The Browns fell to the Steelers, 27-14, in Pittsburgh, bringing their record to 3-10 on the season.
The Browns scored points on just one of their four trips to the red zone and K Dustin Hopkins missed two field goals, as Cleveland failed to keep pace with the Steelers offense.
DE Isaiah McGuire gave the Browns’ hope near the end of the fourth quarter by forcing a fumble, but QB Jameis Winston threw an interception two plays later. After WR Kadarius Toney muffed a punt following a Steelers’ three-and-out, the Steelers held onto win the game.
Key Moments
Missed opportunities cost the Browns on the scoreboard
The Browns entered the second half down 13-7 after key mistakes led to points for the Steelers and missed scoring opportunities for the Browns.
In the first drive of the second quarter, Winston threw a low ball at the line of scrimmage, which DT Keeanu Benton snagged out of the air, nabbing his first career interception. Five plays later, the Steelers found the end zone to take the lead on a 1-yard run from RB Najee Harris.
At the end of the half, Winston led a drive to the Pittsburgh 20-yard line, setting Hopkins up for a 38-yard field goal attempt. Hopkins’ attempt sailed wide left and the Browns were unable to cut into the Steelers lead heading into halftime.
Costly errors continued in the second half, as the Steelers created separation on the scoreboard.
On the Browns’ opening drive of the second half, RB Jerome Ford provided a spark on the opening kickoff, taking it 56 yards to the Pittsburgh 35. After the Browns were unable to pick up a first down, Hopkins had another chance for a field goal but missed the 43-yarder wide right.
On the ensuing drive, the Steelers scored their second touchdown of the game on a 10-yard pass from Wilson to WR Van Jefferson as Pittsburgh build a two-score second half lead.
The Browns reached Steelers territory once again on the next drive but failed to convert on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. With a yard to go, Winston handed the ball off in the backfield to Ford, who was tackled for a 5-yard loss. The Steelers scored their third touchdown of the game on the following drive.
In desperate needs of points, the Browns had the football at the Pittsburgh 21-yard line, needing just 1 yard to convert on third down. However, RT Jack Conklin committed a false start and Winston was sacked on the following play. After the sack, LT Germain Ifedi committed a personal foul, forcing the Browns to punt instead of going for it on fourth-and-24
After McGuire forced RB Cordarrelle Patterson to fumble late in the fourth quarter, the Browns had the ball down 13 points with a chance to cut the Steelers’ lead to one score. However, two plays later, Winston threw his second interception of the game.
The defense answered Winston’s interception with a crucial three-and-out, giving the offense a chance at creating a comeback. However, on the ensuing punt, Toney muffed the catch and the Steelers recovered, sealing the win for Pittsburgh.
Winston tosses two touchdowns in loss
Winston, who finished with a season-low 211 passing yards since he took over as the Browns starting quarterback, threw two touchdown passes – the only points the Browns would score on Sunday.
On their second drive of the game, the Browns offense drove 70 yards downfield for their first score of the game. On third-and-9 from the Pittsburgh 35-yard line, Winston escaped the pocket and floated a pass for WR Jerry Jeudy, who beat two Steelers defensive backs as he walked into the end zone for a first quarter touchdown.
The Browns would not score again until the fourth quarter. Winston completed 9-of-11 passing attempts, finishing the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to TE David Njoku.
The touchdown marked the only time the Browns scored in the red zone on Sunday, going 1-for-4 inside the Steelers’ 20-yard line.
