Browns reduce Steelers lead with Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb link
Cleveland’s miserable season ends today in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers have minimal postseason hopes.
Cleveland (7-9) has won four of its last six games yet missed the playoffs. The Browns’ win at Washington eliminated the Commanders from the playoffs. Pittsburgh (8-8) has won three straight and five of six to keep postseason chances alive.
Cleveland is the Steelers’ first playoff test. The Patriots and Dolphins must lose for them to claim the AFC’s last wild card.
Live updates of today’s game are here.
Nick Chubb joins Jim Brown with 1,500 running yards, cutting Browns’ deficit to 20-14.
Deshaun Watson scrambled and delivered a 2-yard touchdown throw to Nick Chubb with 10:11 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Steelers’ lead to 20-14.
Chubb joins Jim Brown as the only Browns players with 1,500 rushing yards in a season.
Steelers score on Deshaun Watson’s second interception
Damontae Kazee intercepted Watson’s second ball after colliding with rookie WR David Bell. Kazee’s interception put the Steelers at the Cleveland 25 with 5:42 left in the third.
Six plays later, the Steelers scored. Najee Harris scored a 4-yard touchdown with 3:12 left in the third quarter, putting the Steelers up 20-7.
Myles Garrett ties the Browns’ single-season sack record, but the Steelers win 13-7.
The second-half opener was exciting.
Chris Boswell’s 34-yard field goal with 9:04 left in the third quarter gave the Steelers a 13-7 lead.
Myles Garrett sacked Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett on third-and-9 from the 10. Garrett tied his single-season record with 16 sacks in 2021.
Garrett’s bio:
Star defender ties single-season sack record for Browns
Browns trail 10-7 at halftime following a Deshaun Watson interception.
Browns gave Steelers the ball after they knotted the game 7-7.
Watson tried to pass to Bell despite three defenders. Levi Wallace intercepted Watson’s throw from Bell.
In the second quarter, the Steelers took over at their 44. Boswell’s 48-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the half turned the takeaway into a 10-7 lead. Halftime score: 0-0.
Kenny Pickett’s touchdown pass to George Pickens ties the game.
The Steelers replied soon after the Browns scored in a low-scoring first half.
The Steelers scored with 1:47 left in the second quarter on Pickett’s 31-yard pass to rookie George Pickens.
Third-and-15, the Browns blew coverage, helping the Steelers. Pickens ran free when Johnson III and Green failed to communicate.
Deshaun Watson and David Njoku score for Cleveland Browns (7-0).
Browns scored first.
Watson and David Njoku connected for a 10-yard touchdown throw with 6:27 left in the second quarter, and Cade York added the extra point.
The play finished a 10-play, 71-yard drive after a vital third-down conversion.
On third-and-1 from Pittsburgh’s 22, the Browns called on Watson’s backup, Jacoby Brissett. Brissett pitched to Chubb, who gained 12 yards and a first down.
Next, the Browns scored.
Deion Jones forces Najee Harris to fumble at the goal line.
On Pittsburgh’s first drive, Harris dove over the goal line. Why? The football wasn’t his. Alex Wright recovered the ball after linebacker Deion Jones appeared to knock it from Harris’ hands.
Diontae Johnson caught a 33-yard pass while being blanketed by Denzel Ward. Five straight run plays started the Steelers’ drive.
In the first quarter, neither team scored.
The Steelers should have challenged the first-down play before Harris’ fumble.
Denzel Ward, Reggie Ragland injured for Browns
Ward afterwards sat out the opening half. His shoulder ailment made him uncertain.
Reggie Ragland left the sideline tent with medical professionals late in the first half. Shoulder injury.
Denzel Ward, Reggie Ragland injured for Browns
Ward afterwards sat out the opening half. His shoulder ailment made him uncertain.
Reggie Ragland left the sideline tent with medical professionals late in the first half. Shoulder injury.
Ward and Ragland didn’t return in the third quarter.
The Browns announced before halftime that Kareem Hunt had a head injury. Hunt’s return was doubtful. Hunt returned eventually.
Pregame info:
Browns, Steelers honour Damar Hamlin
Before Sunday’s game, players honoured Damar Hamlin, first responders, and medical carers. Hamlin had a heart episode as Buffalo’s starting quarterback against the Bengals on Monday.
Several Browns coaches wear Hamlin t-shirts.
Hamlin:
In a team meeting, a Browns safety expressed relief to the Bills.
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