I have this infatuation with special teams recently, and it continued through Sunday, when I “accurately” predicted Jordan Berry wouldn’t punt against the Browns.

Well, that didn’t happen! But… I did say Berry’s over/under would be 3.5, and I took the under.

The Steelers punter only kicked three times in the game, so I feel like a soothsayer of sorts. Regardless, Berry’s first punt didn’t come until the third quarter! The Steelers offense had dominated the first half time of possession, leaving special teams play in the hands of Chris Boswell, who turned his season around in the windy conditions with 32 and 33 yard field goals to open the Steelers scoring.

Blown extra point

Remember a week ago when I said the Steelers going for two wasn’t a big deal?

Well, here’s why:

https://twitter.com/steelcityundrgr/status/800737041457758208

NFL kickers missed 11 extra-point attempts on Sunday, the most in league history.

One of those misses even came from Cleveland kicker Cody Parkey.

Ever since the starting position for PATs was moved back last season, those plays have become anything but automatic. It’s easy to criticize, maybe even cringe at the thought of going for two point attempts, but this validates that there’s solid reasoning that missing on 2 could just as easily be a miss for 1.

That doesn’t mean Mike Tomlin should feel justified for every single two point try, but it clearly makes him look smarter than what some fans were willing to give him credit for.

Making one of these attempts on Sunday is further validation that the Steelers should go for two when it makes sense.

Going for 2

With the strangest sequence of events leading to two untimed downs, and Pittsburgh’s lone offensive touchdown of the afternoon, Mike Tomlin squeezed the trigger once again, going for two to try and extend the Steelers lead to 14 points before half.

I’m sure some of “yinz” at home were freaking out about going for two… or maybe not, since it made sense to go up an even 14. Either way, this play was ridiculously easy for Ben Roethlisberger and company.

With Le’Veon Bell split wide (bottom right of screen) and an empty backfield, the Browns decided man cover just about everyone: Bell, Antonio Brown (top left) and Eli Rogers (next to Bell) were in man-to-man matchups. Jamie Collins lines up over Jesse James, but blitzes, as a Browns linebacker picks up James, but #30 Derrick Kindred drops into coverage and leaves Steelers utility tight end/fullback David Johnson wide-open underneath.

It appears Ben was ready to go with whomever the Browns didn’t follow, and DJ ended up the recipient of converting a two-pointer.

Berry’s punt

With 4:02 left in the game, the Steelers offense stalled at their own 20, and Pittsburgh was forced to punt. Jordan Berry entered for just his third punt in the game, and it was a beauty.

The 57 yard blast was directed perfectly for Sammie Coates, playing gunner for the injured Darrius Heyward-Bey, to close in on Browns returner Duke Johnson. It forced Johnson into the waiting arms of several Steelers, including Anthony Chickillo, L.J. Fort and Roosevelt Nix, who all piled on Cleveland’s backup running back.

Johnson was suffocated so badly, that one of his teammates committed an illegal block above the waist on the play, and the field was flipped entirely: Cleveland would start on their own 13. Two plays later, Ryan Shazier would strip Browns QB Josh McCown, which was recovered for a game-clinching defensive touchdown.

None of that is possible without this tremendous special teams play.

The third phase of football is largely responsible for small victories which amounted to a big win in Cleveland.