Just two weeks after the Pittsburgh Steelers were upset in the snow by the Cleveland Browns, they are having a rematch in Pittsburgh. Things should look a little different this time without the weather, allowing both teams to open up their offense and defensive backs won’t be slipping and sliding in their cuts as they attempt to stick with receivers.
Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson are both coming off games with over 400 passing yards. Winston nearly had 500 in his loss, including two pick-sixes. The Browns have looked much more dangerous with Winston, and there is plenty of motivation on both sides. The Steelers are looking to avoid getting swept by the Browns for the first time since 1988. The Browns would like nothing more than to play spoiler and there’s plenty of bulletin-board material from George Pickens a couple weeks ago — and last Friday.
T.J. Watt had a quiet game last time, and then had to hear Myles Garrett claim the Defensive Player of the Year conversation starts with him. You can bet Watt will be looking to have a big game after that. He is one or two big games away from being right back in the sack-crown race and having a real shot at winning DPOY once again.
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George Pickens was expected to play with them testing out his hamstring before the game, but he is inactive. This will be a big challenge for the Steelers. Where will the big plays come from? Will Mike Williams finally get involved?
Steelers Inactives
QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
WR George Pickens
DB Cory Trice Jr.
OG Max Scharping
DE Dean Lowry
Browns Inactives
QB Bailey Zappe (3rd QB)
WR Cedric Tillman
RB D’Onta Foreman
CB Chigozie Anusiem
WR Jamari Thrash
DT Sam Kamara
DE James Houston
START OF GAME
The Steelers will start with the ball after losing the toss.
Russell Wilson got them on the hard count to make it 1st and 5. The Steelers got a three-and-out after a positive run on first down. Not a great start.
1st and 10, and you bet T.J. Watt is in for a big day for a loss of 5. Heavy pressure on second down and Winston threw the ball away. 3rd and 15, Alex Highsmith sacked him for a loss of 7. The Steelers’ defense is on fire already. Great to see Highsmith get two pressures and a sack to start the game after returning from injury.
The Steelers have great field position after a short punt.
1st and 10, Najee Harris rushed for 20 yards with a massive hole and some great blocking by receivers.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3 in the red zone, Harris toss inside run for 2 yards. 3rd and 1, it was converted on the QB sneak, but illegal formation backs them up. This could be another example of shooting themselves in the foot in the red zone. Russell Wilson tried to make a throw with an awkward arm angle and it bounced off Mason McCormick’s helmet. Chris Boswell nailed the short field goal. 3-0 Steelers.
1st and 10, Jerome Ford off right tackle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Nick Chubb up the middle for 7 yards.
1st and 10, Chubb toss for no gain with T.J. Watt making the stop with Keeanu Benton. 2nd and 10, complete to Elijah Moore over the middle for 20 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete intended for David Njoku. Damontae Kazee nearly picked it. 2nd and 10, complete to Jerome Ford in the flat with a tackle by Payton Wilson for just one. Great play by the rookie. 3rd and 9, Winston on the run and complete to Jerry Jeudy for a touchdown. Unacceptable by the defense to allow Winston to get out of the pocket like that, and three guys around Jeudy in coverage. 7-3 Browns.
Minkah Fitzpatrick lost track of him.
1st and 10, complete to Cordarrelle Patterson behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 2. 2nd and 12, complete to Scotty Miller for 8 yards. 3rd and 4, Wilson threw the ball away. Another three-and-out. Intentional grounding called way after the fact. Replay assist isn’t supposed to be able to add penalties, so not sure how a penalty came a full minute later. The punt went just 38 yards to the Browns’ 37-yard line.
1st and 10, Watt tackled Chubb for a gain of 4 up the middle. 2nd and 6, Winston incomplete with all kinds of time to throw. Good coverage by the Steelers. 3rd and 6, Donte Jackson tackled Moore well short of the line to gain. Alex Highsmith barely hit Winston, but they called roughing the passer. Land Clark is truly calling an awful game and it’s just begun.
1st and 10, Chubb up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, incomplete to Jeudy with Porter in coverage. Delay of game backs them up. 3rd and 13, Winston complete to Njoku for 6 yards. The punt went 31 yards to the 10.
Larry Ogunjobi was injured and is questionable to return with a groin. With Dean Lowry out, Isaiahh Loudermilk is going to need a big game.
1st and 10, quick pass to Scotty Miller for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Harris toss for a loss of 1. 3rd and 2, Wilson incomplete to Miller. The offense has negative rhythm so far.
1st and 10, Ford around left end for a loss of 1. Elandon Roberts absolutely blew that up with a huge hit.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 7-3 BROWNS
Ogunjobi is back in the game.
2nd and 10, Winston incomplete. 3rd and 10, incomplete to Woods. The punt went for a touchback.
1st and 10, Wilson tossed the ball away. 2nd and 10, Warren tackled for a loss of 4. 3rd and 14, Wilson scrmabled for 8 yards. The offense looks lost.
The punt went 48 yards, returned 19 yards by Kadarius Toney to the 47. Great field position for the Browns. The Steelers are losing in every phase right now.
Keeanu Benton nearly just got a pick-six, but he did get the timely interception on first down.
1st and 10, Wilson missed Calvin Austin III badly on the quick pass. 2nd and 10, Patterson up the middle for 3 yards. Wilson went deep on 3rd and 7 and nobody was in the area. That’s because Austin was interfered with heavily by Greg Newsome II.
1st and 10, Wilson to Freiermuth for 7 yards. 2nd and 3 from the 5-yard line, Wilson scrambled for 4 yards to convert.
Najee Harris made one cut and barreled through for a touchdown. Connor Heyward made a nice block there. 10-7 Steelers.
That is how you score in the red zone, and also great complementary football to score off the interception.
1st and 10, Winston threw the ball away with Watt in his face. 2nd and 10, Ford gained five yards around the right end out of bounds. 3rd and 5, Winston threw the ball away. I think Winston is a little guy shy after that interception. The punt went 55 yards, returned 9 yards to the 19.
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Warren bounced off a tackle for 6 yards. 3rd and 2, Wilson read option for 6 yards.
1st and 10, Warren is a bowling ball through the Browns’ defense for 12 yards.
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Harris up the middle for 2 yards. 3rd and 1, Wilson sneak to convert.
1st and 10, complete to Mike Williams for 26 yards, but Williams called for offensive pass interference. 1st and 20, Wilson complete to Warren for 11 yards. 2nd and 9, Warren hit hard as he tried to catch for an incomplete. 3rd and 9, complete to Williams for 7 yards. Are they going for the deep field goal? The 54-yard field goal is good. Automatic. 13-7 Steelers.
Winston pulled the option and ran it for 11 yards on 1st down.
1st and 10, Chubb up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Winston sacked by Cam Heyward for a loss of 6. Timeout by the Steelers. 3rd and 12, complete to Akins for 14 yards on the run. The Alex Highsmith spin made that possible. Probably not worth it on the long 3rd down.
1st and 10, Ford off righ ttackle for 7 yards.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
2nd and 3, Ford up the middle for 5 yards.
1st and 10, Winston complete to Njoku for no gain. 2nd and 10, Winston complete to Woods for 12 yards and out of bounds to stop the clock.
1st and 10, Winston shovel pass for 3 yards. Timeout by the Browns. 2nd and 7, Winston missed Njoku in the end zone. 3rd and 7, another deep incompletion to Njoku. Great pass breakup by DeShon Elliott. The field goal is no good.
The Steelers ran a couple plays, but nothing major. Though another completion to Williams for those keeping track.
END OF 1ST HALF: 13-7 STEELERS
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