Mike Tomlin Was Petrified of Joe Flacco and Nonetheless Received Punked

Mike Tomlin would possibly drive to Cleveland and egg Andrew Berry’s home.

Earlier this week, Mike Tomlin ranted to the Pittsburgh media concerning the Cleveland Browns buying and selling their Week 1 beginning quarterback, Joe Flacco, to the division rival Cincinnati Bengals.

“To be sincere, it was stunning to me,” Tomlin mentioned Monday. “Andrew Berry have to be loads smarter than me or us as a result of it doesn’t make sense to me to commerce a quarterback that you simply suppose sufficient of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that space, however that’s simply my private emotions.”

Flacco led a game-winning drive to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 33–31, on Thursday Evening Soccer.

Whereas Tomlin’s remarks initially may need come throughout as a direct low-cost shot on the Browns, it additionally proved that Tomlin understood simply how deadly Flacco may very well be. He’s a seasoned veteran quarterback who is aware of this division — and Tomlin’s protection — nicely from his time with the Baltimore Ravens.

Flacco proved that he nonetheless has gasoline left within the tank and will battle and claw to maintain the Bengals within the playoff hunt till Joe Burrow is wholesome sufficient to play.

The stakes weren’t as excessive for Flacco as they have been for Tomlin, and he nonetheless received.

Pittsburgh was coming off its most spectacular win of the season when Tomlin known as out Berry, whose Browns he had simply defeated 23–9. However the Browns are undeniably one of many worst groups within the NFL, and the Steelers appeared primed to run away with the AFC North.

However the fact of the matter is — the Steelers look fully overrated.

They determined to stay “all in” this offseason after they out-waited all people for Aaron Rodgers, who was phenomenal within the loss.

Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey was in a hell chamber all evening. Ja’Marr Chase proved he’s the perfect participant within the league, even when his quarterback solely confirmed up on the town 10 days in the past. He had 16 receptions for 161 yards and a landing.

Pittsburgh’s protection has some main questions — and Tomlin probably received’t be excited to reply them.

Tomlin was actually hoping that he would get one other cakewalk victory in primetime in opposition to hapless Bengals quarterback Jake Browning. However Flacco proved that Chase and Tee Higgins are unimaginable, and the 40-year-old is nice sufficient to win video games in opposition to good groups within the AFC North.

Tomlin informed the world how good he believed Flacco was when he known as out Berry. Even with that public respect, Flacco nonetheless got here out on prime.