4 Takeaways From the Browns' Win Over the Steelers

[ad_1] The Pittsburgh Steelers simply needed to beat the lowly Cleveland Browns to win the AFC North. As an alternative, the division will likely be determined in Week 18.

Pittsburgh's offense struggled mightily on Sunday in Cleveland in a 13-6 loss to a Browns group that improved to 4-13 with the win. With the consequence, the Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens subsequent week in a winner-take-all matchup with the AFC North on the road.

Listed below are the takeaways from Pittsburgh's loss:

1. Pittsburgh offense goes lacking within the greatest sport of the season Aaron Rodgers entered Week 17 with three video games of fewer than 140 passing yards this season, though two of these performances got here in wins. He has not thrown for 300 yards but this 12 months.

Sunday’s sport in Cleveland noticed less-than-ideal situations by way of the climate, however Rodgers nonetheless received’t be happy along with his efficiency. He completed 21-for-39 and averaged 4.3 yards per try.

However on Saturday evening, the Ravens' protection didn’t do a lot towards the Packers to strike worry into Steelers followers. Rodgers performed properly within the groups’ first assembly again in Week 14, with a season-high 284 passing yards on 23-of-34 passing.

Aaron Rodgers could not get something going offensively on Sunday in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Getty Pictures)

2. Shedeur Sanders continues to make his case for Browns future Sanders is in one of many worst offensive conditions within the NFL. Cleveland’s receiving corps is among the many worst within the league, however he has made as a lot of it as doable.

Sanders’ Week 15 efficiency in Chicago, which noticed a temperature within the single digits, was a low level, however he has in any other case been fairly sturdy given the group round him.

In opposition to a stout Steelers protection with a returning T.J. Watt, Sanders delivered a strong efficiency by going 17-for-23 for 186 yards and a landing with two picks.

The issue is his poor decision-making was on show once more. His second interception got here early within the fourth quarter and was an ill-advised throw on second-and-5 close to midfield. That can proceed to be a knock on him transferring ahead.

Cleveland’s quarterback state of affairs will likely be a speaking level throughout coaching camp subsequent 12 months. Deshaun Watson isn’t going anyplace with a cap hit of $80.7 million in 2026, and releasing him would imply the Browns must eat each cent of that.

The Browns might experience with the veteran, however Sanders has a greater likelihood of being the group’s quarterback of the long run. The Browns’ priorities for the 2026 season will decide who the starter is.

3. Myles Garrett doesn’t set the brand new sack file Garrett entered Week 17 half a sack wanting tying the single-season file that's held by FOX NFL analyst Michael Strahan and Steelers star T.J. Watt. He’ll need to set the brand new file in Week 18.

Garrett completed with only one sort out on Sunday towards Pittsburgh. It was apparent that the Steelers weren't going to let him beat them in what was a must-win sport for them.

After registering an unimaginable 17.5 sacks in eight video games, Garrett has simply 0.5 in his previous two. The Browns finish the common season subsequent week towards the Bengals.

4. How a lot does DK Metcalf’s absence imply to Pittsburgh’s offense? Metcalf’s first 15 video games had been fairly underwhelming after his high-profile acquisition from the Seahawks in March. He'll end his first season in Pittsburgh with 59 receptions for 850 yards and 6 touchdowns. The yardage is the bottom whole of his profession, and the receptions are just one greater than he had as a rookie.

Nonetheless, the Steelers' offense doesn't have a big-play receiver with out Metcalf. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Adam Thielen and Scotty Miller had been the three receivers to catch passes towards the Browns, they usually mixed for six receptions and 42 yards.

As beforehand talked about, Baltimore's protection is just not thriving in the intervening time, however the lack of manufacturing from Pittsburgh's huge receivers will likely be a degree of concern getting into a must-win sport.

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