Browns still have a long way to go

There was one sequence during Sunday's game in Pittsburgh that seemed to sum things up for the Cleveland Browns.It was early in the third quarter and the Steelers were leading by two touchdowns. Cleveland was facing a third-down-and-1 at the Cleveland 13.As quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Browns offense lined up to run the play, head coach Todd Monken could be seen sprinting down the sideline to get the official's attention.He wanted a timeout.Second half timeouts are almost always precious, but if you're trying to mount a big comeback, on the road, they're critical.That's how important Monken thought the play was.The Browns had to get it right.So, after a short break, the Browns returned to the field to finally run the play.Watson handed off to running back Quinshon Judkins, who tried to go off left tackle.The Steelers defense ran over the Browns offensive line and stuffed Judkins for a one-yard loss.The Browns punted. The rest of the second half seemed academic.Cleveland came into Pittsburgh and was overmatched and overwhelmed.There was no fourth-quarter comeback this time, no big drive from Watson to rescue things in the final minutes.This time, the Browns were stomped by the Steelers, 27-6.Somehow, the game didn't seem that close.The Browns have been notoriously slow starters this season, and they were again Sunday, falling behind 10-0 early in the second quarter.The Browns defense did not allow any points on the Steelers first drive. But Cleveland did fumble the ball away on back-to-back possessions to start the game.It all went downhill from there.The Steelers are a good, tough team, though probably not a Super Bowl contender. But they still manhandled the Browns in the trenches.Steelers running back Jaylen Warren looked like Franco Harris on Sunday, running for 143 yards on 17 carries. That's an average of 8.4 yards a carry.The Browns offensive line, meanwhile, looked lost. The running game was nonexistent and Watson was sacked eight times.Yes, Watson threw for 324 yards. But most of that came late when the game was decided.Cleveland had a chance to make a statement Sunday, and it did.Despite the 5-3 record, the Browns remain a deeply flawed team. They are better than they have been the last two years. But they still have a long way to go. PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tight end Harold Fannin caught 10 passes for 154 yards. The former Bowling Green Falcon looked like the only player who was capable of doing anything positive Sunday. NEXT GAME: The Browns travel to New Orleans. The Superdome has been a house of horrors in recent years. In 2018, Zane Gonzalez missed field goals, extra points and the next day lost his job after a close loss to the Saints.Two years ago, the Saints thoroughly embarrassed the Browns in what was perhaps the ugliest game of the Kevin Stefanski era.I'm banking on a bounceback for Cleveland this week. But the Saints are coming off a bye and will be ready.It's a big test for this group. MY PICK: Browns 28, Saints 26.