Nothing compares to this time of year’s crisp, cold air … except refreshing Steelers notes! Yo, Baker Mayfield … the big kids show up at the playground next week, and it’s not your playground.

• There is plenty of time to preview the playoff rematch between the Steelers and Cleveland, but suffice it to say the Browns are toast. The Browns struggled mightily to edge the Steelers’ JV in a game that mattered to the former, not the latter. The Steelers return a rested Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Heyward, Maurkice Pouncey and T.J. Watt. The game is at Heinz Field. Steelers win by 10, maybe more.

• If the Steelers lose, there couldn’t possibly be a more embarrassing conclusion to a season that would be remembered (charitably) as an unmitigated disaster.

• The Steelers offense was more adventurous, vertical and versatile with Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Less predictable, too. It just wasn’t better.

• Rudolph didn’t play bad. His numbers were OK: 22 for 39, 315 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His deep ball was solid. His pocket awareness wasn’t. Rudolph proved himself to be a competent backup. But he’s not good enough to be Roethlisberger’s long-term successor.

• Rudolph looks like the lead heel in an ‘80s teen dramedy. Think William Zabka with dark hair.

• Third-string quarterback Josh Dobbs got some snaps and made a few plays, including a 13-yard-run. Cue the hue and cry for a package that includes Dobbs moving forward. It’s not the worst idea, but here’s betting Roethlisberger thinks it is.

• The Steelers’ best guard (maybe their best offensive lineman) is rookie Kevin Dotson. He should start in the playoffs regardless of who is available. Dotson moves people.

• If Matt Feiler comes off IR for next weekend’s playoff game, he should start at right tackle (if he starts at all). That’s where Feiler played last year. Dotson has outplayed him at left guard. Both of the Steelers’ tackles are rotten. If Feiler can play, sit Chuks Okorafor.

• Chase Claypool made a great fourth-quarter grab for a touchdown but appeared to give up on a catchable deep ball on the first play of the second quarter. JuJu Smith-Schuster caught the Steelers’ final TD, but his celebratory dance hindered getting in the play for the two-point conversion attempt that could have tied the game. More focus might equal more consistency.

• Smith-Schuster is in the last year of his contract, and Claypool has made him expendable. (But the Steelers still should have drafted running back J.K. Dobbins instead.)

• It says here the Steelers averaged a solid 4.3 yards per rush on 20 tries. Is that a typo? Faulty math, perhaps? James Conner got tough yards and showed constant second effort.

• If Alex Highsmith isn’t better than Bud Dupree was as a rookie, he’s close.

• Joe Haden’s absence because of covid won’t help in the rematch. It was costly Sunday. Less is more with Cam Sutton, and any at all is too much with Justin Layne.

• It would have been better if Minkah Fitzpatrick and Stephon Tuitt didn’t tackle anybody. Every time they were around the ball, hearts beat faster. Then Vince Williams left the game. But coach Mike Tomlin cited no significant injuries. That defense can’t afford anybody else hurt. Next weekend’s game will be a lot tougher without Devin Bush, Dupree and Haden.

• Tomlin actually won a coach’s challenge. Huzzah. True, it was on an incredibly bad call, but savor the flavor when we can. Since replay got involved, the refs don’t seem to care if they make a bad call. They rightly figure it’s the camera that makes the final decision.

• Why can there be fans present in Cleveland but not at all NFL stadiums? Did the city, Browns and/or the state of Ohio make a deal with covid?

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