Is the Browns’ Kevin Stefanski making the same mistake as James Franklin: Playing an injured QB?


Browns QB Baker Mayfield with Coach Kevin Stefanski


… Zeise: Quarterback situation will not matter, running game will


Perhaps Mike Tomlin will luck out again. At the beginning of the 2021 football season, the Steelers were listed as having the toughest schedule in the NFL. 


However, they have gotten one break already because of injury — the Seahawks lost starting QB Russell Wilson — and the Steelers eked out a win in OT against them, a team that was listed as a loss on my chart at the beginning of the season. 


Now, they venture into Cleveland with the Browns featuring an ailing QB, Baker Mayfield. Instead of sitting out Mayfield for another week, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has accessed to his QB’s wish to start tomorrow’s game against the Steelers. 


Last week, the Browns were crippled with the loss of two starting tackles and two running backs as well as Mayfield, but backup QB Case Keenum engineered a victory. 


Instead of playing Keenum again and giving Mayfield a chance to rest his injured shoulder, which is reportedly broken, the Browns’ mentor may be making a mistake like Penn State Coach James Franklin did last week by playing a seriously injured quarterback — and losing to a 24-point underdog. 


There is a major difference between the two situations: Cleveland has a talented, experienced backup while Penn State did not. 


Zeise says QB will not matter


Post-Gazette columnist Paul Zeise points out the the QB situation for the Browns may be irrelevant. He notes that the strength of the Browns is returning,


The quarterback situation, though, isn’t nearly as important as the fact that it looks like the Browns’ offense is finally healthy again. They will have Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr. and Nick Chubb back, but most importantly they also have starting tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin, as well.


That means the Browns have their vaunted offensive line intact and one of the best running backs in the NFL back. In their last game, despite missing a few pieces on the offense line and having D’Ernest Johnson start at running back, they managed to run over the Broncos.


Johnson ran for 146 yards and the Browns’ run game looked every bit as powerful as when they are fully healthy. He made tough yards, long runs, had big holes to run through and created some yards on his own. It was an impressive display of an old school run game in the modern NFL.


That — not who plays quarterback — is what should have the Steelers’ attention. Neither Mayfield nor Keenum will be the difference in the game. Keenum is less likely to make a killer mistake if he is asked to do too much. As long as the running game is humming, though, the Browns will be fine with either quarterback.


Paul Zeise, “Steelers must stop a healthy Browns rushing 

attack to win,” Post-Gazette, October 29, 2021


The Browns are sixth in the NFL in rushing, and the Steelers are 29th in defending against the run, so Zeise knows what he is talking about in this case. 


Look at how poorly they played against Seahawks


Zeise goes one step further, noting that the health problems that the Steelers are facing is potentially a major factor,


The Steelers’ defensive front is the opposite of the Browns’ offensive line as it is missing two starters and one key reserve. If Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu along with Carlos Davis were healthy, I would love the Steelers’ chances to win this game. If those three were healthy, they could neutralize Cleveland’s rushing attack and make them rely on Mayfield, which is never good news for the Browns.


But the Steelers are going to have to figure out how to stop a rushing attack like the Browns’ with a defensive line comprised of replacement parts. The Steelers’ linebackers are good enough run stoppers, but linebackers are at the mercy of the defensive line. 


We got a glimpse of what this looks like two weeks ago in the Steelers last game when they nearly lost to the lowly Seahawks. The Steelers won 23-20, but the Seahawks had their way on the ground as they ran 27 times for 144 yards — 5.3 yards per carry. Alex Collins did most of the damage as he ran 20 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.


Paul Zeise, PG, October 29, 2021


I agree with Zeise. I was going to pick the Steelers, but I have changed my mind. 


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