Steelers loss to the Browns: worst postseason start in Pittsburgh sports history? Yes. But you have company.

Steelers loss to the Browns: worst postseason start in Pittsburgh sports history? Yes. But you have company.

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In my 20s covering Pittsburgh sports and 46 years accompanying them as a fan, I have never seen a Pittsburgh team start off worse in a postseason game than the Steelers in their postseason loss to the Browns on Sunday night.

They lost 28-0 in the first quarter. They put the ball in the end zone for a defensive touchdown from Cleveland on the first move. Ben Roethlisberger launched two interceptions and led a three-and-out, translating into 21 more Cleveland points in the remaining 14 minutes, 46 seconds before the end of the fourth mercifully.

It was such a bad start that it left the horrible first quarter of the team’s last playoff game in the past. It was when the Steelers fell 14-0 to Jacksonville, after allowing an initial 66-yard game march with a punt, an interception and a downhill turn that resulted in a third Jags touchdown early in the second quarter.

So, no, this is not even close.

Here are a few others that came to mind while I mended a list of terrible playoff matches that can at least be mentioned along with the two most recent post-season Steelers trips.

1. 1991 NLCS Game 7: Having failed to eliminate the Atlanta Braves in game 6 of the 1991 National League Championship, Pirates had another chance to fix the National League streamer and reach the franchise’s first World Series since 1979.

That hope did not last long. Ron Gant from Atlanta hit a sacrificial fly on the first entry. Then Brian Hunter hit a two-run home run on the first entry, and Braves pulled John Smiley off the mound after registering just two eliminations.

Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz went on to run a six-stroke shutout.

Pirates had won 1-0 in Game 5 behind Zane Smith. They lost 1-0 to Steve Avery in game 6. Thus, the Bucs managed only 16 hits and two runs in the final 27 entries of the game.

The Braves ended up losing the World Series to the Minnesota Twins. But they would be back to the 1992 NLCS to face the Pirates in a rematch and …

… Okay, okay! Scroll the clip. Let’s get this over with.

Ironically, Pirates got off to a great start. They jumped to a 1-0 lead and achieved a 2-0 lead in the ninth before THAT happened.

two Game 7 – 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals: Much like the series above, the Penguins failed to eliminate the Montreal Canadiens underdog in Game 6 when they had the chance.

Game 7 was back in Pittsburgh. If the Penguins lost, this would be the last game at Arena Mellon. And that was exactly what ended up being the case.

Sidney Crosby scored a penalty with 10 seconds of play. Brian Gionta scored in the power play that followed 22 seconds later. Former Penguin Dominic Moore scored at the end of the period, and the Canadiens ended up scoring two more goals early in the second.

Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled, and the Penguins goalkeeper broke his bat and almost dropped the canvas from the catwalk to the locker room.

Montreal ended up winning the game, eliminating the Penguins and closing the Mellon Arena.

3 – Match 6, quarter-finals of the 2012 Eastern Conference: The Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers played the first five games in this series that featured 50 goals – and about 51 fights if memory serves.

The Flyers won the first three games. The Pens retreated to stay alive for the next two. Therefore, the series returned to Philadelphia for Game 6.

In that infamous first round, Claude Giroux graced Crosby and scored a 32-second goal in the game.

Scott Hartnell also scored in the first. And the Flyers jumped into the second round with a 5-1 elimination win.

This was the so-called “baton pass” from Crosby to Giroux.

I think it’s safe to say that Crosby got the bat back eventually, right?

4 National League 2015 Wild Card: At PNC Park, Pirates hosted the Cubs and Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta in their third consecutive wild card game.

Arrieta was virtually unattainable all year. And the Pirates knew that they couldn’t afford to go down early and give up any cheap race. Then coach Clint Hurdle started Sean Rodriguez on first base for his defensive ability, on Pedro Alvarez’s bench and his baton.

In the first inning, Gerrit Cole allowed an initial single for Dexter Fowler. He stole the second. Kyle Schwarber led him and Rodriguez was unable to hold a low shot from Neil Walker that allowed Anthony Rizzo to reach the base. Cole had to throw 22 shots.

At the end of the first, Andrew McCutchen landed a single. But Arrieta eliminated Starling Mars. And the building’s power has been drained.

What was left went out on the steam trail of the 430-foot Schwarber home run at the third entrance. And the game is basically over.

Oh, except for the incident of cleaning the seats and “S-Rod” dropping the Gatorade refrigerator.

Arrieta ended with a five-game shutout in the full game, including 11 eliminations. The Cubs won 4-0.

5 Some bad starts of the Game 1: Let’s take a look at some bad starts from some series for the Penguins contests in Game 1.

Some “teachable moments” – if you will – at the dawn of the Crosby-Malkin era.

How about game 1 of the 2007 quarterfinals against veteran Ottawa Senators? This was the group’s first post-season game. And they were smoked 6-3, allowing three goals in the first 25 minutes. Ottawa surpassed series 4-1.

Then there was game 1 of the 2008 Stanley Cup final in Detroit. Remember when Fleury fell when taking the ice to warm up? The Penguins lost 4-0. Then again, 3-0 in Game 2. The Red Wings won the tournament in six games.

In 2007, the Penguins looked young and not quite ready for the playoffs. They learned. And I reached the final in ’08.

Where the Red Wings made them look like they weren’t quite ready for that phase either. Until next year when …

… OK, roll this clip too.

Now we’re even.

6. Super Bowl XXX: We will end with one more of the Steelers. Super Bowl XXX against favorite Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas scored a field goal on the first attempt. The Steelers were three and left.

Troy Aikman recovered the ball and dropped a 47-yard bomb on Deion Sanders – playing in the attack. You know, just to be Deion. Jay Novacek got a touchdown. And it was 10-0 when the pizza guy came home.

The Steelers fell 13-0, then 20-7. But they recovered before losing 27-17 because Larry Brown intercepted Neil O’Do …

….NOT!!! We are not rolling these clips. I’m drawing the line there. Sufficient punishment for one day.

Tim Benz is an editor on the Tribune-Review team. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be posted again. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.

Tags:
Penguins / NHL | Pirates / MLB | Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz

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