Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland: Twitter Reaction and Postgame Quotes

To say that Cleveland Browns fans had to endure a roller coaster ride to start the NFL season would be a gross understatement. Their team went from putrid and pummeled at halftime, to roaring back in the second half and finally defeated in the final seconds by Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers once again.

No one ever said it was easy being a Browns fan.

While there are no moral victories in the NFL, the Browns showed in the second half of the game enough to give hope to the people of Cleveland. At the very least, it is hope that they will not have to make a panicked change to Johnny Manziel anytime soon.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer and the run game were very efficient in the second half. The same team that scored just three first-half points and allowed 27 was dominant to start the second half and scored 24 unanswered.

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#Browns RB Terrance West: "If we didn't dig ourselves a hole in the 1st half, we probably could've won by 14. But we were playing catch up."

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 7, 2014"

The Browns switched to a hurry-up offense and ratcheted up the intensity on defense which propelled them back into the ballgame. The change of pace caught a complacent Steelers team off guard and got Hoyer into his first rhythm of the 2014 football year.

According to Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com, "the Browns returned home knowing that Hoyer, working the second half in a no-huddle offense, is closer to the quarterback he was a year ago than the unconfident one seen in preseason."

Grossi also noted that Hoyer was playing like his old self in the second half. I noticed that as well. In the first half, Hoyer looked tentative and unsure about his surgically repaired knee. He refused to step up into the pocket and delivered the majority of his throws off his back foot.

In the second half, using the no-huddle offense, Hoyer was able to get the Steelers defensive line winded and allow him more time to survey the field. It was not all Hoyer that brought the Browns back, however.

With Ben Tate injured and not playing in the second half, rookie running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell controlled the clock running 21 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. They were the real catalyst in the Browns miraculous 24-point comeback.

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Amazing comeback by the Browns to tie the score at 27 against the Steelers.

— John Clayton (@ClaytonESPN) September 7, 2014"

According to Scott Petrack of The Elyria Chronicle Telegram, "the no-huddle, hurry-up approach appeared to energize the Browns and catch Pittsburgh off-guard. It also gassed the Steelers defense as the half wore on. Hoyer had plenty of time to survey the field for his second and third options."

Petrack accurately portrays the change of pace as the turning point for the Browns’ comeback. It opened up the pass game which, in turn, opened up the run game. They began to work in unison and make for a different looking football team.

The change in attitude was a departure from their demeanor in the first half. The Browns were dominated so bad that Steelers kick returner Antonio Brown was able to kick punter Spencer Lanning in the face and just get a penalty.

During a 46-yard punt return, Brown was close to breaking away for a touchdown, but Lanning was the last defender in his way. Lanning looked as if he was going to tackle Brown low so he tried to leap over him. Instead of going low, however, Lanning stayed high and got a face full of cleats before bringing Brown to the ground.

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That kick to the face was a microcosm of the #Browns v Steelers since 99'

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 7, 2014"

As I said, the Browns were able to push all that aside and come out to play inspired football in the second half. They had the game tied with the ball and under two minutes to play. Unfortunately, their drive went backward, and after a punt, the Steelers were able to drive for a game-winning field goal as time expired.

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Good job, good effort but Browns gotta feel like they got kicked in the face. Wait ...

— Michael Smith (@michaelsmith) September 7, 2014"

The loss is just the latest in a long history of futility. For a fleeting moment, it looked like everything would change. It looked like the Browns would get just their second win in Pittsburgh since returning to the NFL. It looked like they finally had a coach who would, for the first time since 1989, win his debut.

It looked like the long streak of losses to open the season might finally come to an end. And then it didn’t.

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The Browns have now lost 10 straight season openers, a new   NFL record.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 7, 2014"

The easy scapegoat to point at was rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert. He had about as poor a debut in the NFL as you could possibly imagine. Every time the Steelers needed a first down or a big play Roethlisberger targeted Gilbert.

The worst was when he allowed the 20-yard pass play to Markus Wheaton that set up the game-winning field goal for Pittsburgh. Gilbert slipped and fell down on the play leaving Wheaton wide open and capping a day that he will surely try to forget as soon as possible.

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Rough 1st game for CB Justin Gilbert. Saw several of the same mistakes from college. He's going to require a ton of patience #Browns

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 7, 2014"

While Gilbert may be a work in progress, he already knows that having a short-term memory is the most important attribute of a successful cornerback in the NFL. Most rookies struggle at his position transitioning into the NFL, and he is obviously no different.

Joe Haden struggled quite a bit at times his rookie season, and Buster Skrine was a piñata for offensive coordinators for an entire season before it clicked and he became solid.

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#Browns CB Justin Gilbert on his performance: "Not great and not what I wanted. I can always get better from here on out."

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 7, 2014"

So the Browns are once again starting a season 0-1. This time, however, it feels just a little bit different. They look like they just might have a competent quarterback, powerful running game and dominant defense.

The issue now is making those things work together for four whole quarters. As we saw in Week 1, one half of football does not get you the victory in the NFL. There are no moral victories, just ask head coach Mike Pettine.

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#Browns HC Mike Pettine said this is a pass-fail league and we failed. Told players that. Proud of resolve but no moral victories in league.

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 7, 2014"