The Steelers put together a touchdown-scoring drive that lasted nearly ten minutes in the first quarter. But then, in the second quarter, it was all Cleveland, as they scored three consecutive touchdowns to go up 21-7. Pittsburgh tried chipping away over the rest of the game, as a few Browns turnovers helped keep them in it. Mid-way through the fourth quarter, a field goal by the Browns extended the team’s lead back to eight points. Then, it was up to the defense to finish the game.
The defense did
their job at first, but then it was up to the offense to close it out. They were on their way to doing that, but then Watson missed a wide open target that could have sealed the game essentially. Instead, Pittsburgh got the ball back, Rodgers got hot, and had Pittsburgh in the red zone. On a fourth down, a pass interference flag kept them alive, and they got the touchdown and two-point try to tie things up at 24-24.
Instead of going to overtime, though, K Andre Szmyt drilled a field goal from 56 yards out to put the Browns up 27-24 with ten seconds to go. Cleveland held on and improved to 3-1 — holding sole possession of first place in the AFC North for the moment.
Let’s get to the full game recap.
1st Quarter – Steelers vs. Browns
The Browns received the opening kickoff, but a holding penalty made them start further back. Cleveland started with three positive plays, but it ultimately led to a 4th-and-1, and head coach Todd Monken wasn’t willing to gamble early. After P Corey Bojorquez’ quick punt, Pittsburgh began at the 22 yard line. It looked like Pittsburgh might go three-and-out too, but on 3rd-and-11, a quick screen to WR DK Metcalf picked up 15 yards and a first down.
A few plays later, on 3rd-and-3, QB Aaron Rodgers got rid of it quick again to Metcalf for 7 yards and another first down. He was flagged for a taunt after the play, though, which pushed Pittsburgh back by 15 yards but kept it a 1st-and-10. Rodgers kept keeping things simple, checking it down to RB Jaylen Warren for an open 11-yard gain into Cleveland territory. A few plays later, after a run by Pittsburgh, DT Mason Graham was down on the ground, with trainers tending to him. He walked off under his own power, but was taken to the blue medical tent, with Pittsburgh having a first down at the Browns’ 38 yard line.
Two plays later, DT Maliek Collins collapsed the pocket and nailed Rodgers for a sack, setting up 3rd-and-16. Rodgers checked it down to a receiver, but three penalties were called on the defense, with the one being accepted being a roughing the passer shove called on Collins to give Pittsburgh at first down at the 20 yard line. A few plays later, on 3rd-and-1, a run moved the chains to set up 1st-and-goal at the 9 yard line.
Two plays later, a flip to the motion man, WR Roman Wilson, along with blocks on the edge to seal it, resulted in a 12-yard touchdown pass that gave Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead. It was 17-play, 73-yard drive that took up almost 10 minutes of clock.
The Browns began their next drive at the 35 yard line after a touchback, and came out aggressive. QB Deshaun Watson found WR KC Concepcion for a 21 yard gain.
Watson then delivered two deep balls to WR Denzel Boston. Both were very well thrown balls, but the rookie couldn’t haul either one in. The second of the two passes also had clear pass interference from the Steelers defender, but the referee did not throw a flag, forcing a punt. Bojorquez got off a beauty that WR Malachi Corley downed at the 1 yard line.
Unfortunately, before they could take advantage of the Steelers being pinned back, DE Jared Verse was flagged for encroachment, and a run by Warren followed by a pass to Warren set up a 2nd-and-1 at the 23 yard line to end the quarter.
2nd Quarter – Steelers vs. Browns
Two plays into the second quarter, Rodgers made a terrible decision and was picked off on a downfield throw by CB Denzel Ward — although to Ward’s credit, it was a great read by him too. Cleveland took over at their own 44 yard line.
A short run by RB Quinshon Judkins for 3 yards was followed by a quick out to an open TE Harold Fannin for 13 yards into Pittsburgh territory. A crossing route to Judkins added 12 more yards to the Steelers 28 yard line. On 1st-and-10, who would’ve guessed that RB Jaleel McLaughlin would get the handoff, make a nice move at the perimeter, and go 28 yards for the touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 — Cleveland’s first rushing touchdown of the year.
