Loads of individuals figured that Sunday night time’s rematch between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers may be one-sided. Few anticipated the Browns to be those delivering the beat-down. The tone was set from the very starting within the last matchup of Tremendous Wild-Card Weekend, with Ben Roethlisberger failing to corral a wayward snap on the primary play from scrimmage and the Browns scooping it up for a rating. Cleveland then proceeded to personal the momentum throughout the primary half, capitalizing on three Roethlisberger interceptions to construct a surprising 28-point lead. The Steelers confirmed loads of life down the stretch, pulling inside two scores and threatening a comeback because of a Large Ben resurgence, however by then, it was too little, too late, and Cleveland sealed its first playoff victory since 1994 with a 48-37 resolution.
The Steelers got here into Sunday night time’s affair with historical past on their aspect; they’ve constantly taken care of enterprise in opposition to the Browns at residence, together with earlier this season with a 38-7 rout of Cleveland. However nearly nothing went their manner early on of their newest showdown with the Browns, who deflected two passes for picks, neutered each different piece of the Steelers’ offensive assault, and embraced the possibility to let Baker Mayfield play it cool and lean on the battering duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Even later within the matchup, when Roethlisberger undoubtedly turned it up a notch and began discovering JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool for essential positive aspects, a lot of Pittsburgh’s manufacturing felt nestled in rubbish time.
A fourth Browns interception late within the fourth quarter sealed the deal for Cleveland, which hadn’t made the postseason previous to Sunday night time since 2002, making certain the Browns a visit to face the reigning Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs within the Divisional Spherical — all after upsetting their AFC North rivals with out the assistance of their head coach, All-Professional left guard, No. 1 broad receiver and prime two cornerbacks. In different phrases, Sunday night time was an incredible one for the longtime AFC North cellar-dwellers.
Here is a full breakdown of what transpired on Sunday night time.
Why the Browns received
The Browns performed distinctive complementary soccer. Their protection pressured turnovers, and their offense principally capitalized on them. And after the Browns’ protection began the fourth quarter with a punt, Chubb and the Browns offense prolonged their lead. After the Steelers responded with a fast landing, the Browns’ offense scored a pivotal three factors earlier than kicking one other area objective after Roethlisberger’s fourth interception of the night time.
The Browns’ offensive line performed a giant function in Cleveland’s first playoff win in 26 years. A shout out is to ensure that Michael Dunn, who crammed in admirably for Professional Bowler Joel Bitonio. Rookie Jedrick Wills additionally performed distinctive ball in his playoff debut, as he was a part of a line that didn’t enable a single sack of Mayfield. That’s important contemplating that the Steelers have led or tied for the league lead in sacks 4 years working.
Why the Steelers misplaced
Pittsburgh, the workforce that practiced all week, got here out fully flat in opposition to a Cleveland workforce that spent many of the week training just about. On offense, the Steelers dedicated 4 first-half turnovers that the Browns was 21 factors. Three of these turnovers had been interceptions by Roethlisberger, whose fourth interception arrange the Browns’ last factors of the night time. Roethlisberger, in defeat, threw for 501 yards and 4 touchdowns. Smith-Schuster caught 13 passes for 157 yards and a rating, whereas Diontae Johnson caught 11 passes for 117 yards in his playoff debut.
Pittsburgh’s protection, a unit that pressured at the least one turnover in 10 of its first 11 video games, didn’t file a turnover for the fourth time in its final six video games and the second straight sport in opposition to Cleveland. With out Joe Haden, the Steelers’ secondary was picked aside by Mayfield, who turned the primary quarterback since Vinny Testaverde to guide the Browns to a playoff win.
Turning level
Down 35-10 on the intermission, the Steelers scored two touchdowns and compelled three punts within the third quarter. That they had a fourth-and-one at their very own 46-yard-line initially of the fourth quarter. However as an alternative of going for it, Pittsburgh tried to attract Cleveland offsides earlier than Jordan Berry’s punt sailed into the tip zone. The Browns took full benefit of the Steelers’ conservative resolution. Six performs after Berry’s punt, Cleveland prolonged its result in 42-23 after Chubb took Mayfield’s second-down display screen move 40 yards to pay filth.
Play of the sport
The Browns have many candidates, however the sport’s greatest play goes to Chubb, whose landing reception off a display screen move quelled Pittsburgh’s momentum whereas giving his workforce a 19-point lead lower than three minutes into the fourth quarter.
Quotable
“We had Michael Dunn step in at left guard for Joel Bitonio. After which, Michael bought harm and a man named Blake [Hance], that I launched myself to actually within the locker room earlier than the sport stepped up within the fourth quarter.” — Mayfield to NBC Sports activities when requested about his success behind Cleveland’s re-tooled offensive line.
What’s subsequent
The Browns are onto Kansas Metropolis, the place they will face Patrick Mahomes and the remainder of the defending champions. The Browns may have Kevin Stefanski again on the sideline, who loved Sunday night time’s sport from the consolation of his basement. Pittsburgh will start what may very well be an fascinating offseason, because the Steelers have a number of notable free brokers that embody Smith-Schuster, James Conner and Bud Dupree, amongst others.
