The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 27-14 at Acrisure Stadium with a win that improved this season’s record to 10-3 and boosted Mike Tomin’s regular season home record against the Browns to 19-0.
And they earned this win after finding out 90 minutes before kickoff that their biggest offensive weapon, George Pickens, would miss the game.
How was Pittsburgh able to pull off this win? The Steelers won because each individual link reinforced the strength the whole chain and by capitalizing on Cleveland’s mistakes.
Russell Wilson fires away. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
Slim Pickings with Out Pickens to Start
Even at their very best, the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers do not field an offense that makes many Fantasy Football owners happy. Twice they’ve had to rely on a six-pack of Chris Boswell field goals for their only points.
Further complicating matters, as the season has evolved it has become clear that they have a run-based offense without a dominant running back.
But through grit, opportunism and both smart and timely playmaking, the Steelers offense has gotten it done more often than not. And they’ve done it with only one true blue chip wide receiver, named George Pickens (with all due respect to Calvin Austin’s improved play of late.)
- What would the Steelers do if they lost Pickens?
During the first 30 minutes Steelers Nation found out, and the results were not pretty.
- Three of the Steelers first four possessions ended with three and outs
- They did manage a field goal, thanks 27 yards rushing by Najee Harris
- Late in the half they managed another field goal on another drive that stalled
The Steelers managed to take a 13 to 7 lead into the locker room at the break, but that was in spite of not because of their offense.
Mr. Smith Goes to the Locker Room, Makes Adjustments
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith quick on his feet. The Steelers came out on their first possession of the second half looked like a new unit.
- Jaylen Warren ripped off runs of 14 and 4 yards and caught a 14 yard pass
- Russell Wilson evaded pressure on 3rd down and fired off a 21 yard pass to Pat Freiermuth
In the Red Zone Wilson executed a picture-perfect fake to Warren, which the Browns defense
Mike Williams hauls in a catch. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
bought hook-line-and-sinker only to hit Van Jefferson for an 11 yard touchdown.
On their next drive, Smith served up more of the same.
- With excellent field position he fed the ball twice to Harris (why not give it to Warren?)
- Then Wilson hit Mike Williams for a beautiful 22 yard completion or 3rd and 6
- Two plays later and Wilson found Freiermuth in the middle for a 20 yard touchdown
When all was said and done, Wilson hit 9 different receivers. None of them had any more than 3 catches and no one even broke the 50-yard mark. All on a day where the Steelers only totaled 120 yards on the ground.
Nonetheless, they put 27 points on the board. They also had help from the Browns. And their own defense.
Capitalizing on Cleveland’s Mistakes
A big part of winning in football hinges on capitalizing on your opponent’s mistakes. A converse, but underappreciated element of that dynamic is preventing your opponent from taking advantage of your own errors
- The Steelers did both in the win over the Browns.
Pittsburgh opened the second half by gift-wrapping the Browns a golden opportunity to get right back in the game.
- Jerome Ford took the opening kick off 56 yards, bringing the Browns to Pittsburgh’s 39
- Patrick Queen and T.J. Watt stopped Nick Chubb for 3, but Joey Porter Jr. got flagged for 15
The Browns had the ball at the 18, but only managed 6 yards before getting pushed back 10 thanks to a penalty. From their Jameis Winston fumbled the snap and ended up throwing the ball away.
- Dustin Hopkins missed a 43-yard field goal attempt
- This came after missing on a 38-yarder to end the first half
Those six points wouldn’t have made the difference for the Browns, but they would have dramatically altered the game’s dynamic in Cleveland’s favor.
- As it was, the Browns couldn’t stop shooting themselves in the foot.
Cam Heyward sacks Jameis Winson. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla
The opened the 4th quarter by reaching the Steelers 20. A Cam Heyward sack and a taunting penalty forced them to punt. Earlier in the game the Browns had a 4th and 1. For the record were 3 of 4 on 4th down, but on this attempt Elandon Roberts blew up a play for a 5 yard loss. The Steelers scored their 2nd touchdown of the half on the ensuing possession.
- The turnover battle told a similar tale.
In the second quarter the Steelers only needed 5 plays to transform a Keeanu Benton into the game’s first touchdown and the lead. Late in the 4th quarter, with the Browns having just scored and Steelers looking to run out the clock Cordarrelle Patterson fumbled the ball.
Cleveland took over at Pittsburgh’s 50, Jerome Ford ripped off an 11 yard run and the Browns had four minutes and a fresh set of downs to make it a one score game. But DeShon Elliott tipped a Jameis Winston pass, and James Pierre picked it off.
The Browns actually forced a Pittsburgh punt, and theoretically had yet another chance to make a go of it.
Kadarius Toney muffed the punt and Ben Skowronek executed a perfect dive recovering the ball. Three Najee Harris runs and one first down later, and Russell Wilson was kneeling in the victory formation.
Crucial AFC North Win as The Road Gets Tougher
While the home dominance over the Browns is nice, the win improves the Steelers record to 3-1 in the AFC North and gives them another Conference victory. Those could be crucial tie-breakers as the Steelers head to Philly next week where wins have eluded them since 1965, then play against Lamar Jackson in Baltimore followed by Kanas City at Christmas.
