Here are the 3 winners and 2 losers from the Steelers 24-22 loss vs the Browns
Despite resting their starters this week, the Steelers still found a way to keep the game close through the loss. Even with the loss, this game went about as perfectly as a loss could have gone, as the team came out healthy and a lot of their backups looked solid against a playoff-bound Browns squad.
There was a lot to like in this game despite the final score favoring the other team. With all that said, here are the winners and losers from the Steelers loss to the Browns.
Winner: Chase Claypool
While rookie receiver Chase Claypool has found more success in other games, he certainly looked the part of an elite offensive weapon this week. While his final stat line of five receptions for 102 yards and a score was impressive, his actual play on the field was nearly flawless. More often than not, Claypool was beating his defender on quick moves on the inside. Not every pass was thrown spot on, but Claypool certainly did what he needed to for the offense this week.
His strong week despite playing with a backup quarterback bodes well for his future with the Steelers as well. Even if Ben Roethlisberger decides to hang it up sooner than later, the team can feel confident that they have a legitimate starter in Claypool going forward. While he has had his share of lumps during his rookie year, Claypool has looked like a true threat at receiver going forward. Knowing that he can succeed without Roethlisberger makes his case as a legitimate top threat even more obvious.
Loser: Sean Davis
While the defense as a whole looked pretty strong despite the early rushing success from the Browns, veteran safety Sean Davis seemed to be the odd man out. No, he didn’t have a horrible day, but for a player that was given the start after playing four years with the team and then becoming nothing more than a bench warmer this season, it was hard to see him be one of the weaker links on the team.
While he did record six tackles on the day, he seemed to struggle as a coverage option and honestly made the defense miss Terrell Edmunds at strong safety. Davis wasn’t a disaster but considering his experience on the team as well as the fact he was a former second-round pick, and his play left a lot to be desired. It seems like 2020 may be his final year for the Steelers as the team looks to find a more capable backup behind their starters,
This game seemed to hurt Davis the most. While the odds of him landing a starting gig after barely playing on defense this season seemed like a long shot, the fact that he was starting this week could have aided that cause. Instead, he played about as well as he normally did for the Steelers when he started for them. While he wasn’t a huge issue, his mediocre play was a disappointment for the team and himself. He seems destined to ride the bench as a reserve from now on.
Winner: Alex Highsmith
On the flip side, rookie Alex Highsmith showed that he has a bright future for the Steelers after yet another solid performance from him. While the previous weeks have shown his ability to apply pressure, this week showcased his ability to beat tackles and actually get to the quarterback. His one sack isn’t amazing, but add in the number of times he was in the Browns backfield and you suddenly have an exciting player in the rookie.
It wasn’t like Highsmith was winning against a lowly player either at tackle. He was getting the better of Jedrick Wills, a top pick for the Browns this past season. His rookie season has mostly been positive, so it was nice to see Highsmith have some success against a decent offensive line. Throw in the fact that he didn’t benefit from T.J. Watt on the other side, and suddenly you have an even more impressive performance.
Even with the Steelers likely losing Bud Dupree this offseason, the team should be hopeful that Highsmith can make the necessary improvements as a player to be a true threat as a pass rusher. He has flashed all season, and this week seemed like a coming-out game for the rookie. If he can build off of this next year, the Steelers will likely be one of the best pass-rushing units in the league once more. At the bare minimum, it seems safe to say the Steeler can survive a Dupree free agency departure with Highsmith waiting in the wings.
Losers: The offensive tackles
The line as a whole wasn’t horrible, but it certainly wasn’t pretty for either of the tackles in this game’s matchups. While the Steelers only gave up one sack, the pocket seemed to consistently be collapsing and it led to some struggles in both the rushing and passing offense. The offense overcame these woes, but it was hard to see either tackle get so soundly beat by the Browns pass rushers.
To his defense, Alejandro Villanueva has usually struggled to stop Myles Garrett, but Chukwuma Okorafor had an equally miserable game against Oliver Vernon. This in turn led to little protection along the edges which allowed for more quarterback pressures and a limited running attack. Even after Garrett headed to the bench, Villanueva seemed to struggle to contain the Browns backup pass rushers.
While week 17 was certainly a weak point for the two tackles, both have rebounded before. Luckily, they will likely have to face off against the same rushers next week, so they will have an idea of what to expect. That said, they can’t continue to lose to these rushers like they did this week. It will further limit the offense and make the starting unit struggle to move the ball in the playoffs.
Winner: Mason Rudolph
Anyone that says Mason Rudolph can’t be at least an efficient backup in this league is kidding themselves. He had his struggles last season, and he wasn’t perfect against the Browns, but Rudolph played some really good football in week 7. He completed a couple of nice deep balls, executed the short game efficiently, and delivered some strikes to the end zone when needed.
Even his interception wasn’t the end of the world, as he had a defender in his face when he tried to force the pass. Again, he wasn’t perfect, but throwing for over 300 yards is a testament to the fact that he can play in this league. When given a decent offense to command, Rudolph showed that he has what it takes to be a decent quarterback this week.
Moving forward, the Steelers should feel far more confident with Rudolph as their backup than they did earlier. As long as the offensive play calling is ok, Rudolph can succeed with the proper talent around him. Does this mean he has to be the Steelers quarterback of the future? No, but there is a real chance he could be the starter for a few years as they look to find that guy. Rudolph put a lot of doubt to rest this week, and he should be praised for his solid play as a reserve.
This loss went about just as well as the Steelers could have hoped for. Their young reserves looked solid and none of their starters seemed to suffer a major injury. Now, the team can focus on beating the Browns in the playoffs after resting quite a few of their starters. A loss is never a good thing, but the Steelers can take quite a few positive trends out of their final game from the 2020 regular season.