The Steelers were able to pull through against Cleveland, but losing their All-Pro running back was the Browns‘ biggest loss.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers used defensive touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters to defeat the Cleveland Browns 26-22 on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium, leaving the Browns winless in Pittsburgh in the regular season since 2003.
But the score wasn’t the most painful loss for the Browns (1-1), as running back Nick Chubb suffered a significant left knee injury in the second quarter and was carted off the field. The Steelers moved to 1-1 with the win.
The Steelers‘ offense couldn’t score, but that didn’t stop their defense from finding the end zone to beat the Browns.
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith scored nine seconds into the game, returning an interception 30 yards for a score when Minkah Fitzpatrick deflected Deshaun Watson’s first pass of the game. Then, as the Steelers trailed by three in the fourth quarter, Highsmith made another big play by forcing a Watson fumble, which outside linebacker T.J. Watt recovered and returned for the winning 17-yard touchdown. The touchdowns marked the first time since 2010 the Steelers had two defensive touchdowns in a game, and the first time the Steelers recorded a fumble return touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown in the same game since 2009. They racked up six sacks, nine tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 11 quarterback hits in the victory.
Quarterback breakdown: Kenny Pickett was erratic in his second start of the season, but the struggles were partially the playcalling and partially Pickett’s own decision-making and mechanics. Pickett, who completed 15 of 30 passes for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception, threw the pick on the first drive of the game and had a series of other first-half throws that missed the target.
