Playing at home in beautiful weather following a cold week in Pittsburgh, the Steelers started slow on offense but finished strong to avenge their loss of two weeks prior to the Browns in Cleveland.
The opening drive began with a TJ Watt tackle for a loss on the running back, hitting him right as he received the handoff from quarterback Jameis Winston. Alex Highsmith followed with a sack to force a punt from deep in the endzone. The Steelers drive stalled though, and they settled for a 30-yard field goal from Chris Boswell.
The Browns responded with a 35-yard touchdown catch by Jerry Jeudy, and the first quarter ended with a 7-3 Browns lead. But the momentum shifted dramatically and decisively near the beginning of the second quarter when Steelers nose tackle Keeanu Benton intercepted a screen pass at the line and returned it 11 yards, setting up a drive that would end in a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Najee Harris. The Steelers would never look back after adding another 54-yard field goal from Boswell and making their lead 13-7 at the half.
The Browns were hampered by two missed field goals from kicker Dustin Hopkins, sailing wide from 38 yards just before the half and a 43-yard miss to open the second half.
Russell Wilson found his rhythm in the second half, with touchdown passes of 10 yards to Van Jefferson and 20 yards to Pat Freiermuth, finishing the day 15 of 26 for 158 yards and no turnovers.
With 7:19 remaining in the 4th quarter, the Browns showed some life when Winston found tight end David Njoku for a 15-yard touchdown, bringing the Browns within two scores. The Browns then recovered a Cordarelle Patterson fumble on the ensuing drive. However, Jameis Winston was intercepted by Steelers cornerback James Pierre two plays later, effectively icing the game.
The Steelers travel across the state to Philadelphia for a matchup with the 11-2 Eagles with a 4:25pm eastern kickoff. The Browns face the 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs at home in Cleveland at 1:00pm.
🔝 plays in our win over the Browns 💪
📺: #PITvsPHI 12/15 at 4:25 PM ET on FOX pic.twitter.com/zn7xvBJmtd
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 9, 2024
