Loads of individuals figured that Sunday evening’s rematch between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers is perhaps 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 during the primary half, capitalizing on three Roethlisberger interceptions to construct a shocking 28-point lead. The Steelers confirmed loads of life down the stretch, pulling inside two scores and threatening a comeback because of a Huge Ben resurgence, however by then, it was too little, too late, and Cleveland sealed its first playoff victory since 1994 with a 48-37 choice.
The Steelers got here into Sunday evening’s affair with historical past on their aspect; they’ve persistently taken care of enterprise towards the Browns at residence, together with earlier this season with a 38-7 rout of Cleveland. However nearly nothing went their means 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 prospect 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 positively turned it up a notch and began discovering JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool for essential features, 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 evening 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 large receiver and high two cornerbacks. In different phrases, Sunday evening was an amazing one for the longtime AFC North cellar-dwellers.
This is a full breakdown of what transpired on Sunday evening.
Why the Browns gained
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 discipline purpose after Roethlisberger’s fourth interception of the evening.
The Browns’ offensive line performed a giant position 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 vital contemplating that the Steelers have led or tied for the league lead in sacks 4 years operating.
Why the Steelers misplaced
Pittsburgh, the staff that practiced all week, got here out utterly flat towards a Cleveland staff that spent many of the week practising nearly. On offense, the Steelers dedicated 4 first-half turnovers that the Browns changed into 21 factors. Three of these turnovers had been interceptions by Roethlisberger, whose fourth interception arrange the Browns’ last factors of the evening. 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, did not file a turnover for the fourth time in its final six video games and the second straight recreation towards 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 firstly 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 choice. Six performs after Berry’s punt, Cleveland prolonged its result in 42-23 after Chubb took Mayfield’s second-down display screen cross 40 yards to pay dust.
Play of the sport
The Browns have many candidates, however the recreation’s finest play goes to Chubb, whose landing reception off a display screen cross quelled Pittsburgh’s momentum whereas giving his staff 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 received 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’re going to face Patrick Mahomes and the remainder of the defending champions. The Browns may have Kevin Stefanski again on the sideline, who loved Sunday evening’s recreation from the consolation of his basement. Pittsburgh will start what could possibly be an attention-grabbing offseason, because the Steelers have a number of notable free brokers that embrace Smith-Schuster, James Conner and Bud Dupree, amongst others.
