Steelers secure 27-6 victory over Browns behind strong run game and tight ends

The Pittsburgh Steelers seized control of the AFC North with a 27-6 victory against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. First-year coach Mike McCarthy’s offense moved the ball with exceptional ease on the ground, as running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle combined for 200 rushing yards to ease the burden on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the passing game.

Meanwhile, the Steelers defense pressured Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson with eight sacks and generated crucial first-half momentum. The unit forced two fumbles in the opening quarter to help Pittsburgh secure its first home victory in three weeks and drop the Browns to a 5-3 record on the season.

Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a tipped interception in the matchup. While the veteran quarterback oversaw three touchdown drives, the offense faced challenges in the red zone during the first half, ultimately settling for field goals after missed connections and a back-breaking sack.

The tight end tandem of Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington proved instrumental in providing the explosive plays the team missed from its wide receivers. Cleveland's defense lost track of Darnell Washington on multiple occasions, allowing him to spark a first-half field-eligible drive with a 28-yard reception and later haul in a 58-yard pass down the left sideline in the third quarter.

That long gain by Washington set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Jaylen Warren. Freiermuth also contributed significantly, catching a 28-yard pass right before halftime to set up his own 1-yard touchdown run that extended Pittsburgh's lead to 20-6 heading into the locker room.

With their combined production, Washington and Freiermuth totaled five receptions for 129 yards, carrying the passing attack on a day when receiver DK Metcalf was largely contained. Metcalf finished with just one reception for four yards after dropping a wide-open deep pass that resulted in an interception by Browns cornerback Denzel Ward.

On the defensive side, Patrick Queen recorded 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble from Watson that was recovered by Keeanu Benton. T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, and Alex Highsmith also added sacks as Pittsburgh relentlessly pressured the Cleveland offense throughout the afternoon.

The victory moves the Steelers forward in the division standings as they prepare to enter a bye week. Meanwhile, the Browns will look to bounce back when they travel to New Orleans to face the Saints.