All the Pittsburgh Steelers had to do to clinch the AFC North title on Sunday was beat one of the worst teams in the NFL. Yet the Steelers couldn’t do it and now face a showdown for the division title next weekend.
The Steelers lost to the Browns 13-6 at rainy, windy Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, missing a chance to win their first division title since 2020. The Steelers had their three-game winning streak snapped, and the Browns (4-12) ended their four-game losing streak.
The Steelers (9-7) and Baltimore Ravens (8-8) will meet next weekend at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, with the AFC North championship on the line, with the date and time to be determined. The Ravens hold the tiebreaker and would capture the division title with a victory.
The Steelers managed just two Chris Boswell field goals on Sunday as Aaron Rodgers had 168 yards passing as he completed 21 of 39 attempts for a 64.9 passer rating. The Steelers were 3 of 15 on third down and failed to convert on any of their fourth-down tries.
The Steelers rushed 131 yards in 24 attempts and outgained the Browns 291-262 in total offense. Jaylen Warren rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries. Tight end Pat Freiermuth was the Steelers’ top receiver with three catches for 63 yards. The Steelers played without wide receiver DK Metcalf, who began a two-game suspension imposed by the NFL for an altercation with a fan in Detroit a week earlier.
The Steelers lost in Cleveland for a fourth straight year and the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
The Browns scored on their first two possessions to take a 10-0 lead. Andre Szmyt kicked a 50-yard field goal, and Shedeur Sanders threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Harold Fannin.
However, the Steelers held the Browns scoreless until Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal with 1:44 left. That came after the Steelers gave the Browns a short field by turning the ball over on downs at the 20-yard line.
The Steelers drove to the Browns’ 7 in the final minute, but Rodgers threw three straight incompletions to end the threat.
Sanders was 17-of-23 passing for 186 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Jerry Jeudy had five receptions for 54 yards.
Patrick Queen led the Steelers with eight tackles and one interception. Jack Sawyer also had a pick, and Alex Highsmith recorded both the Steelers’ sacks.