Browns exorcize 18 years of disappointment in Pittsburgh

Short of winning a Super Bowl, it doesn't get better than this.If you're a Browns fan, Sunday's playoff game in Pittsburgh wasn't so much a victory as it was an exorcism. But the Browns didn't need Jason Miller or Linda Blair to pull it off.What they needed, they got in a stunning 48-37 victory.Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes, and no interceptions.The much-maligned defense forced the Steelers into five turnovers – including four Ben Roethlisberger interceptions.Cleveland didn't even have to do much for its first touchdown, which came on the game's first play. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey launched his first snap over Roethlisberger's head. The Browns recovered in the end zone.Maybe we should have known then that it was Cleveland's night.We certainly had suspicions when Cleveland went up 28-0 in the first quarter, as Roethlisberger's passes kept getting picked, and the Browns kept scoring touchdowns.But there were nervous moments.There were bound to be nervous moments.The Steelers scored 16 unanswered points, crawling within 35-23 late in the third quarter.Every Browns fan in the world had to be certain of disaster.If they tell you otherwise, they're lying.Yet, on this night, the demons of games' past were expelled.Nick Chubb turned a screen into a 40-yard touchdown. The Browns added a six minute drive in the fourth quarter to really hammer home the point.There was no collapse. For the Steelers, no comeback.For the first time since 2003, the Browns won at Heinz Field. For the first time since 1969, they won a road playoff game.And finally – FINALLY – it was the Browns players dancing and laughing on the sidelines as the final minutes ran off the clock.It'd be fun to say that the Browns were counted out by everyone.But it's not true. A few pundits believed. A few fans believed.But most importantly, the Browns players and coaching staff believed.So what if coach Kevin Stefanski was at home due to COVID-19 protocols? So what if members of the coaching staff couldn't be there and special teams coach Mike Preifer had to lead things?And so what if the Browns offensive line was so ravaged that Mayfield literally had to introduce himself to lineman Blake Hance in the locker room in Pittsburgh?It didn't matter. It also didn't matter that the Browns had one practice in the week leading up to Sunday's game.The Browns players never wavered. And they came up with one of the biggest wins in franchise history.Finally, we can say it.The fans of Cleveland have a football team that is worthy of their devotion.It doesn't get much better than this.BEN: It's possible that Sunday was the final game in Roethlisberger's career.I've been writing about Roethlisberger since he was quarterbacking Miami University in 2003. I was a sports writer at the BG News and watched him torch my Falcons twice that season, the second time in the Mid-American Conference championship game.I'm very aware that fellow Courier writer Dave Hanneman – as well as many of you – have been following him for much longer.But since then, Roethlisberger has frequently humiliated the other football team I follow, usually twice a year.Roethlisberger is 23-3-1 against the Browns in his career.He's is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. He led Pittsburgh to three Super Bowls, and two championships.The kid from Findlay High is one of the best of his era.He threw the ball 65 times Sunday, and threw for more than 500 yards.It wasn't a great game for him, but it was memorable.And if that was it for his NFL career, this lifelong Browns fan and BGSU graduate can only salute him.He was one of the greats.NEXT WEEK: I feel like this win was cathartic for the Browns, and I wonder if they'll be able to focus on another monumental challenge that awaits.The Browns are going to Kansas City to take on Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs.I think the Browns have about a 1-in-200 chance of winning.So, I'm saying there's a chance.Chiefs 38Browns 24.