A game between two teams deadlocked atop of the AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers once again proved to the Cleveland Browns that they remain the class of the division. Routing Cleveland 38-7, Ben Roethlisberger and company had their way with the Browns throughout the contest’s duration, racking up 277 yards of total offense, while forcing Baker Mayfield into multiple interceptions. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 24-0 lead, ending Cleveland’s four-game win streak and extending the Browns’ losing streak at Heinz Field to 17 games.
First Half
Pittsburgh opened the game up by moving the ball with ease into Cleveland territory. As they mixed up the run and the pass nicely on their opening drive, Roethlisberger found wide receiver James Washington for 27 yards, setting the team up deep inside Browns’ territory. Stalling out after two straight incompletions inside the red zone, the team was forced to settle for a Chris Boswell 37-yard field goal. The Browns got off to a horrific start in their house of horrors over the past 15 years. Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland offense could not imagine a worse start to this one.
On just his second passing attempt of the game, Mayfield was intercepted by Steelers’ safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and took it to the end zone to extend the Pittsburgh lead to 10-0. After multiple punts by both teams, once again Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense were able to find the end zone. He found four different targets on the drive, with the key play being a three-yard touchdown plunge by James Conner. This put Pittsburgh up a commanding 17-0. After a 13-yard grab by Browns wideout Rashard Higgins, Hayfield threw his second interception of the game. The Steelers closed out the half with a 28-yard touchdown grab by wide receiver James Washington and a 24-0 lead.
Second Half
Cleveland’s comeback attempt would fall short on their second possession of the third quarter. The Browns decided to keep the offense on the field after struggling to muster anything up against a stellar Pittsburgh defense. However, running back Kareem Hunt was stuffed by Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt, giving the Steelers the ball deep inside Browns territory. An eight-play drive was capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool.
Claypool finished the day with four receptions for 74 yards and a rushing score. Case Keenum would enter the game to close it out in the final quarter to give Mayfield’s injured ribs some rest. However, he was unable to spark anything offensively for the Browns. Keenum finished the day 5-10 for 46 yards. Benny Snell added a late touchdown run for good measure. The Steelers would go on to beat the Browns 38-7.
Highlights
PICK 6! @minkfitz_21 to the HOUSE!
📺: #CLEvsPIT on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Qh00dKLKr7 pic.twitter.com/39im4v48Xf— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2020
.@JamesConner_ finds the end zone for the @steelers!
📺: #CLEvsPIT on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Qh00dKLKr7 pic.twitter.com/sv7WuLffF2— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2020
Big Ben finds a wide open @JamesWashington for a @steelers TD!
📺: #CLEvsPIT on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Qh00dKLKr7 pic.twitter.com/vXwClAL7cy— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2020
As one of the few teams that remain unbeaten through six weeks of the season, the Steelers will look to continue their red hot start in a battle with the Tennessee Titans next Sunday. Mike Vrabel’s team is red hot, also entering the contest with a zero in the loss column. They are fresh off a thrilling overtime victory over their divisional rival Houston Texans. Meanwhile, the Browns will look to get back into the win column against their in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Coming off a hard-fought loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Zac Taylor’s team has played hard all year long, setting the stage for a battle next Sunday.
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