PITTSBURGH — For the 20th-consecutive time, the Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh during the regular season.
And this one was more painful in a multitude of ways.
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith both combined for scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference as the Steelers pulled off an 26-22 comeback win on Monday night.
As stated before, it was a painful loss for the Browns, who were looking to snap their losing streak in the Steel City. But the loss was an even more painful as start running back Nick Chubb suffered a serious left knee injury and will be done for the remainder of the season.
The four-time Pro Bowler's sixth NFL season ended two plays into the second quarter after taking a low hit by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, that bent his knew awkwardly. He went to the hospital as a precaution before returning to Cleveland.
Chubb's backup, Jerome Ford filled in nicely with 106 yards rushing and caught a 3-yard touchdown pass, but ultimately it was Cleveland's miscues that cost them a chance to win. The Browns wound up turning the ball over four times, with two of those immediately turning into points for Pittsburgh.
But despite the loss of one of their key leaders, the Browns still held a three-point lead and faced second-and-9 at their own 20 with 7:06 remaining when Watt and Highsmith made the game-winning play.
The two defenders widend their stances before the snap, as they sensed a play-action pass was coming. Highsmith blew by Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills and knocked the ball out of the hands of Deshaun Watson as he rolled out to his right. Watt would pick up the ball and high-step his way into the end zone for the game-winning score.
It was the second big play Highsmith was apart of, as he began the night with a 30-yard pick-6 on the first offensive snap to give the Steelers an early 7-0 lead.
Despite the underwhelming performance by the Pittsburgh offense, the Steelers still managed to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2019.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 15 of 30 passes for 222 yards, a third of those yards coming on a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown by George Pickens in the second quarter that did bring the crowd to life at Acrisure Stadium for a brief time.
Cleveland looked as if victory was within their grasp, when Ford raced 69 yards to set up a 1-yard dive by Pierre Strong that put the Browns ahead 22-19 midway through the third quarter.
But the Browns would turn it over on two of their next three possessions, which included Watt's score, and would be the team's demise.
Watson completed 22 of 40 for 235 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was also flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct for grabbing the facemask of a Steeler while running. Both penalties proved costly as they aided in stalling two promising Cleveland drives
Two other Browns players went down with injury as well. Defensive end Za'Darius Smith exited in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury and cornerback Greg Newsome injured his right elbow in the third quarter.
Cleveland returns home to face Tennessee (1-1) next Sunday. The Steelers go to Las Vegas (1-1) next Sunday, where they will try to beat the Raiders on the road for the first time since 1995.
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