After the Cleveland Browns fell to 2-8 on the season via this past Sunday’s disheartening 35-14 loss at the New Orleans Saints, whispers emerged suggesting that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam could dismiss head coach Kevin Stefanski if the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers blow Cleveland out in the upcoming Thursday night game held at Huntington Bank Field.
Stefanski addressed such chatter while speaking with reporters on Tuesday.
“I think probably because I grew up listening to [Philadelphia radio], I’m smart enough to not worry about outside noise,” Stefanski said, as shared by Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. “I get that’s part of this gig. That’s life in the big city. My sole focus is getting this team ready to get a win on Thursday night. That’s it.”
Both Stefanski and Browns general manager Andrew Berry received contract extensions this past offseason after Stefanski won the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award for the second time during his Cleveland tenure. Despite an offensive coordinator change aimed at helping Deshaun Watson regain his form, the QB was one of the league’s worst starting quarterbacks this season before he suffered a ruptured Achilles. The Browns are ranked 31st in the league with an average of 16.2 points scored per game.
Meanwhile, multiple media personalities noted they felt certain Browns players “quit” en route to surrendering 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points against the Saints.
“You understand where you are – you can’t hide from that,” Stefanski said about the state of the Browns, per Spencer German of Sports Illustrated. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you have an opportunity Thursday night against an AFC North opponent on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ all the things that go with that. I think the guys are excited for that opportunity.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Browns as 3.5-point underdogs against the Steelers. Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel currently serves as a consultant with the Browns and could finish the campaign as Cleveland’s interim head coach if Pittsburgh cruises to an easy win in Cleveland.
