In what was likely his final game at Heinz Field, the Steelers sent Ben Roethlisberger out as a winner. Pittsburgh’s 26-14 victory over the Browns on Monday night also served as retribution for the Steelers, who 358 days earlier fell to Cleveland in the AFC wild card round.
T.J. Watt led the Steelers’ dominant defensive effort with four sacks, while Najee Harris’ 188 rushing yards and a touchdown spearheaded Pittsburgh’s offensive attack. Watt is now a sack from tying Michael Strahan’s NFL record, while Harris broke Franco Harris’ 49-year-old franchise rookie rushing record.
The win kept Pittsburgh (8-7-1) alive in the AFC wild card race with one week left in the regular season. The loss ensured that Cleveland (7-9) would finish the season with a losing record a year after winning its first playoff game in 26 years.
Ahead 19-7, the Steelers received a scare when the Browns scored on Baker Mayfield’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Bryant with 1:10 left. But the Browns’ threat was short-lived after Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered the ensuing onside kick. Three plays later, Harris put the game on ice with his 37-yard touchdown run down the far sideline.
The Steelers struck first on Roethlisberger’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson less than five minutes into the second quarter. The drive was extended after Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was penalized 15 yards after he threw Chase Claypool’s shoe on a third-and-10 play.
From there, the Steelers received field goals of 22, 30, 50 and 48 yards from Chris Boswell, as Pittsburgh led 10-0 at halftime and 16-7 with about 10 minutes remaining. Led by Watt’s four sacks, the Steelers’ defense bewildered Mayfield and the Browns’ offense. Pittsburgh sacked Mayfield nine times while setting up Boswell’s second field goal on Ahkello Witherspoon’s second-quarter interception.
Boswell added two more field goals to the Steelers’ tally before the Browns capped off a 17-play drive with Bryant’s touchdown reception. Cleveland was unable to complete the comeback, however, as Harris rumbled for the game-clinching score three plays after Bryant’s score.
The win gives Roethlisberger a 92-32 all-time record at Heinz Field as the Steelers’ quarterback. Roethlisberger improved to 26-3-1 against the Browns, who famously passed on the Findlay, Ohio, native in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Here are some takeaways from Monday night’s Steelers win:
Why the Steelers won
No surprise, if you’ve watched them at any point this season: defense, defense, defense. Roethlisberger may have been the man in the spotlight on Monday, playing what even he deemed his last game at Heinz Field, but this one belonged to the Steel City “D.” With four sacks on a night Pittsburgh totaled nine, Watt pulled within one sack of tying the all-time single-season record, confirmed himself as Defensive Player of the Year front-runner and ensured Mayfield never felt comfortable in the pocket. Alex Highsmith and Cameron Heyward were among others feasting up front, while Tre Norwood and Ahkello Witherspoon each picked off Mayfield to keep Kevin Stefanski’s offense out of sync.
When they had the ball, Harris powered all of their best drives, finishing with 188 rushing yards and steadily gashing Cleveland, including with a dagger of a 37-yard score in the final minute. As for Roethlisberger, he was predictably ugly, struggling to push the ball downfield, but at least helped Pittsburgh win the time-of-possession battle to go out on a high note.
Why the Browns lost
Stefanski’s offense absolutely stinks. Harsh? No. A year after literally winning Coach of the Year, his entire unit buckled against the Steelers’ front. The line had no answers for Pittsburgh’s pass rush. The play-calling inexplicably limited Nick Chubb, who actually gave them a chance when he touched the ball. And worst of all, Mayfield all but begged Cleveland to seek a QB upgrade this offseason, badly and routinely misfiring until the game was already out of reach. Jadeveon Clowney had two sacks, including a near-safety, and Greg Newsome was among other defenders to show physicality and keep Pittsburgh within reach. But their defensive efforts fell short against the run and, frankly, didn’t matter much anyway considering how little life they got when the ball was in their own hands.
Turning point
You might say, “Kickoff,” because that’s when the Browns apparently decided they weren’t going to feature their best player, Chubb, and take the burden off Mayfield. But if you wanna get specific, let’s go with Cleveland’s first drive of the second half. After struggling mightily to move or keep the ball through the first two quarters, Stefanski’s squad fed Chubb twice to set up a third-and-3 at their own 42. But then Heyward sacked Mayfield, forcing a three-and-out punt, and the Steelers responded with a field goal to extend their lead to 10. Not insurmountable, by any means, but in this ugly game, it felt like it.
Play of the game
Harris was the offensive MVP for the Steelers on Ben’s Pittsburgh farewell tour, in large part because of tough runs like this:
What’s next
The Steelers (8-7-1) will close their 2021 season in Week 18 by visiting the Ravens (8-8), who just fell to the Rams on Sunday. Pittsburgh needs a win against Baltimore, plus a Jaguars upset of the Colts, to get into the playoffs. The Browns (7-9), meanwhile, already eliminated from the postseason, will finish the year by hosting the Bengals (10-6), who clinched the AFC North with a win over the Chiefs on Sunday.
