The Cleveland Browns are making their first playoff appearance in years, taking on an AFC North rival in Pittsburgh.
The Browns’ legacy of bad luck and incompetence is legendary, and it’s hard to get too excited about a team that is employing Cody Parkey as their kicker. Nevertheless, tonight’s Sunday Night Football contest started in dream fashion for Cleveland, with a horrible miscue from the Steelers leading to a Browns score on the opening play from scrimmage.
The @Browns are on the board. #WeWantMore
📺: #CLEvsPIT on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/1RAy8atRT2 pic.twitter.com/nk5gTeIvye— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2021
Lake Erie may have spontaneously burst into flames after that one.
It got even better from there. On Pittsburgh’s ensuing drive, Cleveland DB M.J. Stewart, Jr. snagged an errant Ben Roethlisberger pass, putting the Browns in solid position.
The @Browns are on the board. #WeWantMore
📺: #CLEvsPIT on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/1RAy8atRT2 pic.twitter.com/nk5gTeIvye— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2021
That led to this quick strike from Baker Mayfield to Jarvis Landry, who took it to the house.
Jarvis Landry 40-yard catch and run.
What a start for the @Browns! #WeWantMore
📺: #CLEvsPIT on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/1RAy8atRT2 pic.twitter.com/KkFm7kWrhs— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2021
Perhaps most surprisingly, Cody Parkey converted both PATs, and Cleveland has a 14-0 lead just minutes into the first quarter. That means we’re getting one of two outcomes: either the Browns are marching into the Divisional Round for a shot at the Chiefs on the back of their first playoff win since 1994. Or, they’re going to blow a 14-0 lead in one of the most memorable and painful collapses in recent memory, which would be on brand for the franchise.
Either way, it’s going to be fascinating!
