It took big plays by outside linebackers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, but the Steelers got the job done against the Browns last night, defeating their AFC North rivals, 26-22. It was the 21st straight home win on Monday night for the Steelers. Their last loss at home on a Monday night was in 1991.
The defense made big plays all night, including on the very first play from scrimmage, when Highsmith intercepted a Deshaun Watson pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Then in the fourth quarter with the Steelers trailing, 22-19, Highsmith stripped the ball from Watson’s hands and Watt scooped it up and returned it 20 yards for the game-winning score with 6:58 remaining.
In addition to the bookend touchdowns by the defense, the Steelers got a George Pickens 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the second quarter to erase an 11-7 deficit (but failed on a two-point conversion run by Najee Harris). Chris Boswell also kicked two field goals, from 52 and 50 yards.
The Steelers defense yielded 408 yards of total offense, including 198 rushing yards to a Browns offense that played most of the game without star running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a serious knee injury in the second quarter and has already been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Steelers offense struggled again, with only 255 total yards, just 55 of them rushing yards. Kenny Pickett was 15-of-30 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
Steelers injuries included All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was taken to the hospital with a chest injury, and wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, who suffered concussion symptoms.
The Steelers had six sacks in the game, including one by Watt, who set the team’s all-time sack record, at 81-and-a-half, passing James Harrison. The other sacks were by Highsmith, Larry Ogunjobi, DeMarvin Leal, Markus Golden, and Elijah Riley.
Coach Mike Tomlin says it was important to win a division game.
Tomlin says both the offense and the defense need a lot of work.
Watt had four tackles, four quarterback hits, four passes defended, a sack, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He says the Steelers defense takes pride in determining the outcome of games.
Pickett says the Steelers were fortunate to win.
The Steelers play Sunday night against the Raiders in Las Vegas.
