On Sunday Night of Wild Card Weekend, the Cleveland Browns faced off against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Three early turnovers by Pittsburgh resulted in a massive 28-0 deficit at the end of the first quarter. Despite the Steelers making it a closer game, the Browns controlled the game from the jump and walked away with a 48-37 victory.
Ben Roethlisberger had a brutal night, throwing four interceptions. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns. The running back duo of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb was dominant. Together they combined for 206 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns.
First Half
On the first play of the game, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey snapped the ball over the head of Roethlisberger, and Browns defensive lineman Karl Joseph recovered it for a touchdown. On the following possession, a Roethlisberger interception resulted in another score for the Browns, this time a 40-yard touchdown from Mayfield to Jarvis Landry.
After a Pittsburgh punt, the Browns drove down the field in only six plays before an 11-yard Kareem Hunt touchdown run. Despite being up 21-0 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Browns wouldn’t stop there. Cornerback Sheldrick Redwine intercepted Roethlisberger and returned it 30 yards, setting up another Hunt touchdown. The Browns led 28-0 at the end of the quarter.
Pittsburgh responded with a long drive ending in a James Conner rushing touchdown, only to let up another Cleveland score on the next possession. At the end of the half, the Browns led the Steelers 35-10.
Second Half
Pittsburgh came out of the half strong. Roethlisberger connected with Eric Ebron and JuJu Smith-Schuster for a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, cutting the Browns’ lead to 12 points.
The Browns responded quickly as running back Nick Chubb took a screen pass 40 yards for a touchdown. Cleveland led 42-23 with 12 minutes remaining. Pittsburgh’s hopes of a late comeback were crushed after another Roethlisberger interception. The game would end with a score of 48-37, in favor of the Browns.
Highlights
THAT WAS QUICK.
📺: https://t.co/vcgHu2syur pic.twitter.com/Y3Xn6DhI0S
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 11, 2021
JARVIS. LANDRY.
📺: https://t.co/NyBDmNclTK pic.twitter.com/DESCrHfqWx
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 11, 2021
Niiiiiiiiicccckkkk Chhhuuubbbbbb 🚂
📺: https://t.co/NyBDmNclTK pic.twitter.com/sVe2enAN70
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 11, 2021
Cleveland advances to the divisional round of the playoffs and will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs and will have several questions to answer regarding the future of Big Ben at quarterback.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
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