Browns Hang On To Defeat Steelers 13-10

The Cleveland Browns somehow managed to come away with a 13-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was a game that came down to the wire, as it was Dustin Hopkins playing hero yet again in the final seconds. 

Quarterback struggles 

It was a rough day for Browns rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. While Thompson-Robinson began the game efficiently, moving the ball as the game progressed became tough. Pittsburgh’s defense had zero respect for his ability to throw the ball downfield. This resulted in the Steelers flooding the area 5-10 yards away from the line of scrimmage with defenders, making it almost impossible to complete anything. Thompson-Robinson would finish the day completing 24 of 43 attempts for 165 yards and one interception.

Even though the Browns won, it is hard to imagine they’ll stick with Thompson-Robinson for an extended period. There is just not enough there to warrant further playing time.  

Defense steps up 

Once again, it was Cleveland’s defense that did the heavy lifting. Outside of a fluke run by Jaylen Warren early in the 3rd, Pittsburgh finished with just 175 yards of offense. 

The Browns sacked Kenny Pickett three times while keeping their passing game in check. Pickett managed just 106 yards on 15 completions in the contest. 

Cleveland has been carried by their defense all year long. This has led to surprising wins this season (7). But until their offense becomes consistent, the concern that this unit runs out of gas late in the season is very real. Being leaned on this much to come through can compound week after week and eventually lead to breaking down, a situation the Browns cannot afford, given their current offensive struggles. 

What’s next?

The Browns have two consecutive games on their schedule that take place in the Pacific Time Zone. First up is a meeting with the Denver Broncos, followed by a trip down to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. These are two very winnable games for the Browns, but their offense is going to have to start pulling their weight to do so. Perhaps a quarterback change could lead to better results offensively for Cleveland as they look to get ready for a playoff push.