The skill players sure did put up some gaudy numbers, but the Fantastic Five from this game aren’t DA, Jamal, Wheelie, Braylon, and JJ. They were good, no doubt, but I want to single out the guys named Thomas, Steinbach, Fraley, McKinney, and Shaffer.
The difference from last week to this was immense, validating the value of continuity. Of course, the Steeler defense far exceeds Cincy’s, but Thomas was playing his first real NFL game, and Steinbach and Shaffer were just returning from injuries. In their second game as a unit, their accomplishments shone not only as reflected in the skill players’ stats but also through:
- no sacks allowed
- only one QB pressure allowed
- not a single false start, hold, or penalty whatsoever
- no batted balls or broken plays attributed to the line
- flawless performance from the placekicking and punting units
There’s always room to improve. A better short-yardage push could have helped Vickers convert on fourth-and-one or let Jamal ice the game from the Bengals’ one in the fourth quarter.
But all in all, “this absolute entertainment-galore extravaganza” (in the words of the NFL Network host) was made possible with the generous support of the quiet quintet up front. That foundation, at long last, more than anything, lends substance to the fresh hope that the Browns’ offense may duplicate this spectacular performance.
