What the hell happened in 1st game vs Browns

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s a low-key fact most Steelers fans may not know or ignore, but Cleveland has been the toughest place in the league for the Steelers to win in most of the last decade. Six straight losses against the Browns in Ohio, including one that got away on October 1.

What happened in that game as the teams prepare for a rematch on Sunday?

Lost control

• Steelers scored on its first possession after forcing a three-and-out with Roman Wilson sprinting to the end zone. Another Browns punt, but on a route where Michael Pittman, Junior either ran too deep or Aaron Rodgers underthrew leading to an interception, three plays later it was tied.
• A Steelers three-and-out, Denzel Boston went for 60 yards and it was comeback mode from there

Possession downs

• Steelers offense was just 4 of 13 on 3^rd down and four of those were 3^rd and 5 or closer. Three of those third down misses were in Cleveland territory

Run game

• Some of it was 4^th quarter comeback time, but the Steelers rushed only 19 times against Cleveland. Jaylen Warren was averaging 5.5 yards per carry (17-93 yards) but they didn’t get him enough rushing attempts. Meanwhile Cleveland ran for 112 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

D didn’t finish

• It’s what first popped out of Cam Heyward’s mouth when asked about it, the last drive of the game.
• From the Browns 26, Deshaun Watson 17 yards to Jerry Jeudy, 12 yards to Harold Fannin, 10 to Jeudy, 6 to KC Concepcion taking it to the Steelers 38, close enough for a 56-yard field goal and a sixth straight win at home.
• “Didn’t handle adversity well, didn’t keep them out of the end zone. The offense battled back and you can’t allow a drive like that at the end of the game’-Heyward
• ‘We got to show up come Sunday’-LB Alex Highsmith

Pressure?

• Watson was sacked only twice for a loss of eight yards and there were only five quarterback hurries.

Watson beat them

• You probably would say at the end of the day to shut down the run and let Watson beat you. He did. The veteran completed 73% of his passes (24-33) and led the previously mentioned game-winning drive.

“Looking in the mirror, saying we can play better,” Heyward said of responding after the loss. “Don’t take plays for granted, just because there is one guy there, there needs to be three or four guys. We need to throw a party on them.”

This party would be at home this time. It’s been since 1988 that the Browns swept a season series from the Steelers.