They needed to sweat for it, however the Browns clinched a playoff berth after defeating the visiting Steelers on Sunday, 24-22. The Browns, underneath first-year coach Kevin Stefanski, are within the playoffs for the primary time since 2002. Cleveland and Pittsburgh will play once more subsequent week, this time at Heinz Discipline within the AFC wild card spherical.
Cleveland received its first Week 17 sport since 2009 after constructing a 24-9 lead initially of the fourth quarter. The Browns then withstood two late landing passes from Mason Rudolph, who performed rather than a resting Ben Roethlisberger. Down by two factors, Rudolph’s go on a two-point try sailed over the top of Chase Claypool. The Browns then recovered the onside kick earlier than Mayfield’s three-yard run on third-and-two iced the sport.
The Browns received regardless of giving up 315 passing yards from Rudolph, who began for the primary time this season and for simply the second time since shedding in Cleveland in Week 10 of the 2019 season. Cleveland’s offense was powered by a operating sport that churned out 192 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Browns’ new aim
The Browns are postseason certain for the primary time because the franchise’s fourth season again within the NFL, when former No. 1 general decide Tim Sofa guided the Browns to a 9-7 common season. Cleveland will now start its pursuit of its first postseason win since 1994, when Invoice Belichick’s group defeated Invoice Parcells’ Patriots within the wild card spherical.
The Steelers, regardless of shedding 4 out of their final 5 video games, received the AFC North division with a 12-4 report. Pittsburgh is again within the playoffs for the primary time since 2017. They’re looking for their first postseason win since 2016, after they received two playoff video games earlier than shedding to New England one sport shy of the Tremendous Bowl.
Pittsburgh is 2-0 towards Cleveland within the postseason. The Steelers bested the Browns 29-9 within the 1994 divisional spherical. Eight years later, the Browns constructed a 24-7 lead earlier than Tommy Maddox railed Pittsburgh to a 36-33 win.
Early lead behind Chubb
Key blocks by Austin Hooper and Jack Conklin sprung Nick Chubb free on a 47-yard landing run on the Browns’ first possession. Cleveland prolonged its result in 10-0 within the second quarter earlier than a 41-yard catch by Diontae Johnson arrange Matthew Wright’s 29-yard subject aim. A 26-yard completion from Rudolph to JuJu Smith-Schuster arrange Wright’s 46-yard subject aim simply earlier than halftime.
A 41-yard catch by Chase Claypool arrange Wright’s third subject aim — one other 46-yarder — halfway via the third quarter. The Browns’ offense responded on their ensuing possession. Mayfield’s 14-yard completion to David Njoku on third-and-five, alongside along with his 28-yard run on the following play, arrange his two-yard landing go to Austin Hooper.
Down 17-9, the Steelers have been driving earlier than M.J. Stewart picked off Rudolph, who was locked in on Smith-Schuster on a third-and-nine play. The Browns scored 4 performs later, as Jarvis Landry discovered paydirt on a jet sweep on the primary play of the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh confirmed its resolve on its subsequent drive, with Rudolph connecting with Claypool on a 28-yard scoring strike. The Steelers’ protection then gave the offense the ball again with 4 minutes left after the Mayfield misfired on fourth-and-seven on their very own 35-yard line. A Stephon Tuitt sack of Mayfield took the Browns out of subject aim vary.
Rudolph took benefit of the cease, as he hit Johnson on a 47-yard bomb between two Browns defenders. Rudolph then hit Smith-Schuster for a two-yard rating earlier than his two-point go to tie the rating sailed over Claypool’s head.
