PITTSBURGH — The Steelers defeated the Browns, 27-6, at Acrisure Stadium in Week 8. With the loss, Cleveland moves to 5-3 this season with a 2-1 AFC North record.
Cleveland struggled to limit the Steelers' rushing attack early in the game, allowing 160 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in the first half. On offense, the Browns were held to two field goals and did not score in the second half.
QB Deshaun Watson finished the game 27 for 39 with 324 yards while TE Harold Fannin Jr. had 10 receptions for 154 yards.
Key Moments
Browns' run defense struggles in first half
The Browns' defense could not contain Pittsburgh's backfield consisting of RB Rico Dowdle and RB Jaylen Warren in the first half. After the Browns fumbled two times on their first two drives, the Steelers quickly established their rushing attack to set an early tone.
Dowdle capped off Pittsburgh's second drive with three carries for 33 yards following a fumble from Watson, finding the end zone to give the Steelers an early lead. After forcing a Browns punt following the touchdown, Warren found a hole for a 51-yard gain to set up an eventual K Chris Boswell field goal that extended the Steelers' advantage.
With 40 seconds remaining in the first half, Warren found a hole for a 23-yard gain to set up the Steelers in Browns' territory. Five plays later, TE Pat Freiermuth found the end zone courtesy of a 1-yard run. The Browns allowed a season-high 160 rushing yards on the ground to the Steelers in the first half.
Offense unable to string together scoring drives
Offensively, the Browns struggled to tally scoring drives, recording points on two of their 12 possesions. The Browns' offense led field goal drives on two of their final three possessions of the first half but were unable to add to their total in the second half.
Cleveland started out the game with two fumbles on their first two drives, and couldn't establish an offensive rhythm. After leading a 12-play drive to Pittsburgh's 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter, the Browns turned the ball over on downs after WR Denzel Boston was ruled out of bounds on a pass to the end zone.
The Browns allowed a season-high eight sacks and were flagged for four holding penalties.
Steelers establish explosive pass game
On the back of key plays through the pass game, the Steelers' offense was able to set up multiple scoring drives. Midway through the second quarter, QB Aaron Rodgers connected with TE Darnell Washington for a 24-yard gain to the Browns' 37-yard line. The play set up the Steelers' second field goal to jump out to a two-possession lead.
At the end of the second quarter, Rodgers found Freiermuth for a 28-yard gain that set to set up the Steelers' second touchdown of the game. Rodgers found TE Darnell Washington for a 58-yard gain down the left sideline early in the third quarter to set Pittsburgh up at Cleveland's 1-yard line. The Steelers punched the ball into the end zone courtesy of a 1-yard run from Warren on the next play.
With those three plays, the Steelers recorded 110 of Rodgers' 172 passing yards in the game. Pittsburgh's tight end duo of Freiermuth and Washington combined for five receptions for 129 yards.
Denzel Ward records third interception of the season
When Rodgers targeted WR DK Metcalf over the middle of the field in the third quarter, CB Denzel Ward wrestled the ball away for his third interception of the season.
With three in the first eight games this season, Ward has tied his career-high single-season interception total. Ward's interception marked the Browns' one turnover in the game.
Video Highlights
S Grant Delpit shuts down screen pass with tackle for loss.
K Andre Szmyt nails 32-yard field goal to put the Browns on the board.
QB Deshaun Watson finds TE Harold Fannin Jr. for 25-yard completion.
DT Adin Huntington sacks QB Aaron Rodgers to force a field goal attempt.
K Andre Szmyt drills 49-yard field late in the second half.
WR KC Concepcion Jr. snags 24-yard catch.
Scoring Plays
CLE 0, PIT 7 | RB Rico Dowdle 9-yard touchdown run | 7:57 Q1
CLE 0, PIT 10 | K Chris Boswell 20-yard field goal | 14:05 Q2
CLE 3, PIT 10 | K Andre Szmyt makes 32-yard field | 8:43 Q2
CLE 3, PIT 13 | K Chris Boswell converts 37-yard field goal | 3:27 Q2
CLE 6, PIT 13 | K Andre Szmyt makes 49-yard field goal | 0:45 Q2
CLE 6, PIT 20 | TE Pat Freiermuth 1-yard touchdown run | 0:01 Q2
CLE 6, PIT 27 | RB Jaylen Warren 1-yard touchdown run | 9:39 Q3
What's Next
The Browns will travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
