After losing kicker Chris Boswell to a concussion on an ill-advised fake field goal, the Steelers improvised and came from behind in the second half to beat the Browns, 15-10, yesterday in Cleveland.
With the score tied 3-3 and 1:38 left in the first half, Boswell rolled out on the fake field goal and lofted a pass over the head of 6-foot-9-inch tight end Zach Gentry. A split second after releasing the ball, Boswell was leveled by 300-pound Browns defensive lineman Jordan Elliott. Boswell suffered concussion-like symptoms afterward and was not permitted to go back on the field.
After Cleveland took a 10-3 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by D’Ernest Johnson in the third quarter, the Steelers answered with a drive that ended with Najee Harris’ 8-yard touchdown run. With no kicker available, they then attempted a two-point conversion, with Ben Roethlisberger diving into the end zone. But the play was called back by a holding penalty, and they failed on the second attempt.
The Steelers’ defense then stopped the Browns on a 3-and-out, and the Steelers mounted a 13-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 4th down, 2-yard touchdown pass to a leaping rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth. Again, the two-point conversion failed but it was enough to give the Steelers the five-point win. They stopped a Browns drive late in the game and ran out the clock, thanks to a 50-yard pass to Diontae Johnson.
Coach Mike Tomlin took responsibility for the call on Boswell’s fake field goal.
Tomlin says the Steelers had options when they were forced to go for two after their second-half touchdowns.
Roethlisberger says the Steelers won as a team in a tough place to play.
Big Ben is 12-2-1 in his career playing AT Cleveland.
Freiermuth says the game-winning touchdown pass was a designed play with him as the target.
Last night, Boswell wrote on Instagram that he was okay. He said he “dressed up as a quarterback for Halloween and things got spooky.”
The Steelers got help in the AFC North standings when the Bengals were upset by the Jets, 34-31. The Baltimore Ravens had a bye this week. The AFC North standing have the Ravens on top of the division at 5-2, followed by the Bengals at 5-3, the Steelers at 4-3, and the Browns at 4-4. The Browns visit the Bengals this Sunday and the Ravens play host to the Vikings.
Next up for the Steelers is a Monday Night Football matchup with the Chicago Bears next week at Heinz Field. Monday Night Football tonight has the Giants visiting the Chiefs in Kansas City.
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