Jameis Winston (5) led the Cleveland Browns to a stunning win over the Steelers on Thursday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The Cleveland Browns have had a rough season. They entered Thursday’s game with a 2-8 record. There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about.
But on Thursday night, the Browns gave their fans a win they’ll remember for a while.
In a blinding snowstorm, which turned the field into something out of a movie, the Browns put together a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter and beat their AFC North-leading rival Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19. Cleveland QB Jameis Winston hit some clutch throws when he could barely see his receivers downfield, and Nick Chubb scored the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left. And the Browns fans, who have sat through bad football this season and a blizzard on Thursday night, still packed the stadium in the final minute to celebrate a fun win.
The Browns aren’t going to the playoffs. The 2024 season will be mostly forgettable. But 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.
Pittsburgh scored just three points. Kicker Chris Boswell, who has had a remarkable season, missed a kick wide right. The Steelers’ offense was wrecked by Myles Garrett, who had three sacks in the first half. Garrett also forced a fumble on Russell Wilson that the Browns recovered and turned into a field goal just before the half. Cleveland led 10-3 at halftime.
The Browns were simply dominating the game up front on defense. In the third quarter, the Steelers went for it on fourth-and-1 and Jaylen Warren was stopped for a 1-yard loss. In the first half, the Steelers put in backup QB 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 wondering where that defense, which was also exceptional last season, was for the first 11 weeks of this season.
The Browns kept the momentum going in the second half as the snow fell harder, 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 a very tough lead to overcome, but Pittsburgh wasn’t giving up.
Steelers rally in 4th quarter
The Steelers got a big play from Fields to get back in the game. Fields took off on a 30-yard run down the sideline, the first time the Steelers had hit a big play in a while. That gave Pittsburgh a spark. 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 the game.
Then Pittsburgh’s defense came up with a key play. Nick Herbig hit Winston in the snow, and the ball popped loose. The Steelers recovered at Cleveland’s 27-yard line. The Steelers 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 didn’t get the 2-point conversion but led 19-18.
The Browns had to put together their own scoring drive in nearly whiteout conditions. Winston, somehow, completed a 26-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy to get Cleveland into Steelers territory. But Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson picked off Winston with 4:22 to go.
It was the Browns’ turn to not give up.
Cleveland’s defense held after that, and the ensuing Steelers punt only went 16 yards under pressure in terrible conditions. Cleveland had another shot to win, starting at Pittsburgh’s 46-yard line with more than three minutes to go. Jeudy caught a huge fourth-down pass to keep the drive going. Winston hit Jeudy again on a third down for 15 yards to move inside the 10-yard line. The Browns made sure they didn’t have to sweat out a field-goal attempt in the snow, as Chubb scored on a 2-yard run to give Cleveland a 24-19 lead. The Browns knocked down a Hail Mary attempt on the final play to win.
For the Steelers, it’s a damaging loss after an 8-2 start coming in. But for the Browns, it will be the highlight of their season.
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A very specific yet frustrating losing streak.
Still unclear what happened with George Pickens.
Final stats
Jameis Winston: 18-of-27 for 219 yards, one interception and a rushing TD
Russell Wilson: 21-of-28 for 270 yards and one TD.
Nick Chubb: 20 carries for 59 yards and two TDs.
Jerry Jeudy: six catches on six targets and 85 yards.
Oof, Wilson took a SHOT to the ribs from Jordan Hicks right after the pass.
FINAL: Browns 24, Steelers 19
Russell Wilson goes for the Hail Mary and it’s easily batted down by the Browns defense. Cleveland gets a huge win against the AFC North leader, and now it looks like George Pickens got into it with someone.
What a game.
It’s now down to 16 seconds left with 44 yards to go after Jaylen Warren gets taken down in bounds on a first down. This is shaping up for a Russell Wilson Hail Mary.
Jaylen Warren returns it to the 35 and the Steelers will go for a touchdown with 50 seconds left and one timeout.
TOUCHDOWN: Nick Chubb punches it in to take back the lead
Nick Chubb completes a disaster sequence for the Steelers with a one-yard touchdown and the Browns now lead by five with 57 seconds left after a failed two-point conversion. This game became amazing the second the snow started coming down for real.
And then Winston finds Jerry Jeudy for a huge first down. And then the Steelers defense gets called for delay of game. The Browns now have first-and-goal with 1:43 left, needing only a field goal.
Correction, the Steelers are now accepting the penalty, so it’s 3rd-and-7 for the Browns. Cleveland crowd isn’t pleased after a Pittsburgh timeout.
Huge swing there, as Jameis Winston gets taken down on 3rd-and-2, but seemed to get a pass off to, well, the back of his offensive line. The refs don’t call it intentional grounding, but they do call it illegal touching of a pass by center Ethan Pocic.
The result is a penalty that is declined and 4th-and-7 for the Browns, who are going for it.
Big play for the Browns, who are knocking on the door of the red zone at the two-minute warning.
Steelers go three-and-out, then a rushed and off-target punt by Corliss Waitman gives the Browns the ball at the Pittsburgh 46. The Browns have the ball again with 3:29 left and two timeouts.
INTERCEPTION: Steelers take over with 4:34 left
And then Jameis Winston does that, with Donte Jackson getting the pick. The Steelers can put this game away now with a long drive, from their 24.
Jameis Winston is on one right now.
TOUCHDOWN: Steelers complete the comeback with 23-yard TD to Calvin Austin
The Browns took an 18-6 lead with 12:16 left in the game. In the span of about six minutes, the Steelers scored a touchdown, got the ball back on a fumble then scored another touchdown, all while playing through driving snow.
FUMBLE: Steelers get the ball back at the Browns’ 27
There’s the stop. Nick Herbig gets to Jameis Winston’s blind side and records a clean strip sack, with Deshon Elliott recovering the ball. Steelers now threatening to take the lead.
TOUCHDOWN: Steelers make up ground on Jaylen Warren’s 3-yard score
With a helping of both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on that drive, the Steelers get their first touchdown in seven quarters. They still need a stop another touchdown, but there’s plenty of time left.
Amazon reports this is only the battery hanging out and Winston could still hear everything, but another component of a wild game.
this is INSANE
Jameis Winston’s communication device gets jacked up
