by Miller on the sideline! Cleveland will challenge so we’ll see if it stands.
• It stands, as it should.
• How did Najee Harris get a yard on that toss play? He was dead in the backfield.
• Ugh. Patterson puts it on the turf and the Browns recover at midfield. Steelers had a chance to bury it and now there’s life.
• James Pierre with the INT to get it right back!
• Can this game progress any slower at this point?
• The Steelers give up their first sack of the day on third down. But if they were going to have an incompletion, it’s better they ran off another 40 seconds.
• Ben Skowronek is right there for the muffed punt and the Steelers have the ball back!
• There’s a first down for the Steelers! That will bring victory formation inside the 10 yard line.
• 3-2-1 win! Steelers 27, Browns 13.
• It was important to get this win. It’s also nice to get it by two scores.
• On to Philadelphia.

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 15 game against the Eagles. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.