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Browns win on 4th down, win on scoreboard against Pittsburgh Steelers | Takeaways
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- Browns win on 4th down, win on scoreboard against Pittsburgh Steelers | Takeaways
CLEVELAND — There's a lot of statistics that tell the tale of how the Browns emerged with a 24-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.
There's one statistical category, though, that may sum it up the best. That would be fourth down conversions.
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Cleveland converted all four of its fourth-down tries in the game. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, converted just one out of three fourth downs.
"You really got to be on your stuff on fourth down," Browns defensive lineman Shelby Harris said. "Everybody went out there and just did their job. As long as everyone does their job, we will be successful. All those plays, it's everyone doing their job and plus. It's a team thing and everybody really stepped up to the hurdle of fourth down."
What doesn't factor into the Browns' fourth-down stops on defense, at least when it comes to the conversion statistic, was the one missed field goal by the Steelers' Chris Boswell on their opening drive. Boswell pushed a 58-yard try wide right on fourth-and-11.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates with defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (not pictured) during the first half Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland.
That long field goal was set up the play before when defensive end Myles Garrett got in and sacked quarterback Russell Wilson for an 8-yard loss. That was one of three first-half sacks by Garrett.
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"I mean it was huge," Garrett said of the fourth-down stops. "It was monumental in the game. Keeping them from extending drives on the fourth and 1, fourth and 2s and bowing up, that steals the momentum from them. Them thinking that they can run the ball, get to the logo and you never know what happens after that. But getting those short fields for our offense and just chipping away and even scoring or continuing to create short fields to eventually put the ball in. I think that's what won the game for us."
Garrett also combined with safety Grant Delpit to tackle quarterback Justin Fields , in for a specific short-yardage package, for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-2 from the Browns 38 on Pittsburgh's second possession. The other fourth-down stop came on the Steelers' first third-quarter possession, when defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II stuffed running back Jaylen Warren for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Pittsburgh 46.
The Browns. meanwhile, had all four of their fourth-down conversion come on scoring drives. The shortest of those was their first one, when Nick Chubb picked up five on a fourth-and-1 from the Pittsburgh 16 to set up his first 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Chubb also picked up their second one on the first play of the fourth quarter, when he ran for four on fourth-and-1 from the Steeler 27. That drive ended with the third fourth-down conversion, when quarterback Jameis Winston helicoptered into the end zone on a 2-yard run on fourth-and-goal.
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"I saw the end zone," Winston said. "I felt great protection, and I was just moving forward, and we found a way to get in there."
The final fourth-down conversion came on the final possession. Faced with fourth-and-3 from the Steelers 33, Winston found wide receiver Jerry Jeudy for a sliding 5-yard catch to move the chain.
That drive, in which Jeudy also helped pick up a big third-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 29, ended with Chubb's second touchdown to provide the lead for good with 57 seconds remaining.
"Jameis and Jeudy, they did their thing," wide receiver Elijah Moore said. "Did their thing. And the (offensive) line. I'm sorry, O line first."
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Four days makes all the difference for Cleveland Browns in fourth quarter
The Browns entered the fourth quarter last Sunday in New Orleans tied with the Saints 14-14. However, they were outscored 21-0 in the final 15 minutes, which led to a 35-14 loss.
Four days later, Cleveland led 10-6 going into the fourth quarter against the Steelers. Not only that, they extended that lead out to 18-6 less than four minutes into the final quarter.
Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins (88) runs after a catch as Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) defends during the fourth quarter Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland.
Pittsburgh would score the next 13 points, both off Winston turnovers, to take a 19-18 lead with 6:15 remaining. However, this time, the Browns didn't wilt, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds remaining.
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So what changed?
"Just realizing the moment, realizing what we need to do and people stepping up and really just stepping up for the moment," Harris said. "I think that the biggest thing about New Orleans was we had bust and the difference between today and New Orleans was that everyone just did, once again, if you do your job we'll be perfectly fine."
Sun Belt-born Cleveland Browns say 'Let it snow'
The Browns may reside in Northeast Ohio, but plenty of their players hail from places where it's much warmer for much longer stretches of the year. So when the snow started coming down in near-white-out conditions in the second half, it was a first for a number of them.
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Winston, who was raised in Alabama and played football collegiately at Florida State and professionally in Tampa Bay and New Orleans prior to this season, admitted it was his first snow game. It was a similar response from many, but not all of the Browns players from the Sun Belt.
Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) celebrate after the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland.
Many of them made snow angels on the field shortly after the Steelers' last-ditch Hail Mary pass fell incomplete. That group didn't include the South Florida-raised Moore, even as he acknowledged how "beautiful" and "super cool" it was to play in the snow.
However, the wide receiver didn't want to linger in the white stuff.
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"No, I didn't. I was so happy I ran inside," Moore said. "I was still cold. I'm still from Florida."
Cleveland Browns going streaking against Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns have at least started to change the direction of their rivalry with the Steelers, at least when the game is played in Cleveland. Thursday's win marked the first three-game home win streak in the rivalry for the Browns since winning four in a row between 1990-93.
Cleveland has won five of its last six meetings against Pittsburgh at home. It's also won back-to-back regular-season games against the Steelers at any location for the first time since 1999-2000, although the Browns beat the Steelers both in Week 17 of the 2020 season, then the very next week in an AFC wild card game in Pittsburgh.
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The Browns have also now won three in a row on Thursday night against Pittsburgh. For Winston, it was his first win against the Steelers in his first start against them.
"I know he hadn't played Pittsburgh, which is unique," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I think Jameis understands certainly understands our football team. It's very easy to understand this rivalry, how important these AFC North games, this one, because of the proximity of the two cities, we know how important it is. But he knew what a challenge it is when you're playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's a good team for a reason. They're good on all three sides of the ball. We were going to have to be at our best to get a win."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns win on 4th down, win on scoreboard against Steelers: Takeaways
