CLEVELAND — Nick Chubb ran for 113 yards and a landing because the Cleveland Browns took regulate in the second one part to beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 29-17 on Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns huge receiver Amari Cooper gave up the onside kick that allowed the New York Jets to pull off a shocking comeback Sunday. Thursday evening towards the Steelers, Cooper greater than atoned for that mistake.
He completed with seven receptions for 101 yards and a landing, propelling the Browns to victory.
“We’ve got to own it, learn from it and flush it,” Cooper mentioned this week of the cave in towards the Jets. Cooper spearheaded Cleveland’s rebound efficiency, because the Browns (2-1) claimed first position within the AFC North standings.
Pivotal play: On third-and-1 to start the fourth quarter, quarterback Jacoby Brissett faked a handoff to Chubb. Cooper, in the meantime, dashed away from Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton prior to hauling in a 32-yard reception on the Pittsburgh 39-yard line. Cleveland punched the ball into the tip zone 8 performs later to pass up via two rankings. With the important thing play-action reception, Cooper changed into the primary Browns participant in 9 years to end with greater than 100 yards receiving and a receiving landing in back-to-back video games.
QB breakdown: Brissett delivered any other forged efficiency in his 0.33 get started for the Browns. He tossed a couple of touchdowns within the first part, the primary to Cooper on a slant, the opposite to tight finish David Njoku on the back of the tip zone. Brissett completed the sport 21-of-31 passing for 220 yards as he persevered to secure the Browns’ offense.
Troubling pattern: The Browns misplaced each beginning linebackers to damage, together with Anthony Walker, who was once carted off the sphere with a left knee damage. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah additionally left the sport with a quad damage. Cleveland was once already lacking defensive finish Jadeveon Clowney, who injured his ankle final weekend. — Jake Trotter
Underrated statistic to know: Cooper now has a receiving TD in consecutive video games. No Browns huge receiver stuck a receiving landing in consecutive video games final season.
Next sport: at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 2)
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers preached an competitive method to the offense after two weeks of underwhelming performances. For a part, they delivered.
But a disappointing 2d part from an offense that could not maintain drives coupled with a protection that could not generate a cross rush or run protection buried the Steelers (1-2) within the loss to the Browns.
Troubling pattern: For the second one week in a row, the Steelers struggled to get an efficient cross rush getting in T.J. Watt‘s absence. Larry Ogunjobi and Alex Highsmith blended for a sack early, however that was once the one one till past due within the fourth quarter. With the cross rush faltering, Brissett was once confused on handiest 3 of his 23 dropbacks within the first part. And at the back finish, the Steelers’ secondary had a chain of breakdowns and miscommunications that led to giant performs and touchdowns. Terrell Edmunds was once within the flawed place at the Browns’ first ranking, an 11-yard cross from Brissett to Cooper, giving the receiver an excessive amount of room. Cooper feasted at the secondary, racking up 101 yards on seven catches. The useless cross rush additionally contributed to the Browns’ skill to run the ball freely, and Chubb (23 carries, 113 yards) and Kareem Hunt (12 carries, 47 yards) carved up the Steelers’ protection.
Biggest hollow within the sport plan: For the entire offensive changes made — no less than within the first part — the Steelers nonetheless did not goal the center of the sphere. Steelers tight finish Pat Freiermuth did not get focused till halfway during the fourth quarter. That cross sailed prime, and Mitch Trubisky threw it into triple protection. Freiermuth’s first catch got here with 2:56 left within the fourth quarter, an outstanding seize for a 26-yard achieve. He adopted it up with any other at the subsequent play over the center for 15 yards. But trailing via two rankings, it was once too past due for the ones completions to have a lot have an effect on at the sport.
QB breakdown: Trubisky did what he mentioned he wanted to do within the days main up to the assembly with the Browns: He was once extra competitive and he focused George Pickens — no less than within the first part. Trubisky aired the ball out extra regularly within the first part, connecting with Pickens for a 36-yard crowning glory — courtesy of the huge receiver’s spectacular one-handed snag — for the Steelers’ longest cross play of the season. Trubisky additionally confirmed off his mobility as he escaped from drive, finishing 7 of 8 passes from outdoor the pocket for 108 yards within the first part — essentially the most for any Steelers quarterback outdoor the pocket since 2015. But Trubisky and the offense reverted to an anemic logo of soccer in the second one part. After finishing 9 of 13 passes for 109 yards within the first part, Trubisky finished 6 of 12 passes for 41 yards till the general power of the fourth quarter, when he focused the center of the sphere and moved the ball into vary for a box objective. — Brooke Pryor
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George Pickens one way or the other will get a hand underneath this ball for the substitute one-handed seize.
Underrated statistic to know: Three other Steelers have now made a one-handed catch this season (Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool). No different group has had more than one one-handed receptions but.
Next sport: vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 2)