In the last “First Call” of 2023, Browns supporters make disparaging remarks about the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. Cameron Heyward discusses Joe Flacco’s achievements in Cleveland. As the head coach of the XFL, Hines Ward is done. Devin Bush talks about his chances of facing the Steelers.
Still very much on my mind
With a 37-20 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday night, the Cleveland Browns guaranteed themselves a postseason spot. The Browns are making their postseason debut for just the second time in 21 years.
Cleveland’s record is now 11-5 as a result of the win. That guarantees the Browns will finish ahead of the Steelers in the division and with more wins than they have had in thirty-four years.
The Steelers are only allowed to finish third, with a record of 10-7.
During the network broadcast, Browns supporters were heard yelling “Pitts-burgh (stinks),” suggesting that they were well aware of this truth.
Cleveland finished 9-6-1 in 1989, winning the AFC Central. At 9-7, the Oilers came in second. In addition to finishing 9-7, the Steelers defeated the Oilers in the wild-card round of the playoffs by traveling to Houston.
After that, the Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, while the Steelers traveled to Denver and lost. In the AFC Championship game played at Mile High Stadium, John Elway and the Broncos defeated Cleveland.
Not able to accomplish it
The primary factor in the Browns qualifying for the postseason is former quarterback Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens. After Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson became hurt, he won four of five starts and kept the team afloat.
On Thursday night, the 38-year-old passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Flacco has switched allegiances with ease after facing the Browns in 21 career games during the Ravens’ AFC North rivalry. When he thinks of former teammates who are now playing elsewhere in the division, it is something that just doesn’t add up for Steelers captain Cameron Heyward, he told the NFL Network.
Heyward said on “Good Morning Football” on Thursday, “I’d be very confused.” “Having those fantastic rivalries and then a player you’ve played against for a long time switching sides.” It’s the whole Darth Vader thing where everyone treats you differently when you don that cloak. I believe I would object if I ever saw any of my teammates move voluntarily to Cleveland, Cincinnati, or Baltimore.
This season, Flacco has 13 touchdowns in just five games. For the entire season, all three of the Steelers quarterbacks—Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, and Kenny Pickett—have tallied twelve.
One and done
Former Steeler Hines Ward is out as the head coach of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas. They were 3-7 last year.
The Brahmas are now going to be run by longtime former NFL coach Wade Phillips. XFL/USFL reporter James Larsen broke the news. Phillips had been the coach of the Houston Roughnecks. The organization is part of the ongoing merger between the two leagues.
Devin’s day
Devin Bush is one man the Seahawks should keep an eye on when the Steelers visit Seattle on Sunday. Due to Jordyn Brooks’s ankle injury, who is ranked ahead of him on the depth chart, the former Steelers linebacker might start.
Bush told the Seattle Times that the Steelers are just “another team that’s in the way” of qualifying for the playoffs when he was questioned about the possibility of playing that role against his former team.
Shane Lantz of The Times questioned Bush about potential animosity toward the Steelers.
“Only if they defeat us,” declared Bush. I think it’s the only way I can respond to that.
In the 2019 draft, Bush was selected by the Steelers in the first round. He signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks after leaving the Steelers following four seasons marred by injuries and patchy ability. He was not granted a fifth-year extension.
This season, he has already racked up 13 tackles with two starts in Seattle.
What lies ahead
Looking at this weekend’s local college basketball action, the Pitt Panthers travel to Syracuse for a noon game Saturday. Both clubs are 9-3 overall, and both are 0-1 in ACC play.
ESPN analytics give Pitt a 59.3% chance of winning. The Panthers won an 84-82 contest at the JMA Dome last year, nearly blowing a 20-point lead. They then smoked the Orange 99-82 at the Petersen Events Center in February.
This will be Pitt’s first game against Syracuse without Jim Boeheim as the Orange’s head coach since 1976. Former Orange point guard Adrian Autry is now Syracuse’s head coach.
Duquesne (8-3) is at home at 2 p.m. Saturday hosting Cleary (NAIA). The Cougars play in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. They are coached by Carl Thomas, a former assistant under Dukes coach Keith Dambrot.
Dambrot’s club is looking to bounce back from an 81-73 loss to Santa Clara in Las Vegas at Orleans Arena. Senior guard Dae Dae Grant had a career-high 32 points in that game.
Also, Robert Morris is looking for its first Horizon Conference win of the year on its third try. The Colonials (4-9/0-2) are on the road Friday, facing the Milwaukee Panthers (5-7/0-1). Tipoff is at 8 p.m. Andy Toole’s team last played Dec. 22. That was a 90-85 loss to Cornell. RMU’s Markeese Hastings is ninth in the Horizon League among scorers at 14.8 points per game.
