A very specific yet frustrating losing streak.
Browns gut out dramatic snow-covered win over Steelers with last-minute TD drive
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.
Browns take a lead
The Steelers, who won a massive game on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, looked like they had a hangover in the first half.
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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