Steelers vs. Browns: What they're saying in Cleveland after loss in Pittsburgh

The preseason Super Bowl aspirations will not even amount to a playoff appearance for the Cleveland Browns.

Still, the Browns had a chance to spoil Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s possible final home game at Heinz Field. The Browns have one of the NFL’s best running backs in Nick Chubb. They barely used him.

The Steelers prevailed 26-14.

Here’s what writers in Ohio are saying about the game.

“Training camp began with Super Bowl hopes and with one game remaining will end pitifully short of highlights, unless lowlights count and you subscribe to the notion that there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” wrote Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. “The Browns (7-9) had plenty of lowlights in a nationally televised 26-14 loss Monday night at Heinz Field, including one of the most embarrassing offensive series of the expansion era.

“As the Steelers turned back the clock, with fans sending their love and thanks to Roethlisberger for all he’s given them, including two Super Bowls, the Browns’ performance regressed to days supposedly long forgotten.”

Ridenour’s colleague Steve Doerschuk pointed out the lack of Chubb carries.

“Midway through second half, Peyton Manning called out (Browns coach Kevin Stefanski: ‘Can we get Nick Chubb in the game?’ he said in a huff.”

Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com wrote that Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will probably depart Cleveland in the shadow of Roethlisberger’s likely retirement.

“On Monday, Pittsburgh said goodbye to its quarterback. But the Cleveland quarterback also felt like he won’t be back with his team,” he wrote, adding. “Mayfield isn’t guaranteed to be done with the Browns, and his future will continue to be the primary discussion point around this team. But the 26-year-old, fourth-year, former top pick spent three hours in primetime getting buried and burying himself in a 26-14 loss to the Steelers. It was Ben’s party, and Baker gave him 10 straight incompletions as a gift.”