Here’s how the Steelers brain farted on a free kick against the Browns

The Steelers made an extremely boneheaded special teams play in the third quarter of their game against the Browns.

After the Steelers forced the Browns into a safety, Cleveland lined up for a routine post-safety punt, which operates under normal kickoff rules. Apparently, the Steelers weren’t aware of that rule.

Antonio Brown, Ryan Switzer, and Roosevelt Nix all got confused over who was going to execute a fair catch, and they just didn’t catch the ball. Since this play works under the rules of a normal kickoff, the Browns were free to recover the ball and obtain possession on the 24-yard line. If it had been a normal punt, then the Steelers would’ve taken over where the Browns’ punt team recovered the ball.

In just a few plays, the Browns were able to punch the ball into the end zone with a short pass from Baker Mayfield to Antonio Callaway to cut the score from 16-6 to 16-12.

This was a colossally dumb move by the Steelers special teams unit that cost them a chance to put the game away. They could’ve had a chance to go up by 17 points if they scored a touchdown on that drive, but instead they only lead by four.

Special teams matter!