Written by Jonathan Knight

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Useless nuggets of information from Sunday’s Browns game that you can certainly live without…

THE TRADITION CONTINUES: The loss to the Steelers guaranteed the Browns would post a losing record for the fourth consecutive season, the 12th in their last 14 and 16th in their last 19.

MORE OF THE SAME: Since Eric Metcalf’s career-defining game in October of 1993 when he returned two punts for touchdowns against Pittsburgh – including the game-winner with two minutes to play – the Browns hold an abysmal record of 4-29 against the Steelers. If it makes you feel any better (though it probably won’t), from 1950 through 1969, the Browns won 31 of 40 games against the Steelers. Pittsburgh now leads the all-time series, 63-56.

STEELERS MISERY BY THE NUMBERS: Since the Browns’ return in 1999...

Number of Browns’ quarterbacks who have started against the Steelers: 11

Number of times the Browns have been held to single digits against the Steelers: 11

Number of times the Browns have allowed the Steelers to score more than 30 points: 9

Number of Browns’ head coaches who have lost to the Steelers: 5

Number of Browns’ total wins over the Steelers: 3

Number of Browns’ quarterbacks who have defeated the Steelers: 2

STUCK IN THE BIG KETCHUP BOTTLE: The Browns’ all-time record in Heinz Field is now 1-11. They’ve now lost nine straight there since their only victory in October of 2003. Their overall record in Pittsburgh since 1970 is 5-36.

DIVISIONAL DOLDRUMS: Over the past four seasons, the Browns have a record of just 3-19 within the AFC North, including a 1-10 road record.

ANOTHER LOUSY SHOWING: Granted he spent a crucial portion of the contest semi-conscious, but Colt McCoy turned in his worst performance of the season in Pittsburgh, scoring a miserable quarterback rating of 46, his worst showing of the year. For the season McCoy’s rating now stands at 74.6, 25th in the NFL.

PLATEAUING AGAINST PITTSBURGH: In his two games against the Steelers Since his relatively dazzling pro debut in Pittsburgh in October of 2010, McCoy has been abysmal: 38 of 76 for 418 yards 1 TD 5 INT for a quarterback rating of 43.6.

SAD: Despite carrying the football only twice, Chris Ogbonnaya was still the Browns’ leading rusher with a mere 31 yards, barely more than Peyton HIllis and Montario Hardesty accumulated on a combined total of 21 carries. This was the eighth time this season the Browns failed to tally 100 rushing yards in a game.

NOT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS: 186 of the the Browns’ 304 total yards came on their first four possessions - an average of 46 yards per series. On their last seven possessions they managed just 118 yards - an average of less than 17 yards per series.

A LOSING BATTLE: The Pittsburgh game marked the sixth time this season the Cleveland offense has picked up more than 300 total yards and the second straight week the Cleveland defense allowed more than 400.

ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK: The Browns ran 16 more offensive plays than the Steelers but that advantage was wiped out by Pittsburgh’s dramatic advantage in yards per play: 7.8 to 4.4

ACTION JACKSON: D’Qwell Jackson’s golden season continued as he led both teams with 13 tackles (seven solo), including a sack and a tackle for a loss. He continues to lead the team with 125 tackles (91 solo) and now has 3.5 sacks. A distant second in tackles is Joe Haden with 55 (47 solo).

STILL OUT-GUNNED: Though the Browns matched a season-high six plays of 20 yards or more (also accomplished against St. Louis), they still couldn’t keep up with the Steelers, who tallied seven. For the year, the Browns now have 35 and have allowed 46.

MORE OF THE SAME: This was the fourth time this year the Browns have been held to 10 points or less, the seventh time they’ve been held to 14 points or less, and third time they’ve failed to score a touchdown. Now with a total of 178 points on the year, they have a chance to become just the second Browns team ever to score less than 200 total points in a non-strike season (they’ve already surpassed their pathetic total of 161 in 2000).

WHERE WE RANK: Averaging 4.5 yards per play, the Browns’ offense ranks 30th in the NFL, and their 13.7 points scored per game is also 30th. The Cleveland defense is allowing 5.3 yards per play, dropping it to 11th in the league (after spending the entire season in the top 10), and their 19.5 points allowed per game puts the Browns eighth.

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