The Super Bowl came early for the Browns and the ‘Dog Pound’.
The Cleveland Browns and their fans have had a season to forget. They came into Thursday’s matchup with a 2-8 record. There has been very little for their loyal fan base to get behind or cheer about. But on Thursday night, the Browns gave the sellout crowd a victory that they can hold on to and treasure for a while.
In blizzard-like conditions, which turned the field into a winter wonderland, the Browns put together a game-winning drive in the final frame and beat their AFC North-leading foes, the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-19.
Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston, who is having a resurgence in his career, made some spectacular throws, considering the elements, when he could barely see his playmakers downfield. Running back Nick Chubb, who missed the first part of the season recovering from a gruesome injury, scored the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left. And the Browns faithful, to their credit, sat through ugly football this season and to top it off a blizzard on Thursday night, still packed the stadium in the final minute to celebrate a critical win for morale purposes.
The Browns are not in the playoff picture. The 2024 season will be mostly a blur. However, the Browns can have some really good memories of Winston rallying the team in the snow to a win. If they could see the field through that blizzard.
The Steelers, who won a huge game Sunday against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, 18-16, seemed a step slow in the first half.
Pittsburgh could only manufacture a field goal. Kicker Chris Boswell, who has had a remarkable season, missed a kick wide right. The Steelers’ offense was put in neutral by Myles Garrett, who had an incredible three sacks in the first half. Garrett also forced a fumble on Russell Wilson that the Browns recovered and turned into a three points just before the half. Cleveland led by seven at the break, 10-3.
The Browns were dominating the game up front on defense. In the third quarter, the Steelers were aggressive and went for it on fourth-and-1 and running back Jaylen Warren was stuffed in the backfield for a 1-yard loss. In the first half, the Steelers put in backup quarterback Justin Fields for a fourth-down play and had him run it, and the Browns stopped him for a 2-yard loss.
Cleveland fans had to be thinking in the back of their minds where that suffocating lockdown defense, which was also lights out last season, was for the first 11 weeks of this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Browns kept their foot on the gas in the second half as the snow came down at a heavier clip, turning the field white. On a drive early in the fourth quarter, they went for it on fourth-and-goal. Winston jumped into the end zone on a scramble and scored, then the 2-point conversion gave Cleveland an 18-6 lead.
In the snow, that seemed like an insurmountable lead to overcome, but Pittsburgh, true to their personality, did not give up.
The Steelers got a big play from Fields to get back in the game. Fields used his elite athleticism and took off on a 30-yard run down the sideline, the first time the Steelers had created a big play in a while. That gave Pittsburgh the juice they needed. After a roughing the passer penalty followed by an unsportsmanlike call on Cleveland, Warren scored a 3-yard touchdown and the Steelers were back in business.
Then Pittsburgh’s defense got inspired and came up with a key play. Nick Herbig hit Winston in the snow, and the ball popped loose. The Steelers recovered the rock at the Browns 27-yard line. The Steelers were not out of the wood just yet and still had to execute an offense in the snow to take the lead, and faced a third-and-6. Wilson took a shot to the end zone, and Calvin Austin III came down with a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers did not get the 2-point conversion but led by the slimmest of margins, 19-18.
The Browns had to respond quickly and put together their own scoring drive in nearly whiteout conditions. Winston, miraculously completed a 26-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy to get Cleveland into Steelers territory. But Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted Winston’s pass with 4:22 to go.
It was the Browns’ turn to hang tough and not throw in the towel.
Cleveland’s defense held after that, and the ensuing Steelers punt only went a dismal 16 yards under pressure in inclement weather. The Browns had one last chance, starting with excellent field position at Pittsburgh’s 46, with more than three minutes to go. Jeudy came through in the clutch, catching a huge fourth-down pass to keep the drive alive. Winston connected Jeudy again on a third down for 15 yards to move inside the 10-yard line. The Browns made sure they did not have to depend on a field-goal attempt in the snow where anything could go wrong, as Chubb scored on a 2-yard run to give Cleveland a 24-19 lead. The Browns played Hail Mary attempt perfectly and knocking it down on the final play to win.
For the Steelers, it was a hard pill to swallow after an 8-2 start coming in. But for the Browns, it will be the highlight of their season.
The Browns take their show on the road to the ‘Mile High City’ to face Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos on Monday, December 2.
The Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on another division rival Joe Borrow and the Bengals on Sunday, December 1.
