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The Browns couldn’t protect Deshaun Watson, who was sacked 6 times, and they couldn’t hold onto the ball as they turned it over 4 times, to move their record to 1-1 on the season in a 26-22 loss to their rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. The Browns have not won a regular season game there since 03 and will have to wait another long year to have another chance at it.
When Nick Chubb went down early into the second quarter, all eyes were on Deshaun Watson and Jerome Ford to see how they could each step up and carry the offense. It was a mixed bag for Watson as he went22 for 40 passing for 235 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He also ran the ball 6 times for 22 yards while fumbling it twice.
Unless the Browns sign Kareem Hunt or trade for Jonthan Taylor, it appears Jerome Ford will be the feature back this season. Tonight, he carried the ball 16 times for 106 yards, he also caught 3 balls for 25 yards with a score. As for Chubb, he was off to a red hot start to the season, and this game, as he had carried the ball 10 times for 64 yards until the gruesome injury.
Watson didn’t have time to pass, and when he did, he often sailed it to the sidelines under duress or just made several poor throws. It’s only two games in, but the 232 Million Dollar, several first round draft pick looks really bad right now. Something will need to get better quickly.
Aamari Cooper appears to be one of the few receiving threats Watson can count on as Donovan Peoples Jones has been a total bust through two games. Cooper, playing hurt, had a great game, as he caught 7 balls for 90 yards. David Bell once again caught anything thrown to him, making 3 grabs for 27 yards.
The Browns gave up two Pittsburgh Steeler defensive touchdowns and that is why they lost, it is that simple. The Steeler offense did nothing all night. Pickett looked rough, going 15 of 30 passing for 222 yards with a pick and a touchdown.
It was a wild first quarter with four combined turnovers as each team tossed an interception, and also fumbled. For the Browns, the nightmare quarter started on the very first play as a Watson passed was tipped twice and landed in the hands of Alex Highsmith, who took it all the way back from 30 yards to score.
Rebounding from a 7-0 deficit was not the ideal start for the Browns, but a 25-yard Field Goal by Dustin Hopkins cut into the Steeler lead at 7-3. From there, it was a bit of chaos as Grant Delpit picked off the first Kenny Pickett pass of the night on the next drive. Sadly, for Cleveland they couldn’t convert and Hopkins missed a 43-yard field goal as the drive came up empty.
The quarter ended 7-3 as both teams went on to fumble one time each before it was over. The worst possible scenario happened to start the second quarter as Nick Chubb broke his leg on a vicious hit near the goal line from Minkah Fitzpatrick. Chubb exited the game, and is likely done for the year. His backup Jerome Ford, caught a touchdown pass on the very next play from 3 yards out to give the Browns the lead. Stefanski went for two after an offsides penalty inched the ball closer. Ford converted, and it was 11-7 Browns with 14:09 left in the opening half.
From there, the Steelers offense slowly woke up, converting great field position into a 52-yard Chirs Boswell field goal. On their next drive, the Steelers struck again as a breakdown in the secondary allowed a Pickett to Pickens 71-yard touchdown strike to open their lead to 16-11. A decent two-minute drill allowed the Browns to get 3 points back on a 55-yard Hopkins field goal to cut the lead to 16-14 Pittsburgh at the half.
After a Boswell 50-yard blast made it 19-14 with 11:52 to play in the third quarter, the Browns wasted no time answering. Jerome Ford ripped off a 69-yard run down the sidelines to get the ball to the goal line. Two plays later, the Browns went jumbo package and smashed it in again, this time with Pierre Strong. A moment later, it was Watson converting the two-point attempt with his legs for the second time this season and moving the Browns to 3 for 3 on 2-point attempts at that point. It also gave the Browns the lead back at 22-19.
For the Browns however, they couldn’t build on the lead because they simply couldn’t stop turning the ball over. After a Njoku fumble didn’t cost them another Watson fumble would as the strip sack was picked up by TJ Watt and returned for another Steeler defensive touchdown, their second of the night. This score gave Pittsburgh a 26-22 lead with 7:06 to go in the contest.
One of the biggest knocks on Baker Mayfield was that he couldn’t lead a two-minute drive at the end of the game to win it, Watson was given that chance tonight and failed as well.
