Yinz Guys Ready For Round two?

The year was 1997, and so many things were happening across the world.  Scottish scientists supposedly just cloned Dolly the sheep, Hong Kong was now under the control of China after 150+ years of British rule, the first Harry Potter novel was published, and OK Computer was released. Mixed in amongst those landmark events was my immigration to the greater Pittsburgh area. I abruptly quit a job in Akron, Ohio packed up my 1988 Ford Bronco II and took my talents to Washington County, Pennsylvania. I promptly found an apartment in the thriving metropolis of Bridgeville, bought a couch from Sears, and settled into Western PA life.  I spent far too much time at Señor Frog's, learned about the magic of hot french fries mixed into a salad, and grew to hate the highway systems leading into Pittsburgh. I learned about the incline up to Mt. Washington, Tom's Diner in Dormont, and I ran my first marathon in Pittsburgh. (Sadly, I was not the winner) 

Despite all of these (mostly) marvelous experiences, they were all set against the backdrop of perhaps the longest three years in the history of Northern Ohio. Cleveland was less than two years removed from the last Browns game played at Municipal Stadium, and fans were still in a fugue state, mindlessly wandering East Ninth street in search of a football team that no longer existed. Many books, essays, musicals, and probably rock operas have been written about the move, and I don't think I can add a lot of insight to events that have been so thoroughly dissected over the past couple of decades. However it's safe to say that Sunday afternoons were a lot less vibrant, without the Browns to root for, and without the Steelers to root against twice a year. In that span, I did attend a couple of Steeler tailgates at Three Rivers Stadium with coworkers. They were lavish affairs, with a fancy motorhome, great food, the usual debauchery, but with a perceptible yinzer flair. Almost every time, one of these die-hard Steeler fans would pull me aside, peer through their I.C. Light induced fog, and sincerely express condolences about the Browns being yanked out of Cleveland. It was usually followed up by "because Cleveland was two easy wins every year" but not always. 

That good will clearly expired after three years, when on Sept 12, 1999 The Browns returned to the NFL in a prime-time nationally televised game, and promptly got destroyed by the Steelers 43-0. It was perhaps the most lopsided loss in NFL history. The Browns had the ball for only about 12 minutes, and amassed a total of 40 yards. Turns out that the combination of Ty Detmer and Chris Palmer were not destined for greatness. I was at a party in Mt. Lebanon that night (wearing a Mike Pruitt jersey) and I endured unabashed ridicule until the final whistle of the game. The heartfelt sympathies that had been extended to me intermittently in the previous three years were distant memories, and the vitriol between these two teams was immediately restored. Two months later I was at the game in Pittsburgh and watched Phil Dawson make the game winner for one of the two games Cleveland won that year, and fled Three Rivers Stadium as quickly as possible.  

Since the opening week drubbing that year, the Browns have gone 7-34-1 against the Steelers. Yikes. (That stretch includes a brutal playoff game in 2002 that saw Pittsburgh score 22 points in the fourth quarter to win. I'm not proud of my reaction thereafter.)  Every year Browns fans come into the season desperately hoping that this year they can beat Pittsburgh twice, something that hasn't happened since 1988. However, strange things are afoot in 2019. These are bizarre times we live in, and for the first time in 30 years, the Browns are a betting favorite in Heinz Field, a place they have won a game once. 

It seems like the Browns have a huge advantage on offense with Landry, OBJ, Chubb, and Mayfield.  Pittsburgh is without Conner, Juju, and the signal caller tonight is a guy better known for winning the Alabama state contest for the best duck caller. But, the Browns are not at full strength either. Greg Robinson is out, and Damarious Randall didn't make the trip to Pittsburgh for undisclosed reasons. And of course no Garrett, who terrorized the Pittsburgh backfield two weeks ago. It's hard to see Devlin Hodges lighting up the Cleveland secondary, so I expect Pittsburgh will lean heavily on the run game, and try to keep our offense off the field. However, when the Browns are clicking on offense, they can be electric and score points in a hurry, and it's hard to see Pittsburgh keeping up if the game unfolds in that manner. All the football analysis aside, clearly the story about this game is the donnybrook from a couple of weeks ago. The crowd will be frenzied and I wouldn't be surprised if that interferes with the fluidity of the Browns offense. Both defenses are going to be keyed up, and we'll see who can avoid the most personal fouls. Discipline and focus have not been hallmarks of the the Cleveland Browns this year, so I am concerned about what happens when Pittsburgh takes a cheap shot here and there. When the dust settles tonight, I think the Browns will finally be at the .500 mark this season after beating the Steelers 30-17. 

Go Browns.