3 things we learned from Steelers loss against Cleveland Browns

The Steelers offense was still one-dimensional, regardless of who was playing quarterback

Look, I’m thrilled we scored 22 points; I’m not so thrilled that we gave up 24 points, but we will get to that in a bit.  After having been down by 15 points, we were able to roar back and make it a one-possession game, but, unfortunately, we just could not convert a 2-point try that would have tied it up.

What was concerning to me was the ‘bugaboo’ that has plagued the Steelers offense almost the entire season: the lack of a consistent running game.  Pittsburgh’s offense managed to gain 85 yards on the ground.  What that means is that we finished dead last in average rushing yards per game, according to ESPN.com.

I honestly can’t remember a season where the Steelers finished last in average rushing yards per game; that is mind-boggling to me.  What is really alarming is this:  if that trend continues into the playoffs, it may spell our doom.

Mason Rudolph, our backup QB, acquitted himself nicely, I have to say. With the exception of the INT he threw, Rudolph finished the day with 315 yards passing, 2TDs and the aforementioned INT.  I would have preferred that Rudolph not have to have thrown the ball as many times as he did, but we were trailing the entire game and we could not really get the running game on track.

Let’s take a look at the second thing we learned.