Brissett, Browns rebound from collapse, beat Steelers 29-17
4 days after their gut-wrenching loss, the Browns rebounded by defeating their longtime rivals at dwelling on “Thursday Evening Soccer.” Aided by Nick Chubb and a powerful second half by their protection, the Browns posted a 29-17 victory to maneuver to 2-1 on the season. Pittsburgh, recent off its personal disappointing Week 2 loss, fell to 1-2.
Trailing 14-13 at intermission, the Browns took management of the sport by scoring their first two drives of the second half. The offense was fueled by Chubb, who completed the night time with 113 yards on 23 carries. Cleveland additionally acquired a giant night time from Amari Cooper, whose 32-yard catch on a third-and-1 play arrange Chubb’s 1-yard landing that prolonged the Browns’ result to 23-14 with 9:29 left. The Browns put an exclamation level on the win with Denzel Ward’s defensive rating on the sport’s last play.
After sluggish begins on each side of the ball, the Browns — spearheaded by a 37-yard run by Chubb — struck first on Jacoby Brissett’s 11-yard landing go to Cooper, who completed the night time with 101 yards on seven catches. The Steelers responded with Najee Harris’ 5-yard landing run to start out the second quarter. A balletic, one-handed catch by rookie George Pickens arrange Harris’ landing.
Cleveland countered with David Njoku’s landing catch from Brissett with 8:58 left till halftime. The Steelers took their first lead moments later when Mitch Trubisky scored on a 1-yard landing run. Pittsburgh’s offense began the second half with one other promising drive that finally fizzled shortly after crossing midfield. Pittsburgh, after doing little for many of the second halves, was in a position to mount a late scoring drive that made it a six-point recreation with 1:46 left. A penalty on their ensuing onside kick, nonetheless, allowed the Browns to take advantage of the sport clock right down to 9 seconds.
Heavy winds affected each kicker in the course of the first half. Boswell missed a 53-yard try on Pittsburgh’s second drive. Browns rookie kicker Cade York missed a PAT however made up for it by making his 34-yard area purpose try late within the third quarter to offer Cleveland the lead for good.
Why the Steelers misplaced
Earlier than heading into tonight, Trubisky didn’t have one recreation with over 200 yards passing, however simply made it tonight, with a stat line of 20-for-32 for 211 yards and no touchdowns.
Trubisky has not proven sufficient this season, with some asking if he ought to be benched for rookie QB Kenny Pickett.
On offense, Diontae Johnson was the participant of the night time for the Steelers, with six receptions for 63 yards and a fumble restoration, however did have some key drops. The Steelers offense clearly has lots it still must work on.
The protection was unable to maintain up with Chubb, the most effective operating back within the NFL, who recorded one other 100-yard recreation to his resume.
The protection missed T.J. Watt and traditionally don’t win without him. They’re now 0-6 when Watt is on the sidelines.
Why the Browns received
The Browns got here off a loss the place all three phases of the sport struggled and bounced again with a recreation the place everybody had a serving to hand within the win.
Brissett appeared assured and composed and when wanted was ready to make use of his dashing talents on short-yardage conditions.
Talking of the run recreation, let’s discuss Chubb. Chubb completely demolished the Steeler’s protection, placing up 23 carries for 113 yards and a landing. Since 2018, he had 24 100-yard video games, essentially the most within the league throughout that span.
I used to be additionally impressed by Cooper, who had a rhythm with Brissett and completed the sport with seven catches for 101 yards and a landing.
What sealed the deal for the Browns was the protection retaining the Steelers off the sector and forcing back-to-back three-and-outs towards the top of the sport. The Steelers have been by no means in a position to get well from these two stops, which brings us properly to our turning level of the sport.
(And the rubbish time defensive landing did not harm.)
Turning level
Late within the third quarter, a 35-yard go from Trubisky to Jaylen Warren was referred to as again as a consequence of a penalty on Chukwuma Okorafor. That drive result in a Steelers punt not long after and the Browns responded by scoring an area purpose on their subsequent drive.
With the ball again, the Steelers have been once more not in a position to do something with it, going three-and-out.
The Browns as soon once more responded, this time utilizing 6:35 to go 11 performs for 80 yards and scoring a landing to make it 23-14. On the scoring drive, a number of gamers made an influence and the Browns appeared like they’d full management of the sport and Brissett appeared like he had full management of his offense.
Chubb, who handed over 100 yards on the bottom of this drive, had his fair proportion of rushes, together with one for 16 yards. Cooper got here up large within the air with a 32-yard go to place them in Steelers territory. Chubb was the one to punch it in for a yard on fourth-and-1.
To make issues worse for the Steelers, they responded with one other three-and-out, making it two in a row.
Play the sport
The Steelers didn’t get the win, however they did get the subsequent smartest thing, a function in our “Play of the Recreation” section.
Extensive receiver George Pickens proved why he was the speaker of the Steelers coaching camp with a single catch. Within the first quarter, Pickens made an unimaginable one-handed catch that appeared to defy gravity.
Pickens’ catch got here off a second-and-3 play, with Trubisky tossing one to the precise sideline. The 36-yard catch put the Steelers within the crimson zone and arrange a landing from Najee Harris.
