Browns postgame notebook: Making up for Mack and more
CLEVELAND -- After Browns center Alex Mack went down with 6:57 to play in the second quarter, John Greco moved from right guard to center and Paul McQuistan went to right guard. Mack had played all 5,279 snaps of his career until he was injured.
The Browns were leading 14-3 at the time and finished the 85-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run by Ben Tate.
With Mack likely done for the season, Greco and McQuistan went in and it seemed like a seamless transition.
The Browns rushed for 158 yards on 38 attempts for a 4.2 average.
"It was a good, old-fashioned AFC North game," Greco said. "We were running the ball, trying to open up the play action and hitting the deep throws."
Greco said he was prepared to switch over to center, if need be, and tackle Joe Thomas was impressed with the transition after Mack was injured.
"I was amazed on how well we were able to put (McQuistan) in there and move (Greco) over and just continue to do the things that we were doing before," Thomas said. "Alex is one of the most reliable guys in the NFL and to lose him at the center position is devastating, but I can't say enough about the job John and Paul did stepping in there and not missing a step."
Other notes:
Big Win: The Browns 31 points was the most they have scored against the Steelers since the Browns defeated them 33-13 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 5, 2003. The Browns hadn't beaten the Steelers by over 20 points since they won 51-0 to open the 1989 season.
In addition, the Browns have scored at least 21 points in all five games this season.
Brian's Day: QB Brian Hoyer posted another good outing with a 113 rating. He only threw 17 passes, completing eight for 217 yards with one touchdown. He was sacked just once. In the first half, Hoyer was 5-of-11 for 146 yards with a touchdown and a 122.3 rating.
"What's so great about this group of guys is we don't care who gets the credit," Hoyer said. "We just want to win the game. I think good teams find different ways to win games.
"Whether it's winning on the last play of the game with a field goal, a touchdown pass, the defense coming out and really shutting their offense out or us hitting a few big plays here or there."
Hoyer was asked what it was like to beat the Steelers.
"I think the last time the Browns beat the Steelers, I was the backup quarterback for the Steelers that day," he said. "Coming in after what we did last week and knowing what the situation was playing Pittsburgh at home, I knew the crowd would be crazy.
"They did a great job," he said. "I think there were a few false starts when they were loud and they stayed the whole time, which was great. Even though it was 31-3, they stayed and they deserve it."
Big Ben's Day: QB Ben Roethlisberger came into the game with an 18-1 record against the Browns. He was 21-of-42 for 228 yards and a touchdown and interception. He was sacked twice and finished with a rating of 64.4.
"I think we had a good plan going in with the right attitude and mindset," he said. "I didn't play well enough."
Sack Attack: The Browns sacked Roethlisberger just twice, but they occurred on back-to-back plays to stop a drive in the third quarter. LB Karlos Dansby and DL Desmond Bryant were credited with the sacks that forced the Steelers to punt at the Browns' 37 after they had moved the ball to the 30.
Dansby led the Browns with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry besides the sack. DB Tashaun Gipson had nine tackles followed by DB Donte Whitner with eight.
Buster's Pick: CB Buster Skrine intercepted Roethlisberger in the third quarter after DL John Hughes tipped the ball. It was Skrine's first interception of the season and third of his career was upheld after review.
"I think Ben Roethlisberger overthrew one of his receivers inside and I had my eyes in," Skrine said. "I was guarding my guy and I focused in on the ball. I was able to get my hands under there. I knew I had caught it. There was no doubt in my mind I caught the ball."
Skrine had three tackles and four passes broken up besides the interception.
Wounded Warriors: Besides losing Mack, DL Armonty Bryant went down with a sprained knee and did not return. Bryant started in place of DE Phil Taylor, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
DB K'Waun Williams left the game in the second half with a concussion and did not return. Williams suffered the head injury in the third quarter on an incomplete pass on third-and-17 for WR Lance Moore.
Return of Cameron: TE Jordan Cameron had his best game of the season with three receptions for 102 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown from Hoyer. It was Cameron's first touchdown of the season. Besides the touchdown catch, Cameron had a 47-yard catch to the five-yard line that set up a touchdown by RB Isaiah Crowell. Cameron's touchdown gave the Browns a 14-3 lead at the time.
Hawk Shut Out: The Browns had just eight receptions for 217 yards. Cameron led the Browns with 102 on three catches. He was followed by WR Miles Austin with two for 29. WR Travis Benjamin, TE Jim Dray, WR Taylor Gabriel each had one catch. WR Andrew Hawkins was shut out for the first time.
Bell Cow Ben: Ben Tate finished with 25 carries for just 78 yards (3.1 avg.) but scored his first two touchdowns of the season. Tate had 10 carries in the first half for 23 yards.
The Crow: RB Isaiah Crowell scored a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Browns a 7-3 lead. He had six carries for 40 yards, including a touchdown in the first half and finished with 11 carries for 77 yards with a long run of 24 yards. He did fumble twice, losing one. Crowell has four touchdowns on the season.
Captains: The Browns captains for the game were: WR Travis Benjamin, TE Jim Dray, DL Ishmaa'ily Kitchen and LB Barkevious Mingo were the captains.
West Inactive: In a surprise move, rookie RB Terrance West was inactive over rookie RB Glenn Winston. It was a coaching decision.
"There's just some things that (West) needs to clean up," Pettine said.
Pettine indicated that Crowell and Winston had a better practice week than did West.
Browns inactives were: DL Ahtyba Rubin, DL Billy Winn, DL Phil Taylor, RB Terrance West, WR Rodney Smith, CB Pierre Desir and TE Gerell Robinson.
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