Browns Nation Podcast: AFC Wild Card 48-37 Win Over Steelers

Host Mark Bergin is joined by fellow BrownsNation.com writer Pat Opperman and Wendi Oliveros.

— Winning the turnover battle (5-0) helped the Browns’ beat the Steelers 48-37.
— The Browns got their first playoff win since Jan. 1, 1995. It marked the Browns’ first road playoff win since Dec. 4, 1969.
— Oct. 5, 2003, marked the last time the Browns beat the Steelers at Heinz Field.
— Sunday night’s game marked a changing of the guard in the AFC North, especially considering the young quarterback talent in division: Baker Mayfield (25), Lamar Jackson (24), Joe Burrow (24) and Ben Roethlisberger (38).
— The Browns played perhaps the best first quarter of football in team history. They led 28-0 after the first quarter.
— Baker Mayfield’s decision making and avoiding turnovers were key in the Browns’ victory. — — Credit the Browns offensive line: Down Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio (COVID-19) for the entire game and All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin (hamstring) for much of it, Mayfield was not sacked on Sunday night. The Steelers led the NFL in sacks (56) during the 2020 regular season.
— Also, credit the Browns coaching staff — acting head coach Mike Priefer, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and defensive coordinator Joe Woods — for filling in for Kevin Stefanski and the Browns coaches out on Sunday night due to COVID-19. The Browns couldn’t practice for most of the week either.
— T.J. Watt, a leading candidate to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was a non-factor in Sunday night’s game. Jack Conklin and Kendall Lamm did a good job matching up against Watt.
— The turning point came on Mike Tomlin’s decision to punt on the Steelers’ 39-yard line down 35-23 at the start of the fourth quarter. Tomlin probably should have gone for it on 4th and 1.
— Should Van Pelt call plays for the Browns moving forward?
— The Browns open as an 8-point underdog on the road during next weekend’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round.
— NFL Wild Card weekend was fantastic. Give us back-to-back tripleheaders in subsequent NFL Wild Card Weekends!