The Steelers’ 24-19 loss to Cleveland on a snowy night left the team frustrated and angry, especially since they seemingly had the game in the bag before it all fell apart.
Pittsburgh rallied to erase a 12-point deficit and take a 19-18 lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Calvin Austin with six minutes and fifteen seconds left in the fourth quarter, but after Donte Jackson intercepted a pass, the offense couldn’t drain the clock and Corliss Waitman’s 15-yard punt gave the Browns one last chance for a game-winning drive from the Steelers’ 45 yard line. They used it to score the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run by Nick Chubb with under a minute to play.
Jameis Winston went 18-of-27 for 219 yards, including a crucial third-down 15-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy after the Steelers accepted a five-yard penalty at their 26 instead of forcing a fourth down. Winston ran for one touchdown and Chubb ran for two.
Russell Wilson was 21-of-28 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown for the Steelers, but it was a night of inconsistency for the offense. Justin Fields took some snaps in a special run-pass option scheme and provided a spark, but his different cadence led to a motion penalty and he also failed on a fourth-and-two run from the Browns’ 38. Jaylen Warren had a three-yard touchdown run but also was stopped on fourth-and-one from the Steelers’ 46. Chris Boswell even missed a field goal, although it was a 59-yarder attempt that went wide in the swirling winds.
In the end, says coach Mike Tomlin, the Browns simply played better than the Steelers.
The loss stopped a five-game Steelers winning streak. Tomlin says they can’t dwell on it, because they have a brutal schedule the rest of the way starting with a home game against the Bengals next week.
Russell Wilson says it was a lost opportunity for the Steelers.
Wilson says the Steelers switch to Justin Fields was not about his play, but about using the talents Fields brings to the table.
Wide receiver Van Jefferson left the game in the first quarter with a quadriceps injury. His was the only injury of note in the game. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen briefly left the game with a leg injury but returned. Nick Herbig started at outside linebacker in place of the injured Alex Highsmith, and Herbig forced a fumble for the second straight game.
After playing the Bengals on December 1st, the Steelers get another shot at the Browns on the 8th. Then they close the schedule with five tough games, against the Eagles on the 15th, the Ravens on the 21st, the Chiefs on Christmas Day, and the Bengals again on January 5th.
