CLEVELAND (AP) — Shedur Sanders ran for 186 yards and a touchdown, Cleveland’s defense kept Pittsburgh from the end zone, and the Browns stopped the Steelers from closing in on the AFC North with a 13-6 victory on Sunday.
Pittsburgh (9-7) enters the weekend needing a win or a loss against Baltimore for its first division title since 2020.
Instead, the Steelers will host the Ravens, with the winner clinching the division title and the AFC’s No. 4 seed for the playoffs to finish the regular season.
The Browns (4-12) ended a four-game losing streak and suffered a seven-game losing streak in divisional games. It was the first time since December 10, 2009 that the Browns defeated the Steelers without a touchdown.
Cleveland scored on its first two possessions to take a 10-0 lead.
Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes, including one touchdown and two interceptions, and went 2-4 as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored his third touchdown in four games, and Andre Schmidt made two field goals, including one from 33 yards, to give the Browns a 13-6 lead with 1:40 remaining.
Pittsburgh got the ball in the 35th minute after a touchback. Rodgers led the Steelers to 11 points over the Browns in four plays, including gains of 29 and 11 yards to tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Adam Thielen’s 3-yard completion on first-and-10 gave the Steelers a seven-point lead over the Browns, but Rodgers was unable to connect with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the next three plays. Pittsburgh was back on downs with 17 seconds left on fourth-and-7 when Denzel Ward blanketed Valdes-Scantling with a pass to the right corner of the end zone.
Myles Garrett was held without a sack for the first time in 10 games. He’s only 22 years old, but he needs one more shot against Cincinnati next week to surpass Michael Strahan and TJ Watt for the NFL single-season record.
The Browns scored on Schmidt’s first possession for the second consecutive game on a 50-yard field goal.
After Pittsburgh went 3-and-out, Cleveland found its way into the end zone on the ensuing series and Fannin caught a 28-yard TD pass from Sanders to make it 10-0. When the ball was in the air, Fannin adjusted his route. He caught it on the 1 before rolling into the end zone with 5:11 left in the first quarter.
Fannin aggravated a groin injury on this play and missed the remainder of the game. Fannin was originally injured during Friday’s practice.
Two Chris Boswell field goals brought the Steelers within 10-6 by halftime. Pittsburgh appeared to have a three-and-out on its second drive, but Cleveland’s Rayshawn Jenkins was called for taunting.
Boswell connected from 44 yards early in the second quarter to give the Steelers the lead. He added a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.
Boswell fell short on a 54-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter after Alex Wright sacked Rodgers for a 5-yard loss on third-and-14 at the Browns’ 36.
second guess
Pittsburgh wasted a great scoring opportunity with 2:46 left in the first half when they were down on downs at the Cleveland 22, but Rodgers couldn’t connect with Scotty Miller on a pass into the end zone on fourth-and-1.
The Steelers’ offense began at the Browns’ 31, and Ohio State-bound rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer picked off a pass from Sanders at the Pittsburgh 42 and returned it 27 yards into Cleveland’s half.
injury
Steelers: TE Darnell Washington (forearm) left in the second quarter.
Browns: In addition to Fannin, guard Wyatt Teller aggravated a calf injury in the first quarter. G Tevin Jenkins suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter.
to the next
Steelers: Next weekend in Baltimore
Browns: Finish season at Cincinnati.
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