I like Victory Monday’s, and I especially like them when they’re at the expense of the Steelers. It doesn’t surprise me the Browns won, because Kevin Stefanski is on a four-game winning streak at home versus Pittsburg. The Steelers are now 1-6-1 against the Browns in Cleveland over the last eight games. It also doesn’t surprise me the Steelers lost because of the way they played. They spent the entire game running away from Myles Garrett breaking the sack record. I don’t care what Mike Tomlin says, the Steelers played like they were more concerned about the record then getting the win. If anyone even hints that Steeler OC Arthur Smith should get a head coaching job I’m laughing in their face. With the game, clinching a playoff spot and winning the division on the line, he dials up three straight passes at pro bowl cornerback Denzel Ward. Not to bright.
I going to give credit to Sheduer Sanders for improving over the last two games. Against the Bills his completion percentage was 69.0 and against the Steelers it was 73.9. He’s improved his season total to 57.4. However, he’s still throwing bad interceptions. Against the Steelers he got lucky on a pick six by the Steelers. That would have been the perfect time to throw it out of bounds. On his second interception, he retreated backwards (consistently bad habit), threw off his back foot (another bad habit), threw across his body (hopefully not a new bad habit) and lofted a pass that was easily picked off. The team was lucky the Browns defense was playing well, and the Steelers were playing not to have a record broken on them, because neither ended up in Pittsburg points. The defense was so good, the Steelers were the only team in the league to not score a touchdown in week 17.
Finally, this win confirms to me that head coach Kevin Stefanski will be back in 2026. Jimmy & Dee Haslam want consistency and Stefanski gives them that. The last two games showed the team has not given up and still want to play for the head coach. Joel Bitonio’s comments prior to the game and afterwards shows the players want Stefanski back. Besides the garbage preached by Tony Grossi of a mutual parting of the ways is crap. There are only 32 NFL head coaches in the world, Stefanski knows if he quits it will follow him the rest of his career. Cleveland beat writers should stick to sports and stop with the amateur psych analysis. I have a psychology degree from Vanderbilt University, I know a quitter when I see one. Stefanski isn’t a quitter. He said it’s a privilege to the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. That’s good enough for me. Happy New Year, stay safe and Go Browns.