5 thing we learned: Steelers' playoff odds don't take a dent despite loss to Browns

Five things we learned from Browns 13, Steelers 10:

1. Win for losing

Despite losing for the first time in three games, the Steelers had their chance of reaching the postseason increase to 70%, according to the New York Times playoff simulator.

The simulator gives the Steelers a 14% chance of winning the AFC North, behind Cleveland (29%) and Baltimore (56%). In terms of merely qualifying for the playoffs, the Browns’ odds shot up to 89% and the Ravens are 96% likely to play beyond Week 18.

ESPN’s NFL playoff machine has the Steelers representing the AFC’s No. 7 seed with their 6-4 record. Buffalo is 6-5 and, like Baltimore, has its bye remaining in Week 13. Lurking behind the Steelers are a trio of 5-5 teams: the Bengals, Broncos and Colts.

The Steelers will get a chance to knock the Bengals down a peg Sunday. Cincinnati has just a 16% chance of making the playoffs, according to the simulator. The Steelers also have the Colts remaining on their schedule.

While Baltimore and Cleveland have just one division game remaining, the Steelers have three, including two with the Bengals.

2. Flying flags

Rookie corner Joey Porter Jr was most often matched up against Browns’ No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper, although he didn’t specifically shadow Cooper.

Porter allowed four receptions on six targets, but the damage was limited to 34 yards. He had one pass breakup.

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Of more concern is that Porter was penalized two more times. One was declined. That makes eight penalties called against Porter (and five accepted) since he moved into the starting lineup against Jacksonville.

Porter’s five accepted penalties is one fewer than team leader Patrick Peterson, who has started the entire year.

3. Out of position

In a game that relied heavily on field position, the Steelers came up short when it mattered.

Pressley Harvin placed four of his nine punts inside the 20-yard line, which helped explain his net average of 35.3 yards. But that wasn’t much of a positive considering how the rest of his day went.

In the third quarter, Harvin hit a 42-yarder, but it was followed by a 21-yard return that enabled the Browns to take over at the Steelers 48. Late in the quarter, Harvin shanked one out of bounds after it traveled just 20 yards.

Neither punt directly resulted in points for the Browns, but it did cost the Steelers valuable real estate. When the Steelers had to punt after their three-and-out inside the final two minutes, Harvin hit a 47-yarder that resulted in a 12-yard return. The Browns began their final drive at the Cleveland 35, needing only to get a few first downs before Dustin Hopkins kicked the winning field goal. A better punt (and coverage) would have made the Browns’ task more difficult.

4. Seeing red

Aside from Jaylen Warren’s 74-yard touchdown run, the Steelers moved inside Cleveland territory on three of 10 possessions.

Two of those drives stalled at the Browns 47 (second quarter) and Browns 43 (fourth). The third reached the Cleveland 10 and resulted in a Chris Boswell field goal.

It was the only time the Steelers ventured into the red zone all game. Of the two snaps that took place in the red zone, a Warren run lost two yards and Kenny Pickett was sacked for a 10-yard loss. Only a 17-yard run by Najee Harris on third down put the ball back inside the Browns 20.

The lack of trips into the red zone shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Steelers reach the red zone just 1.9 times per game, the fewest of any NFL team.

5. Snap decisions

Minus All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for the third game in a row and after putting Keanu Neal on injured reserve the previous day, the Steelers relied heavily on Damontae Kazee, as might be expected for a group facing so many absences.

Kazee was the only member of the secondary to play all 75 defensive snaps. The only other player to do it was inside linebacker Elandon Roberts, who had to be an ironman at a position group missing two players to season-ending injuries.

In the secondary, the Steelers split up the other safety reps with former practice squad player Trenton Thompson getting 58 snaps. Miles Killebrew had 16 and Elijah Riley had nine before exiting with a high ankle sprain that also landed him on IR Monday. Patrick Peterson took just one snap at deep safety after playing there on 17 plays over the previous two games.