The Steelers maintain their undefeated record, advancing to 5-0 against the Cleveland Browns, but take a devastating loss elsewhere amid their victory.
Thought to be a worthy matchup, the Cleveland Browns have fooled us again, or perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers are removing any doubt of their undefeated legitimacy. Whatever the reason, the Black and Gold held no remorse, focused on the game in front of them and not one of last year, and routed the Browns, 38-7.
It was the greatest point differential among all NFL teams that played Sunday, and likely for Week 6. Things could not have gone any better from a performance standpoint. Offensively, the numbers weren’t extravagant but efficient in having a balanced game, with a 100+ yard rusher, a rookie WR making history, and only allowing two sacks.
Defensively, what more can we honestly say. After a Minkah Fitzpatrick pick-six, they followed up with another INT and four sacks, eventually causing a benching of Browns QB Baker Mayfield. They also accomplished this.
The @steelers tie for the league lead with 20 sacks & tie for 3rd with 6 INTs in 2020.
— NFL345 (@NFL345) October 18, 2020
With 3+ sacks and an INT today, they will join the 1985 New York Giants as the only teams in @NFL history with 3+ sacks and an INT in each of their 1st 5 games of a season. pic.twitter.com/yUe7SLM8p2
However, as well as the Steelers dominated, the worst happened in losing a defensive cornerstone that could turn a tide this season.
Steelers lose their voice on defense for the year
Sports always have a funny way of shifting your emotions in the literal blink of an eye. With a dismantling scoring run to open the game, Pittsburgh was doing everything right to close the first half. With an 88-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, then an INT by CB Cam Sutton, and quickly another TD by the offense to make it 24-0, the pace by the Steelers was exceptional.
However, as the Browns made their way down the field closing into halftime, LB Devin Bush sprinted out to the sideline, disrupting a pass to a Browns RB, only to end up clutching his right knee on the near-sideline after no-contact as well. Our fears of the incident were later confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter; that Bush would indeed miss the rest of the 2020 season due to a torn ACL.
Steelers’ LB Devin Bush tore his ACL today and will require season-ending surgery, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 18, 2020
A tragedy for the defense that is thin at the position and now without their primary play-caller. It’s worse for a young player’s career that has been on the rise since he entered the league. Lost in thought to where the Steelers go to fill in a significant void, LB Robert Spillane wasted no time to make his presence known and should be the face of the position moving forward.
Still, this raises numerous questions about how the Steelers should go about filling the void. If Spillane struggles in the coming weeks, Pittsburgh could be out of viable options. Ulysses Gilbert apparently isn’t ready to play, and Mike Tomlin could potentially look to add help via trade or free agency.
Pending evaluations, the Steelers also were without CB Mike Hilton (shoulder) and C Maurice Pouncey (foot) on-the-field to end the evening. Sutton should be a quick replacement for Hilton if needed for either the short or long-term, and 26-year old J.C. Hassenauer filled in for Pouncey, making just his second appearance in an NFL game.