[Part two from our buddy Stephen Gillenwater]
Hi Browns fans, welcome to week two of the Browns 2023 season.
Monday the Browns (1-0) travel to Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium (AKA Heintz Field) to take on the hated Steelers (0-1) in the Browns’ 38th appearance on Monday Night Football. Unfortunately, our usual bar home for game watching, Burke’s Public House, will be closed Monday but since it’s Monday Night Football there will be no shortage of places to watch the game including Vaughn’s Pub (2917 N. Sheffield Ave). The NFL will play 2 games on Monday night with the Browns/Steelers game set to start at 7:15 CDT.
The Browns for the first time in decades will be wearing their retro 1950’s white helmets for the game. Despite being the second game of the season, the Browns have the rare opportunity to achieve several team firsts since the 1990’s. Amazingly a win would give the Browns their first 2-0 season start since 1993.
Yes, you read that correctly, the Browns have not started a season at 2-0 since Bernie Kozar was the starter in 1993.
This stat is a little misleading because there have been only four seasons since 1993 (1994, 2004, 2022, and this season) when the Browns won their opening game of the season, from 2005 through 2021 the Browns started every season 0-1. A win on Monday would also be the Browns’ second consecutive win on Monday Night Football after a 32-13 beatdown of the Bengals last Halloween. Overall the Browns are 17-20 on Monday nights.
In contrast, the Steelers have not lost on Monday night since a 23-20 loss to the Giants in 1991. Since then, the Steelers have gone 20-0 on MNF and overall are 55-31 on Mondays. Last week the Steelers were humbled by the San Francisco 49ers 30-7 as they gained only 239 total yards including just 41 yards rushing on 10 carries. Steeler QB Kenny Pickett completed 31 of 46 passes for 232 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions, he was sacked 5 times for minus 34 yards and had a QB rating of 68.4. RB Najee Harris rushed 6 times for 31 yards with 24 of those yards coming on one rush. The Steelers’ defense gave up 188 yards on the ground and 220 yards through the air with the 49ers converting 6 of 13 third downs.
Monday night Browns rookie Dewand Jones will make his first NFL start at offensive right tackle and most expect him to be seriously tested by Steelers All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt who had 3 sacks, 1 batted pass, and graded out as the #1 edge rusher last week according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The Browns plan to counter this with edge rushers Myles Garrett and Za’Darius who graded out as the #2 and #3 edge rushers last week as they and the rest of the defense held the Bengals to only 142 total yards.
After the first week of the season, the Browns have the #1 defense in the NFL. On offense, the Browns’ 206 rushing yards were second in the NFL while their 350 total yards were 9th in the league. The Browns will be missing All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin for Monday while the Steelers will be missing WR Diontae Johnson who had 3 catches for 48 yards last week and starting edge rusher Alex Highsmith. So the stage is set for Monday. Will the Browns go 2-0 for the first time since 1993 or will the Steelers win for the 21st consecutive time on MNF?
After the first week of the season, several Browns earned Pro Bowl game grades according to the game graders at Pro Football Focus. In reading their grading system; a grade of 85 or higher ranks as a Pro Bowl game performance, and a grade of 90 or higher ranks as an elite performance, and (#) is the number of snaps taken.
Guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller earned pass-blocking grades of 88.2 (74). Safety Grant Delpit earned an overall elite grade of 91.3 (55) which led all Browns players and a coverage grade of 87.8. Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith (37) earned an overall grade of 90.5 and a pass-rushing grade of 84.4 Myles Garrett (43) earned a pass-rushing grade of 90.3 and an overall grade of 89.9. Honorable mention goes to cornerback Greg Newsome (55) who earned a coverage grade of 80.2.
Starter grades of 70 or more were earned by WR Amari Cooper receiving grade 78.2 (46), RB Nick Chubb overall grade 76.6 (36), RT Jack Conklin pass blocking grade 78.9 (22), and rookie RT Deward Jones pass blocking grade 77.8 (52). On defense LB Sione Takitaki overall grade 77.9 (23), DT’s Shelby Harris rush defense 71.0 (23), and Dalvin Tomlinson pass rush grade 73.0 (35) all had starter performances.
Bonus – The only Steelers with Pro Bowl grades of 85 or higher were DT Keanu Benton 86.1 (29) and TJ Watt 94.4 (48). Only 1 Steeler offensive lineman, G Isaac Saumalo, pass-blocking grade 84.6 (63) earned a starter grade of 70 or more.
GO BROWNS!!!!