Browns vs Steelers: Cleveland bounces back from humiliating loss to beat bitter rival Pittsburgh, 29-17

CNN
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Final Sunday afternoon was one to neglect for the Cleveland Browns.

For a franchise with a historical past of heartbreak and disappointment, giving up a 13-point lead within the last jiffy towards the New York Jets – and their backup quarterback – to lose was surprising even for the Browns.

Nonetheless, on Thursday Evening Soccer, they went some methods in the direction of correcting these errors, beating their bitter AFC North division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, 29-17.

Cleveland quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns – one to Amari Cooper and one to David Njoku – whereas Nick Chubb continued his glorious season, working for 113 yards and a landing.

Regardless of trailing at halftime, a mixture of the Browns offense rolling and the protection placing the clamps on the Steelers wrapped up an necessary victory for Cleveland, exorcising a few of Sunday’s demons.

It was Brissett’s burgeoning reference to Cooper – who was traded from the Dallas Cowboys within the offseason – which was a key driving drive behind Thursday’s victory.

Having damaged out in his house debut final week with 101 yards, Cooper once more completed with 101 yards towards Pittsburgh, together with an 11-yard landing within the first quarter.

After the sport, Brissett expressed his appreciation for the acquisition of the four-time Professional Bowler.

“I’m glad they [management] did it,” Brissett told NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.

“I imply he’s been unbelievable. He’s one of many smartest, hardest-working gamers I’ve ever labored with, comes out right here each week, on daily basis working exhausting, placing within the work and it’s only a pleasure to play with him. I do know that he desires to simply proceed to maintain this going.”

The Pittsburgh offense continued its early season struggles of having the ability to transfer the ball constantly with Mitch Trubisky behind heart on Thursday.

Though there have been glimpses of explosiveness – a shocking catch from rookie George Pickens and Najee Harris trying dynamic – it was one other restricted show from Trubisky and the offense.

Trubisky, the previous No. 2 general choose who arrived within the offseason from the Buffalo Bills, was named the starter this season by head coach Mike Tomlin.

Nonetheless, the Steelers drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett with the twentieth choose of this yr’s draft. Given the offensive struggles the crew has proven to this point this yr, calls from followers have gotten louder for the previous Pittsburgh Panthers star to get his alternative within the lineup. Throughout final week’s loss to the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh trustworthy could possibly be heard chanting Pickett’s title.

After the defeat to the Browns, when requested about whether or not he was contemplating giving Pickett a possibility, Tomlin was adamant in sticking behind Trubisky.

“I’m not in that mindset,” Tomlin told the media. “I’m excited about reviewing his tape and searching on the totality of it and figuring how we collectively get higher.

“So, the reply to that query is definitively no.”

The outcome means the Steelers slip to 1-2 on the yr as they’re set to host the Jets in Week 4. The Browns transfer to 2-1 – and atop of the AFC North – and journey to play the Atlanta Falcons subsequent week.