CLEVELAND — Nick Chubb ran for 113 yards and a landing because the Cleveland Browns took management within the second half to beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 29-17 on Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns vast receiver Amari Cooper gave up the onside kick that allowed the New York Jets to tug off a shocking comeback Sunday. Thursday evening towards the Steelers, Cooper greater than atoned for that mistake.
He completed with seven receptions for 101 yards and a landing, propelling the Browns to victory.
“We have to personal it, be taught from it and flush it,” Cooper stated this week of the collapse towards the Jets. Cooper spearheaded Cleveland’s rebound efficiency, because the Browns (2-1) claimed first place within the AFC North standings.
Pivotal play: On third-and-1 to start the fourth quarter, quarterback Jacoby Brissett faked a handoff to Chubb. Cooper, in the meantime, dashed away from Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton earlier than hauling in a 32-yard reception on the Pittsburgh 39-yard line. Cleveland punched the ball into the top zone eight performs later to go up by two scores. With the important thing play-action reception, Cooper turned the primary Browns participant in 9 years to complete with greater than 100 yards receiving and a receiving landing in back-to-back video games.
QB breakdown: Brissett delivered one other stable efficiency in his third begin for the Browns. He tossed a pair of touchdowns within the first half, the primary to Cooper on a slant, the opposite to tight finish David Njoku in the back of the top zone. Brissett completed the sport 21-of-31 passing for 220 yards as he continued to regular the Browns’ offense.
Troubling development: The Browns misplaced each beginning linebackers to harm, together with Anthony Walker, who was carted off the sector with a left knee harm. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah additionally left the sport with a quad harm. Cleveland was already lacking defensive finish Jadeveon Clowney, who injured his ankle final weekend. — Jake Trotter
Underrated statistic to know: Cooper now has a receiving TD in consecutive video games. No Browns vast receiver caught a receiving landing in consecutive video games final season.
Subsequent recreation: at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 2)
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers preached an aggressive strategy to the offense after two weeks of underwhelming performances. For a half, they delivered.
However a disappointing second half from an offense that could not maintain drives coupled with a protection that could not generate a go rush or run protection buried the Steelers (1-2) within the loss to the Browns.
Troubling development: For the second week in a row, the Steelers struggled to get an efficient go rush stepping into T.J. Watt‘s absence. Larry Ogunjobi and Alex Highsmith mixed for a sack early, however that was the one one till late within the fourth quarter. With the go rush faltering, Brissett was pressured on solely three of his 23 dropbacks within the first half. And on the again finish, the Steelers’ secondary had a sequence of breakdowns and miscommunications that led to large performs and touchdowns. Terrell Edmunds was within the flawed place on the Browns’ first rating, an 11-yard go from Brissett to Cooper, giving the receiver an excessive amount of room. Cooper feasted on the secondary, racking up 101 yards on seven catches. The ineffective go rush additionally contributed to the Browns’ capability to run the ball freely, and Chubb (23 carries, 113 yards) and Kareem Hunt (12 carries, 47 yards) carved up the Steelers’ protection.
Greatest gap within the recreation plan: For all of the offensive changes made — at the least within the first half — the Steelers nonetheless did not goal the center of the sector. Steelers tight finish Pat Freiermuth did not get focused till halfway by way of the fourth quarter. That go sailed excessive, and Mitch Trubisky threw it into triple protection. Freiermuth’s first catch got here with 2:56 left within the fourth quarter, a powerful seize for a 26-yard achieve. He adopted it up with one other on the subsequent play over the center for 15 yards. However trailing by two scores, it was too late for these completions to have a lot affect on the sport.
QB breakdown: Trubisky did what he stated he wanted to do within the days main as much as the assembly with the Browns: He was extra aggressive and he focused George Pickens — at the least within the first half. Trubisky aired the ball out extra typically within the first half, connecting with Pickens for a 36-yard completion — courtesy of the vast receiver’s spectacular one-handed snag — for the Steelers’ longest go play of the season. Trubisky additionally confirmed off his mobility as he escaped from strain, finishing 7 of 8 passes from exterior the pocket for 108 yards within the first half — probably the most for any Steelers quarterback exterior the pocket since 2015. However Trubisky and the offense reverted to an anemic model of soccer within the second half. After finishing 9 of 13 passes for 109 yards within the first half, Trubisky accomplished 6 of 12 passes for 41 yards till the ultimate drive of the fourth quarter, when he focused the center of the sector and moved the ball into vary for a area purpose. — Brooke Pryor
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George Pickens in some way will get a hand below this ball for the unreal one-handed seize.
Underrated statistic to know: Three completely different Steelers have now made a one-handed catch this season (Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool). No different crew has had a number of one-handed receptions but.
Subsequent recreation: vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 2)
