The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 18 with their playoff hopes still intact. When they needed help, they had to beat the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium for any other scenario to come to fruition. Outside of playoff hopes, the Steelers were also playing to avoid a losing season. With a win, that would keep Mike Tomlin’s undefeated season streak intact, but the Browns were in Pittsburgh to play spoiler.
The Steelers won the opening toss and opted to postpone their opening possession until the second half. This put Deshaun Watson on the field for the first time as a member of the Browns vs. Browns. their bitter rivals from AFC North.
The Browns practice managed to score a first down before having to throw the ball to the Steelers. Starting at their own 32, Kenny Pickett and the offense took the field and did what they had done in the second half of the season. A time-consuming workout that saw the Steelers run the ball over Cleveland’s porous defense. When Diontae Johnson’s reception took them to the 2-yard line, the Steelers attempted to run it on three straight plays, on the third Najee Harris fumbled and it was picked up by Cleveland at the 5-yard line.
Cleveland again could only get a first down before returning the ball to the Steelers offense. On the first play of practice, a pass from Pickett to Diontae Johnson fumbled, but he was ruled never to have possession and the Steelers retained possession. Training stalled in midfield and Pressley Harvin III was called into action for the first time.
The Browns returned the ball to the Steelers to start the second quarter, but a three-and-out returned the ball directly to Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland offense.
Watson and the offense finally put together a drive, not only getting a first down for the first time, but entering Pittsburgh territory for the first time in the game. The practice was capped off with a pass from Watson to David Njoku for the first score of the game. After the extra point, the score was 7-0 for the Browns with 6:27 left in the first half.
Needing an answer, the Steelers put up their best record since their first record of the season. Pickett passes to Zach Gentry and Jaylen Warren moved the ball into Cleveland territory. Coming out of the two-minute warning, facing a 3rd and a 15th, Pickett hit George Pickens for a nice touchdown pass.
Chris Boswell’s extra point was good, making it 7-7 with 1:47 left in the second quarter.
On the Browns’ second play from the drive that followed, Watson’s pass was intercepted by Levi Wallace.
The Steelers, with 1:11 left in the half and three timeouts remaining, started at their own 46-yard line.
Pittsburgh managed to turn the takeout into points, but it would be a basket from Chris Boswell. After a big pass to George Pickens, the Steelers moved into field goal range, and the veteran was good from 49 to make it 10-7 with 38 seconds left at halftime. This score would stand before half-time.
The Steelers received the ball to start the third quarter, and the offense picked up where it left off. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren started the ground attack, but, as has been far too common this season, when the offense hit the red zone, the drive stalled. Chris Boswell was called again for another field goal, this one from 34 yards, to make it 13-7 with 9:04 left in the third quarter.
Cleveland, thanks to a shrewd scramble from Watson, seemed to move the ball until Damontae Kazee came in front of a third pass and intercepted it.
He set up the offense with terrific field position, and the next drive was Najee Harris entirely. The sophomore put the unit on its back and moved it into the red zone where he capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Chris Boswell’s extra point was good, making it 20-7 with 3:14 left in the third quarter.
The Steelers had the football to start the fourth quarter, but couldn’t add to their point total. In the ensuing Cleveland practice, several big plays, none more than a 36-yard pass to Amari Cooper, moved the Browns into field goal range. When it looked like the Steelers had stopped the Browns on third down, Cam Heyward was called out for roughing up the passer. It breathed new life into Cleveland, and two plays later Watson hit Chubb for his second touchdown of the game. The extra point made it 20-14 with 10:11 to go in regulation time.
Pittsburgh’s next drive could have been their best drive of the game. Huge third conversions to George Pickens and Connor Heyward moved the team into the red zone. When they found themselves in a first-and-goals situation, it was Derek Watt who capped the drive with a touchdown. The drive was 13 plays and 73 yards. The Steelers went for the two-point conversion, and it was good for Diontae Johnson who went 28-14 with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter.
The Browns moved the ball in their last practice, but it all meant nothing as the final score was 28-14, in favor of the home side.
The win brings the Steelers’ record to 9-8 this season, but the Steelers’ playoff hopes were dashed by the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets 11-6 in Week 18. Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest Steelers news and notes as they prepare for the offseason.
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