The rubber game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is an opportunity. This is an opportunity to right the many wrongs that have occurred this year.
Related: Browns VS. steelers final score
In mid-October, Pittsburgh defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-9 in Week 6. No self-respecting Browns fan wants to lose two games in one season to their hated division rival. No sir.
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For the players, they are fighting for their future jobs. That’s true whether it’s in Cleveland next year or another NFL club. They must end the year on a high note and collect better statistics. The length of the contract depends on good numbers and a lot of players; the last few games are their audition tape for the job, whether they stay in Cleveland or not.
The Steelers have a chance to make the playoffs, but only if they win the AFC North. The Browns are just one game away from clearing out their lockers and watching the playoffs at home on their big-screen TVs.
In the end, the Steelers didn’t show they were a playoff team with very little offense, and the Browns narrowly lost 13-6.
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So who is doing well for the Browns? Who doesn’t?
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Brownies
LB Carson Schweizer – If someone told you that Schweizer was taken to the hospital after this game, no one would be surprised or blink an eye. The guy played on crutches the entire second half. At some point in the second quarter, he sprained his right foot, and from that point on, he was limping around in the huddle, standing on one leg. However, he tied for the most tackles in the game with nine. He won’t get out, and it’s clear from the looks of him staying in the game that he’s not a liability.
So, DC Jim Schwartz gave him playing time. In the third quarter, the bell rang when he made a tackle on teammate Cameron Thomas, who missed the ball carrier and beat Schweizer. If the Browns win, they won’t make the playoffs or improve their seeding. There is nothing on the line. Great athlete with zero quits.
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K.Andre Smit – What do you want from a kicker? Making all of his kicks perfect, that’s what Smit did in this game. 2-2 field goal percentage and PAT conversion rate alone. The shot from 50 yards was straight and accurate. A kickoff into the end zone gave the Steelers 35. A great day at the office.
P Corey Boholquez – What is the league-leading average? 51.7 yards per punt. In this game, Boqiao punted four times and averaged 57.0 yards. His longest was 64 yards. Great game.
S Grant Delpit – It was a very busy day for Delpit as the Steelers didn’t have the running game they expected and needed to throw the ball more. Delpit stopped TE Darnell Washington on an 11-yard gain in the first quarter, but fell behind on third-and-16. On Pittsburgh’s fourth-and-1 pass attempt, Delpit made a good play on an incomplete pass to deep left against WR Scotty Miller. Like the fourth quarter when Aaron Rodgers was sacked for a 9-yard loss in the third quarter. Finished with eight tackles, a quarterback hit, a tackle for loss, and his lone sack.
CB Denzel Ward – The reason you rarely hear Ward’s name in games is that opposing quarterbacks basically don’t interfere with him that much. The 2025 Pro Bowlers have games like this three-quarters of the time. Then, for whatever reason, Pittsburgh’s Arthur Smith decided the final three plays would light up Ward and tie the game at 13-6. The Steelers got the ball at their 35 with 1:23 left in the game. No problem for Rodgers. The pass was completed for 15 yards, then 29 yards, then 11 yards and the final 3 yards to Cleveland’s 7-yard line with 32 seconds left. Second goal: Incomplete pass to WR Marquez Valdes-Scandling, screened by Ward. Third goal: Incomplete pass to WR Marquez Valdes-Scandling, screened by Ward.
Fourth goal: Incomplete pass to WR Marquez Valdes-Scandling, screened by Ward. What was Smith thinking? Ward has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times, including the past three years. The quarterback doesn’t get in his way.
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Steelers fourth down ——The defense has really stepped up. The first fourth down came late in the first half when Rodgers failed on a deep pass. Pittsburgh’s second fourth down came late in the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh threw an incomplete pass on third-and-10 at its own 20 with 2:08 left. They didn’t think they were going to get the ball back and thought they could convert fourth-and-10 when defensive tackle Shelby Harris knocked the ball down before he had a chance. The final fourth down came on Ward’s defense with 21 seconds left in the game. Final score: 0-3 in the fourth round.
Cameron Thomas – While everyone was focused on Myles Garrett and the single-season sack record, Thomas stopped the run and had a great day rushing the passer. After a brief win, he beat RB Jaylen Warren in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Warren burst through the middle for 15 yards, and Thomas chased him from behind from his left defensive position. In fact, Thomas had Rodgers in control with 4:50 left in the first half, but the veteran quarterback handed the ball to TE Connor Heyward for a brief victory. In the fourth quarter, with 6:21 left in the game, Thomas forced Warren for one yard at midfield. 4 tackles, 3 pressures, 1 tackle for loss.
