The Steelers are 4-1 and are in first place in the AFC North, with a Thursday night game against the second-place Cincinnati Bengals next on the schedule.
Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 30 passes for 235 yards, with touchdown passes to Connor Heyward and DK Metcalf, and the Steelers sacked Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel six times in a 23-9 Pittsburgh win. Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was held to 36 yards rushing and defensive end Miles Garret had just two assisted tackles and no sacks.
Jalen Ramsey returned from a hamstring injury and had two sacks, and Nick Herbig also had two.
Coach Mike Tomlin says it was a great effort for the Steelers.
Tomlin will hold his weekly news conference today rather than on Tuesday because the Steelers play in Cincinnati on Thursday.
Tomlin will pack a lot into the next three days of preparation.
Aaron Rodgers says it was a hard-hitting game.
Rodgers says the win was important, but it’s still early in the season.
Linebacker Nick Herbig was introduced as a twelfth starter on defense in the pregame introduction. He responded with two sacks and two tackles for loss, plus four quarterback hits and a pass defensed.
Herbig said he was honored to be included among the starters.
The Steelers’ biggest nemesis, in fact, might have been their own field. The turf was called, “borderline unplayable” by Rodgers, and it led directly to a missed field goal by Chris Boswell, whose plant foot slid through the loose dirt. CBS reported that the field is to be re-sodded, most likely this week. The next event at Acrisure Stadium is Pitt’s October 25th game against NC State. The Steelers play there the next day against Green Bay.
Injuries for the Steelers included special teams captain Miles Killebrew, who suffered what Tomlin called a “significant knee injury.” Jalen Ramsey’s hamstring tightened up again, Joey Porter Jr. suffered head and lower body injuries, Darius Slay had a shoulder injury, Brandin Echols an undisclosed injury, and Jabrill Peppers a lower body injury. All six listed injuries were to defensive backs.
The Steelers are 4-1. The Browns are 1-5. Checking the rest of the AFC North, the Bengals fell to 2-4 with a 27-18 loss to the Packers. The Ravens are 1-5 after losing to the LA Rams, 17-3.
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