Browns battered and beaten by Steelers 24-9, fall to 0-11
BY JEREMY SOMERVILLE
BROWNS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) snapped a four-game losing streak with a dominant 24-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns (0-11) at First Energy Stadium on Sunday.
Led by eight sacks from their defense, which came in near the bottom of the league with just 17 on the season, and 201 total yards and touchdown from Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh led from start to finish in front of a mostly Pittsburgh crowd in Cleveland.
The Steelers offense got on the board first when Chris Boswell kicked a 32-yard field goal through the uprights to cap off a 16-play, 82-yard drive that took over nine minutes off of the first quarter clock and gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead. Boswell added a 33-yarder in the second that capped off yet another nine minute and 16-play Pittsburgh drive that extended the lead to 6-0.
Despite being thoroughly outplayed, Cleveland had a chance to go into halftime down just 6-0, but penalties allowed the Steelers three untimed downs with no time remaining in the half and Pittsburgh was able to capitalize when Bell walked in from one-yard out to extend the lead to 12-0. The Steelers added a successful two-point conversion to make it 14-0 at halftime.
The Browns were able to get on the board in the second half when Josh McCown, who entered the game following Cody Kessler’s concussion, found Gary Barnidge for a touchdown that brought the score to 17-9. Cody Parkey missed the extra point leaving the Browns with an eight-point deficit to overcome late in the fourth quarter, but following a defensive stop, the Cleveland offense was unable to come through in the clutch.
With 3:48 remaining, McCown and the Browns offense took over at their own 13-yard line with a chance to tie the game. On the second play of the drive, McCown attempted to scramble away from blitzing Pittsburgh defenders, only to be stripped in the endzone by Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, nose tackle Javon Hargrave recovered the loose ball for a touchdown and killed any momentum the Browns had.
The loss is the Browns 14th consecutive dating back to last season and moves Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to 21-2 against Cleveland in his career. The Browns will look to end the streak next Sunday when they welcome the New York Giants to First Energy Stadium for a 1p.m. kickoff.
DAWG BISCUITS:
•
Kessler suffered his second concussion of the season when he was leveled by Lawrence Timmons late in the third quarter. Prior to leaving he was 7/14 for 128 yards. In relief, McCown was 14/27 for 118 yards and a score.
Kessler suffered his second concussion of the season when he was leveled by Lawrence Timmons late in the third quarter. Prior to leaving he was 7/14 for 128 yards. In relief, McCown was 14/27 for 118 yards and a score.•The Browns only ran the ball 13 times for 33 yards. The lack of variety in the playcalling allowed Pittsburgh to blitz constantly.
The Browns only ran the ball 13 times for 33 yards. The lack of variety in the playcalling allowed Pittsburgh to blitz constantly.•Terrelle Pryor finished with another strong performance, catching five balls for 97 yards.
Terrelle Pryor finished with another strong performance, catching five balls for 97 yards.•Roethlisberger was 23/36 for 167 yards as he mostly managed the game, but did struggle in the redzone going 3/10.
Roethlisberger was 23/36 for 167 yards as he mostly managed the game, but did struggle in the redzone going 3/10.•Bell was a monster. He had 28 carries for 146 yards and a score and caught eight balls for 55 yards.
Bell was a monster. He had 28 carries for 146 yards and a score and caught eight balls for 55 yards.•The win puts the Steelers into a first-place tie with the Baltimore Ravens.
The win puts the Steelers into a first-place tie with the Baltimore Ravens.POSTED 11/20/2016 at 17:55
Lake County Sentinel
