The Pittsburgh Steelers held off the divisional-rival Cleveland Browns in a 26-22 victory Monday night at Acrisure Stadium. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Steelers defense accounted for two of the team’s three touchdowns, including a go-ahead 17-yard scoop-and-score by T.J. Watt on a Deshaun Watson fumble in the fourth quarter.
- Pittsburgh took an early lead just seconds into the game when Alex Highsmith recorded a 30-yard pick six on Cleveland’s first play from scrimmage.
- Steelers WR George Pickens had a game-high 127 receiving yards and scored the team’s lone offensive touchdown on a 71-yard catch-and-run play.
- Browns star running back Nick Chubb is expected to miss the remainder of the season after being carted off the field with a knee injury in the second quarter.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What Chubb’s injury means for Cleveland
Regardless of tonight’s result, the Browns losing Chubb is a worst-case scenario type of event.
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Chubb might be the NFL’s best running back, and his power and consistency have long made him the Browns’ best offensive player. Chubb is the ultimate football player, a low-maintenance superstar and has long been talented enough to carry the Browns offense when necessary.
The pass game is a wreck at this early stage of the season, and even with Jerome Ford impressing in emergency duty Monday night after Chubb’s exit, the Browns simply can’t replace Chubb. — Jackson
GO DEEPER
Jackson: Replacing Nick Chubb won't be easy, but the Browns 'have to keep pushing'
What went wrong for Browns
The Browns defense played well enough to win. It’s nearly impossible to overcome two defensive scores, and though the Browns ran the ball well, their pass game was putrid. The winning points came when Highsmith ran right around left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. for a strip-sack, and Watt returned the fumble to the end zone.
The Browns had a good plan for Watt, but the Steelers got a lot of shots on Watson — and Watson went 22-of-40 passing. The Browns had too many penalties, too many misses in the pass game and ultimately lost to Highsmith and Watt. — Jackson
Highlight of the game
OMG ??
?: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSnfvVk pic.twitter.com/vPdJNIMtIr
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 19, 2023
Key stat
The Browns — who have now lost 20 straight regular-season games in Pittsburgh’s stadium — were seeking their first 2-0 start since 1993. Their streak of 27 consecutive seasons without a 2-0 start is the longest in NFL history.
Required reading
- Browns desperately need Deshaun Watson to play like franchise QB after Nick Chubb injury
- Kaboly: Steelers’ offense was never going to be perfect, so stop expecting it to be
- How T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith willed Steelers past Browns: ‘We needed it. They delivered’
- Why are there 2 ‘Monday Night Football’ games in Weeks 2 and 3? Explaining the NFL schedule quirk
(Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)