Shedeur Sanders has a strong first half as Browns lead Steelers – Terry Pluto’s Scribbles

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles successful my notebook arsenic nan Browns lead nan Steelers 10-6 astatine halftime:

1. Entering nan game, Pittsburgh classed 30th defending nan pass. The Browns decided to fto Shedeur Sanders propulsion nan ball, particularly because nan Steelers were playing a very soft area coverage. Nor did Pittsburgh make overmuch walk rush.

2. Sanders responded by completing 12 of 17 passes for 164 yards. He besides threw a TD walk and had an interception. Sanders looked poised successful nan pouch and confident.

3. Sanders had a terrific first quarter, particularly connected their 86-yard TD drive. Sanders made a beautiful propulsion for 42 yards to Cedric Tillman. He rolled retired somewhat to nan correct and delivered a walk astir 30 yards successful nan aerial – correct connected target. Later connected nan drive, he connected pinch Harold Fannin Jr. for a 28-yard TD. That walk was somewhat underthrown, but Fannin came backmost to make nan catch.

4. Sanders besides connected pinch backup tight extremity Brenden Bates for a 19-yard gain. It was different fantabulous propulsion correct connected target.

5. Fannin near nan crippled aft his TD catch. He had been dealing pinch a groin wounded for a while, and he aggravated it connected that play for a TD.

6. Jerry Jeudy had a beardown first half pinch 5 receptions for 54 yards.

7. Pittsburgh’s first points came connected a Chris Boswell section extremity from 44 yards. The Browns had Pittsburgh stopped connected its ain 25-yard line. But Cleveland’s Rayshawn Jenkins was flagged for taunting. That gave nan Steelers a first down and caller life. Pittsburgh ended up settling for nan section goal.

8. Andre Szmyt booted a 50-yard section extremity successful nan first quarter. Remember erstwhile Szmyt missed a 36-yard section extremity and other constituent successful nan season-opening 17-16 nonaccomplishment to nan Bengals? It appeared his days pinch nan Browns would beryllium few. Now, nan rookie has been 1 of nan team’s astir accordant players. He is 21 for 24 connected section goals this season. He besides is 4 for 5 from astatine slightest 50 yards.

9. In nan 2nd quarter, nan Browns had nan shot connected nan Pittsburgh 33-yard line. It was 4th and 6. Coach Kevin Stefanski decided to skip nan 50-yard section extremity attempt. It was astatine nan different extremity of nan section – distant from nan Dawg Pound wherever Szmyt had kicked nan section extremity successful nan first quarter. Wind is an issue. The Browns grounded to person connected a fourth-down play.

I'm grateful to my readers who person publication maine for decades. I'm nan writer of much than 30 books, a victor of nan National Headliner Award arsenic nan nation's champion sports columnist successful 2020 and champion sports writer in...