Steelers 28, Browns 14
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Okay, obviously disappointed. Came here to try to get a win on the road versus a good team; didn't do enough of those things that you got to do on road.
That's the tough part of about this one. I appreciate that football team and how they fight. I appreciate to the end giving us everything that they had.
Came up short. Credit to the Steelers; credit to their players, coaches.
But we just didn't do enough today.
With that I'll take any questions.
Q. The two interceptions by Deshaun, did you consider those to be...
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Well, I think you go on the road versus a good team you have to play clean. You want to be plus in the turnover margin; we weren't.
So obviously any time we're giving the ball away, we look hard at these plays. Sometimes they happen in the course of football when you're trying to make a play, but obviously you got to play clean ball on the road.
Q. Why do you think you struggled as much as you did?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, you know, we got into some tough situations there. Ultimately trying to do enough to help your team, tackles, the rush, get the ball out, but just didn't do it enough.
Q. The third down conversions on that last drive by Pittsburgh, all third and long. What do you think the problem was, and can you say about your...
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, the third downs, yeah, you got to get off the field as we know. Something we were able to do in the first game versus them. Just didn't do it enough today on some longer distances, like you mentioned.
But the guys fought like crazy and I'm not going to go there on really any of our coaches. This is about today, and I know we'll talk tomorrow about the season, all those things.
Q. Do you know how bad Jed is? Do you know what the injury was?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: I don't know the severity. We'll get an MRI. Knee.
Q. (Regarding Denzel.) Was it just an aggravation?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, I don't know what play it was, but I think it was an aggravation. He was playing well early.
Q. The fact you guys finished a game worse than last year, you've talked about the disappointment, but if you look back, how disappointing to take a step back?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, sure. Yes, very disappointing. Again, those kind of big picture thoughts are for tomorrow; today, didn't get it done.
Q. In terms of Deshaun in general, how do you think... (indiscernible.) Do you feel like he made some strides today or was it too hard because he was under siege?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: I think that's a tough defense. At their place, as we know, is very difficult. Made some plays, and other times we just got to make a play around them, give them a better play call, all these things. Just wasn't our best really in any facet.
Q. You guys threw more than you ran early. Did you feel that was the way to attack that defense?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, I think when it comes to all these things it's always what you're trying to get to early, what might give you a chance early. We know that's a good front, but looking for opportunities to move the ball really any way we can.
Q. Before the last touchdown drive, feel pretty good about where you were? (Indiscernible.)
KEVIN STEFANSKI: I mean, that's football. Teams answer. I think there were some plays there in longer distances that we were trying to get a stop and force them into a tough one, and just got off the field and punting and they made a couple more plays.
Q. Do you still feel like really good about heading into the future with what you have?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah. Again, I think I can talk more about those type of things tomorrow, but I'll tell you, that locker room fought like crazy. We got guys that wanted to put everything into this one, that work really, really hard, and I'm appreciative of that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports