The 4-0 Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting the 4-1 Cleveland Browns in one of the more meaningful matchups between the two teams in recent memory. The Browns offense has consistently produced points on opposing defenses this year including an impressive 32 point performance against the stingy Indianapolis Colts defense.
Ben Roethlisberger is off to a hot start this season including 10 touchdowns to 1 interception. He will be facing a familiar opponent as his all time record against the Browns is 25-3-1, including a perfect 15-0 at home.
Steelers vs. Browns all time record: 76-59-1
Steelers vs. Browns (at home): 48-21-0
Last match result: 20-13 Steelers (2019)
Notable offseason addition: DT Sheldon Richardson
Notable draft picks: OT Jedrick Wills, S Grant Delpit, DL Jordan Elliot, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Steelers Inactive Players:
WR Diontae Johnson
G David DeCastro
ILB Ulysees Gilbert III
QB Joshua Dobbs
DL Carlos Davis
TE Zach Gentry
Browns Inactive Players:
S Karl Joseph
S Ronnie Harrison
LB Jacob Phillips
G Wyatt Teller
DE Joe Jackson
DE Vincent Taylor
Baker Mayfield is active for the game, but the Browns still have to be cautious.
Nantz, Romo, and Wolfson calling the game today. Great crew!
The Browns won the coin toss and deferred. The Steelers offense will start out the game for the first time in several games. Can they break the streak of not scoring a touchdown on the opening possession?
Ben with a near pick on the 2nd down RPO. He hits James Washington along the left sideline for a nice combat catch and a first down pickup.
Ben went back to James Washington on first, almost another good pickup, but Washington couldn’t bring it in. James Conner was able to pickup the first down the next play showing nice patience and vision.
James Conner getting some nice burn early in the game. James Conner with another first down pickup behind Allejandro Villanueva.
The Steelers are down in the red zone and Ben took a shot to James Washington. Washington was interfered with a bit, but no flag. The next play, a miscommunication and Ben sailed the ball through the end zone. Chris Boswell kicks the field goal for the Steelers. The touchdownless streak continues. 3-0 Steelers.
On first down the Browns hand off to Kareem Hunt who only picks up 1. Baker keeps it on 2nd down and gets them to short and manageable. On 3rd down, Minkah Fitzpatrick jumps the route and gets an interception. He returned the ball to the house for a pick-6. 10-0 Steelers.
The Browns have the ball back and have been unable to move the ball. A 3 yard pickup on 1st down, and then the ball was batted at the line of scrimmage. A big Bud Dupree sack on 3rd down and the Steelers will get the ball back up 10.
The Steelers defense is working as intended for the first time this season. The rush and the coverage complimenting eachother perfectly.
The Steelers drive was a dud, having a misplaced pass to James Washington that didn’t connect followed by a Sheldrick Redwine sack on Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers punted the ball back to the Browns.
Kareem Hunt is finding some room in the running game picking up a couple first downs early in this drive. The Browns have 28 rushing yards on the day.
On 2nd down, the Steelers send the blitz and Devin Bush gets home splitting the sack with Stephon Tuitt. TJ Watt timed the snap perfectly. On 3rd down Baker fires over to Beckham Jr. on the right sideline, but Joe Haden pushes him out of bounds before he can get two feet down. 4th down and the Browns will punt again.
I like Derek Watt in there leading the way for Conner. That 1st down play could have been a nice pickup, but Conner got tripped up in the hole. On 3rd down, Roethlisberger got deflected at the line. Not a good start for Ben, but the defense has stepped up so far. The Steelers punted to the Browns who will get the ball around the 50 yard line to start this drive.
Baker Mayfield and Kareem Hunt pickup the first down on a catch and run for 12 yards. Terrell Edmunds and Vince Williams in on the tackle along the sideline, Hunt picked up the first down after the initial contact.
The Steelers nearly sacked Baker on 3rd, but he escaped and threw the ball away. The Browns lined up to attempt a 4th down conversion, but the Browns had a false start. The Browns will now punt. The Steelers recover around the 12 yard line.
James Conner on a draw breaking some tackles and picking up 15 to get the Steelers some more room to work with. Ben to Juju on the next first down, but a facemask is called against the defense. The Steelers are suddenly almost at midfield after just 2 plays.
Ben goes back to Juju on first down, completed for a pickup of 5. Another completed pass on 2nd down to Eric Ebron crossing the midfield mark and picking up another 1st down. The offense is finding its rhythm after a shaky start. Ben a pass deep left to Chase Claypool. The ball looked like it was overthrown, but Claypool got up under it, flashed the late hands and connected for a large pickup. James Conner took it in the next play for a 3 yard touchdown run. 17-0 Steelers.
A rare holding penalty called as Jack Conklin was all over TJ Watt. Baker Mayfield nearly sacked, but extends the play. Cameron Sutton gets way up in the air to intercept the football.
The Steelers have the ball back around midfield with a chance to put this game away before the 2nd half even begins. Chase Claypool with a nice catch to get them to 3rd and short. Conner was able to pickup the 1st and then some. The very next play Ben to James Washington. Washington with a nice double move and he was wide open in the end zone. Ben Roethlisberger helped create that space as well with an excellent pump fake on the double move. 24-0 Steelers.
Baker Mayfield nearly threw another pick to Joe Haden, but there was some illegal contact. The Browns near field goal range.
Devin Bush is down in some pain with a possible knee. He was able to walk to the sideline with a little limp. Hopefully nothing serious as the ILB position does not have great depth. Marcus Allen or Robert Spillane maybe getting some reps here the rest of the game? Non contact knee injuries are never great, and there is no match to Bush’s athleticism on the roster.
Ulysees Gilbert III was inactive for the day.
The Browns have the ball around the 13 yard line on 2nd and 10. Rashard Higgins wide open in the end zone, easy touchdown for the Browns. 24-7 Steelers.
On 3rd down, James Washington goes out of bounds at the end of his run stopping the clock and forcing the Steelers to punt before the half. The Browns have two timeouts and 00:32 to get some more points.
The Browns crossed the midfield mark on their first play to Jarvis Landry, but a holding erases the play. Landry still held to 0 catches on the day.
Back to Jarvis Landry on the next play. He was able to make up the penalty yardage and get out of bounds to stop the clock. The Browns went across the middle of the field to Austin Hooper, but Robert Spillane tackled the catch. The Browns had to burn a timeout. 00:15 to go in the half around the 50 yard line.
A Devin Bush update, he is questionable to return with a knee injury. A good initial sign that he wasn’t immediately ruled out.
Baker held on to the ball a little too long. Bud Dupree around Mayfield’s ankles while Cameron Heyward delivered a huge blow. Mayfield appears to be in a little discomfort on the sideline.
Steelers end the half up 24-7. The Browns will receive the ball after halftime.
Join us in the 2nd half thread here.
