The Cleveland Browns (3-2) proved that they are a force to be reckoned with Sunday, dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) at FirstEnergy Stadium in a 31-10 victory. Cleveland’s win avenged an earlier loss this season, when Pittsburgh won 30-27 on a last-second field goal in the Week 1 season opener.
Pittsburgh controlled the game early, leading 3-0 after one, but squandered opportunities kept that lead small and short-lived. The Browns completely turned the tables in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on three straight drives to build a 21-3 lead by halftime. In the second half, not much was different as Cleveland added a Billy Cundiff field goal to lead 24-3 going into the final quarter. When Ben Tate scored his second touchdown of the day, early in the fourth quarter, the rout was on. Ben Roethlisberger would later hit Lance Moore on a 26-yard pass for Pittsburgh’s only touchdown, but it was far too little, too late.
Brian Hoyer completed only eight passes, but they went for 217 yards, averaging 12.8 yards per attempt on his 17 throws. He had one touchdown and no interceptions. Cleveland had one turnover on a fumble by Isaiah Crowell, only the team’s second all season through five games. Jordan Cameron caught Hoyer’s touchdown pass and finished the day with 102 yards on three receptions. Tate had two touchdowns on 25 carries that went for 78 yards. Crowell added 77 yards on just 11 carries, also scoring a touchdown. The Browns running game dominated, totaling 158 yards and three scores as a unit.
For Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense, it was a forgettable day. The quarterback was 21-42, completing just 50 percent of his passes. He entered the day with a completion percentage over 68 percent. Roethlisberger had 228 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Steelers running game was solid, average over four yards per carry, but red zone failures, settling for field goals and a botched snap on a field goal attempt doomed Pittsburgh early.
Le’Veon Bell led Pittsburgh with 82 yards on 18 carries. Antonio Brown caught seven passes for 118 yards, extending his record of at least five receptions/100 yards per game to 22 games. Pittsburgh earned more first downs in the game, led in time of possession and did not lose the turnover battle, yet still lost by three touchdowns. The teams were even in the first, third and fourth quarters at 10-10, but Cleveland’s exceptional second quarter was good enough for the difference of three touchdowns in the final score.
Pittsburgh had a season-low six penalties in the contest. In the end, the outcome was determined in the red zone. Pittsburgh was 0-3 in the red zone, settling for a 20-yard field goal on one drive and a botched snap by holder Brad Wing on another. Cleveland, on the other hand, was 3-3 in the red zone.
The Steelers now come back to Pittsburgh even at 3-3, 2-2 on the road and just 1-2 in the AFC North. Next week, Heinz Field is the site of Monday Night Football as the Houston Texans (3-3) visit. They have lost two in a row.