The defense held Pittsburgh to a three-and-out and a quick punt. On the first play of their third series, Watson found Boston wide open for a big catch-and-run for 60 yards to the Steelers 14 yard line.
A quick hitter to Concepcion for 5 yards was followed by a slip screen to Judkins for 7 yards, to the 2 yard line. Judkins finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Browns up 14-7.
Pittsburgh got a big run for 24 yards from Warren on the next drive. Pittsburgh worked their way into scoring range, but then DE Isaiah McGuire sacked Rodgers on 3rd-and-4, back to the 30 yard line. K Chris Boswell came on for a 47 yard field goal and missed it to the left!
A few plays later, a screen pass to Concepcion worked for 25 yards, as he weaved in and out of traffic. Cleveland had favorable timing, getting inside the red zone and then a goal-to-goal situation with under two minutes to go. On 3rd-and-goal from the 2 yard line, DE T.J. Watt jumped offsides, but it didn’t matter, as Watson quickly hit TE Harold Fannin for a 2-yard touchdown to put the Browns up 21-7.
Needing a big play, Rodgers found Wilson wide open up the seam, and then he weaved through traffic to the tune of 49 yards. DT Mike Hall also was helped off the field with an injury. The defense still held tough after that, though, holding Boswell to a 31-yard field goal to make it a 21-10 game at the half.
3rd Quarter – Steelers vs. Browns
Pittsburgh got the ball to begin the second half. Unlike their lengthy first half drive, this one was quick: a three-and-out with two stuffed runs and an incomplete pass. The punt, though, paired with a hold by the Browns, pinned Cleveland back to the 4 yard line. They got some breathing room with one first down, but then had to punt after that.
Pittsburgh then went three-and-out, as DT Adin Huntington sacked Rodgers on third down to force a punt. Cleveland started their next drive at the 16 yard line, but runs of 7 yards by Watson, 9 yards by Judkins, 6 yards by RB Raheim Sanders, and 9 yards by Judkins helped get the ball out toward midfield. We even got a sighting from WR Jerry Jeudy — his first catch in 3 weeks — for 9 yards and a first down. Then came the first mistake of the game for Cleveland offensively, and it cost them — Watson kept the ball on a zone read, but Watt wasn’t fooled and punched the ball loose for a fumble, and the Steelers recovered at midfield with 4:13 to go in the third quarter.
Despite starting near midfield, when Pittsburgh was on the verge of field goal range, the returning Hall came up the middle for a 10-yard sack to take them out of field goal range, forcing a punt! The punt went to the end zone for a touchback.
The Browns ran the ball twice to set up a 3rd-and-3 heading to the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter – Steelers vs. Browns
Cleveland converted on the ground with a run to move the chains. Then, Watson tried to launch a deep ball to Boston, but it looked like he didn’t get enough on it, and it was intercepted in a contested situation with Boston. However, one defender dragged Boston down, so pass interference was called. Head coach Mike McCarthy threw the red challenge flag, though, because DE Jack Sawyer actually tipped the pass, which negated the pass interference and preserved the interception for Pittsburgh at the 23 yard line (essentially a long punt).
Rodgers found Metcalf from the slot on a deep pass for 43 yards, into Cleveland territory.
On the next play, DE Sam Williams got to Rodgers for the team’s fifth sack, making it 2nd-and-16 at the Browns’ 36 yard line. A swing pass to Warren got most of what they needed, though, setting up a 3rd-and-1 at the 23 yard line as S Grant Delpit was a little shaken up. Warren moved the chains on the ground. On the next play, Rodgers got out from the pocket and got off a perfect pass to TE Darnell Washington in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown to make it a 21-16 game. Pittsburgh went for two, but LB Quincy Williams immediately denied the pass in the flat to keep it a five point game with 10:10 to go in the game.
