A year after literally winning Coach of the Year, his entire unit buckled against the Steelers' front. 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. 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. 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. 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. No surprise, if you've watched them at any point this season: defense, defense, defense. Here are some takeaways from Monday night's Steelers win: Why the Steelers won Roethlisberger improved to 26-3-1 against the Browns, who famously passed on the Findlay, Ohio, native in the 2004 NFL Draft. The win gives Roethlisberger a 92-32 all-time record at Heinz Field as the Steelers' quarterback. Cleveland was unable to complete the comeback, however, as Harris rumbled for the game-clinching score three plays after Bryant's score. Pittsburgh sacked Mayfield nine times while setting up Boswell's second field goal on Ahkello Witherspoon's second-quarter interception.īoswell added two more field goals to the Steelers' tally before the Browns capped off a 17-play drive with Bryant's touchdown reception. Led by Watt's four sacks, the Steelers' defense bewildered Mayfield and the Browns' offense. 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.įrom 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. The Steelers struck first on Roethlisberger's 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson less than five minutes into the second quarter. Three plays later, Harris put the game on ice with his 37-yard touchdown run down the far sideline. But the Browns' threat was short-lived after Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered the ensuing onside kick. 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.Īhead 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. The win kept Pittsburgh (8-7-1) alive in the AFC wild card race with one week left in the regular season. Watt is now a sack from tying Michael Strahan's NFL record, while Harris broke Franco Harris' 49-year-old franchise rookie rushing record. Watt led the Steelers' dominant defensive effort with four sacks, while Najee Harris' 188 rushing yards and a touchdown spearheaded Pittsburgh's offensive attack.

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. In what was likely his final game at Heinz Field, the Steelers sent Ben Roethlisberger out as a winner.

Steelers browns play by play