Dealing with the Steelers – Pittsburgh enters Cleveland with a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens for the division lead. Neither team has a chance to earn a wild-card seed, so win the division or go home. The Ravens defeated the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on Saturday to improve to 8-8-0. The Steelers needed a win over the Browns to move within two games and become division champions, but now sit at 9-7-0. Both teams are 3-2 in the conference. In Week 14, Pitt defeated Baltimore 27-22 on the road. The last weekend of NFL games, the Ravens take on the Steelers. If Baltimore wins by six points or more, the division title and playoff spot will be ripped from the lips of Steelers fans. You’re welcome, Ravens fans.
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frown
offense – The game started with a nine-play drive that ended with a 50-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt. On the next possession, the drive began with a 42-yard completion from Shedeur Sanders to Ced Tillman, which ended with a touchdown reception by TE Harold Fannin for a 10-0 lead. and then? Turnovers, interceptions, punts, punts, interceptions, punts, punts, FGs, winning formations. And there are only three points. It’s like a machine that puts out yardage threw a belt on its internal drive and just stopped working. The running game was meaningless and quarterback Shaddell Sanders couldn’t find his targets. There was a big play here and there, but the momentum was quickly lost. 262 yards of total offense.
running game – We know the offensive line is a bunch of second-teamers and practice squad players playing with seven-time Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio, but this unit is terrible at moving the chains through the run. Yes, yes, Quinson Judkins is injured and Nick Chubb is no longer with the Browns. But this offense has no chance of moving the ball on the ground. Rookie Dylan Sampson rushed 11 times but gained only 27 yards. In this game, there were only 78 yards on 25 carries, an average of 3.1 yards per carry, and zero touchdowns.
Lieutenant Cam Robinson – DE Alex Highsmith had a great game against Robinson. He got his first sack in the second quarter as he moved inside and found Sanders for an easy sack. In the third quarter, Robinson missed his tackle and Highsmith grabbed his second sack from behind as Sanders tried to scramble. Highsmith finished with four quarterback hits, four pressures, four tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss in the loss. A great day for the Steelers linebackers.
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Milk Bones – When you’re trying to eat as much as you can before your New Year’s weight loss resolution kicks in
De Miles Garrett – Everyone is focused on Garrett and the single-season sack record, which he is just one step away from breaking. He came close a few times but had little impact on the game. It’s not that he lacks effort and hustle. Steelers LT Dylan Cook, TE Pat Freiermuth and Washington were tasked with stopping Garrett.
The trio was determined not to let Garrett enjoy the day, and it worked. One tackle, one quarterback hit, and about three sacks for loss (if that’s a statistic). There were rumors at one point that Garrett would end up with 30 sacks. What now? Will we see this record broken? Remember, Michael Strahan doesn’t have a 17th game to work with. Just saying…
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TE Harold Fanning ——The missed touchdown in the first quarter was amazing. The pass was wobbly and short, but Fanning made the adjustment and then gamely rolled into the end zone before being touched. I’d like to see the offense use this young man more as he only had two targets, two catches for 30 yards and a score.
QB Shaddell Sanders – Why on earth did Sanders throw the ball so high and so slowly when he was intercepted at the 49-yard line with 12:12 left? WR Jerry Jeudy took two steps towards his defender, but the pass was so underrated that he just held on, giving S Kyle Duggar a chance to catch up and get into the rainbow pass. This killed a great drive. His first interception of the second quarter hit the front of the Steelers’ Cam Heyward’s helmet and then fell into the hands of former Ohio State great Jake Sawyer. The lone touchdown pass to Fanning had zero spin and was short. Fanning twisted his body and caught a beautiful ball. Sanders gained 11 yards in this game, but his legs didn’t do much. He was sacked twice, a number that could have been tripled if not for his escape ability.
He opened the game with a nice 19-yard pass to TE Brendan Bates, and a few plays later, Jeudy added another 10 yards. How many times did he throw short-arm passes to his receivers in this game? WR Ced Tillman’s 42-yard pass in the first quarter was a touch and play call. A fourth-and-11 pass attempt in the second quarter from the 33-yard line to TE Sal Cannella was deflected low. Would love to see him play with a good offensive line in front of him. Finished with 17 wins and 23 losses, 186 yards, an average of 8.1 yards per catch, one touchdown, two catches, and a quarterback rating of 75.6.
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C Luke Weppler – He had a solid game in his first scheduled start after filling in for the injured Ethan Pocic last week. Pass blocking is his best attribute and does open up some good holes between him and Bitonio. Wypler commit NT Keeanu Benton (6′-4, 309 pounds) had just three tackles, zero pressures and zero sacks.