Corley returned the kickoff to the 34 yard line, with the offense now looking to shake off back-to-back turnovers. It didn’t start well, though, as Watson was sacked on first down for a loss of 4 yards by Watt after he couldn’t find anyone. A quick hitter to Judkins in the slot then set up 3rd-and-4. Watson scrambled away from a defender and took off for 21 yards, but fans saw a yellow flag and thought it was coming back. It turns out that it was a defensive hold, so it added five yards and put the ball at the Steelers’ 34 yard line.
Cleveland then faced a 3rd-and-9. Watson juked through traffic to gain some yards, had the ball poked away, but thankfully fell back on top of it. On 4th-and-2, K Andre Szmyt came on from 44 yards out, and he drained it right down the middle to make it a 24-16 game with 6:37 to go.
Pittsburgh ran the ball on first down, but then Rodgers threw two incomplete passes and they opted to punt with 5:40 to go. Unfortunately, the Steelers’ 62-yard punt was downed beautifully at the 1 yard line, putting pressure now on Cleveland not to risk a safety, which would then give Pittsburgh an opportunity to take a lead with a score.
The Browns ran a quarterback sneak on first down to get a yard of breaking room. On 2nd-and-9, Watson lined up in Shotgun and hit Boston on the quick slant for 15 yards and a first down. Two short gains by Judkins set up 3rd-and-9, and then unfortunately, as Watson rolled to his left and found Fannin wide open, he missed him, forcing a punt. Bojorquez blasted it 81 yards to the end zone for a touchback with 3:32 to go.
Rodgers started the drive with a 13-yard connection to Wilson. On the next play, Rodgers and Metcalf connected on a tightly contested pass for 22 yards, now into Cleveland territory at the 45 yard line. A few plays later, Rodgers connected again with Metcalf on a perfect pass over Campbell for 27 yards, down to the 12 yard line with 2:09 to go.
A delay of game by Pittsburgh made it 1st-and-15 at the 17 yard line. A short completion for 5 yards made it 2nd-and-10 at the 11 yard line at the two-minute warning. Rodgers’ second down pass to Washington was contested and incomplete, setting up third down. On third down, he had the big man open up the seam but missed him, setting up fourth down for the game. They went for Washington again, and the ball was jarred free, but S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was flagged for pass interference, putting the ball at the 3 yard line. Rodgers ran a playaction fake and then hit Freiermuth for the 3-yard touchdown, making it 24-22 with 1:42 to go.
Now came the all-important two-point conversion. Verse jumped offsides, putting the ball at the 1 yard line. With the shorter distance, Rodgers kept it for the quarterback sneak and it was good to tie the game at 24-24.
Now, suddenly, it was back on the Browns’ offense to try to win the game in regulation. Watson zipped a contested 17-yard pass in to Jeudy, but then on the next play, OG Zion Johnson had a false start to make it 1st-and-15. Watson found Fannin for 12 yards to get to midfield, facing a 2nd-and-3. A crossing route to Jeudy went for 10 yards to the Steelers’ 40 yard line with 0:49 to go and two timeouts. A 6-yard strike to Concepcion got the ball to the 34 yard line, and now Pittsburgh called a timeout. Watson held the ball and was sacked for a loss of 4 yards, with the ball now at the 38 yard line. On 3rd-and-8, Watson’s pass was high and incomplete with 0:15 left, sending Szmyt out for a 56-yard field goal try.
The kick was up, and it was…DRILLED with room to spare! That put the Browns on top 27-24 with 0:10 to go, and the Steelers having one timeout.
Rodgers tries launching one downfield, but it was picked off by Delpit with a second to go — ballgame!
Quick Hitters
- QB Deshaun Watson: 24-of-33 for 268 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. 7 rushes, 22 yards, 1 fumble.
- RB Quinshon Judkins: 17 carries, 53 yards. 6 catches, 43 yards.
- WR Denzel Boston: 4 catches, 89 yards.
- WR KC Concepcion: 5 catches, 64 yards.
- TE Harold Fannin: 3 catches, 27 yards, 1 TD.
- 5 sacks for the Browns’ defense.
Up next, the Browns have an extended break before they travel to New York to take on the Jets in Week 5.
