The Pittsburgh Steelers helped the Cleveland Browns make history by beating them 28-24. The Cleveland loss makes the Browns the 2nd team in NFL history to finish a season 0-16.The 2008 Detroit Lions were the first and the 5th team overall in NFL history since 1944. The Browns now join the elite club with the 1960 Dallas Cowboys (0-11), 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) and the 1982 Baltimore Colts (Strike shortened season 0-8-1).
Jimmy Haslam spoke to the media following #CLEvsPIT: pic.twitter.com/EIHisTdoXz
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 31, 2017
It’s also the first time the Browns have had a winless season. Last season Cleveland finished 1-15 making them 1-31 over the past 2 seasons and 4-44 since 2015. Their best season in the past 5 years was a 7 win and 9 loss mark (they started 5-2) in 2014. The team from Ohio appeared to be able to avoid another loss as they battled the Steelers tough for 3 quarters thanks to the emergence of QB DeShone Kizer, who may have answered the Browns QB woes passing for 314 yards and 2 TDs. He also ran for 61 yards while making Josh Gordon his favorite target as Josh caught 4 passes for 115 yards.
#Browns Live: DeShone Kizer at the podium following #CLEvsPIT https://t.co/kFkSmpnXKb
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 31, 2017
Meanwhile the Steelers got the victory despite several of their offensive starters not playing. Landry Jones started at quarterback for the Steelers who jumped out to a 21-7 lead thanks to 2 TDs starting with a 29-end around TD run by WR Darrius Heyward-Bey followed by a 20-yard TD pass from Jones to JuJu Smith-Shuster. The Steelers other 2 TDs were the product of a 1-yard TD run by Stevan Ridley and a 96-yard KR by Smith-Shuster. In fact, Smith-Shuster had 265 total yardson the day including 143 yards on 9 receptions. The
Browns fought back as Kizer burned the Steelers for 2 TDs in the 2nd quarter, and 1 in the 3rd quarter. Cleveland Kicker Zane Gonzalez used his leg to help with a 51-yard FG .But the Browns miscues cost them the game. A costly fumble and a Kizer interception hurt, but the crushing blow was a drop by WR Corey Coleman on 4th down late in the game sealing Clevelands destiny to become winless this season.
#Browns Live: Hue Jackson at the podium following #CLEvsPIT https://t.co/foZVavBLBd
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 31, 2017
The Steelers finished with a 13-3 record (their first 13-win season since 2001) and will now go into the playoffs as the AFC’s #2 seed after the New England Patriots sealed the #1 seed after beating the NY Jets 24-6. The Steelers will benefit from the 1st round bye with hopes that WR Antonio Brown will return from his calf injury and rest for C Maurkise Pouncey (hip).
The Steelers are now 2 wins away from Super Bowl 52, and they hope this playoff run will end with them making some history of their own.
.@TeamJuJu‘s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was our first kickoff returned for a touchdown since 2010. pic.twitter.com/urGykdDZKo
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 1, 2018
Other NFL Scores: The 2017 playoffs are set. In addition to the top 2 seeds in the AFC Playoffs, the top 2 NFC Seeds are set as well with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings taking those top seeds. In the AFC, Tennessee and Buffalo are in as they defeated Jacksonville 15-10 and Miami 22-16, respectively. Unfortunately, the LA Chargers were eliminated despite beating Oakland 30-10 and Baltimore was eliminated after losing to Cincinnati 31-27. In the NFC, Atlanta clinched a playoff berth after beating Carolina 22-10, which eliminated Seattle who fell to Arizona 26-24. Despite New Orleans losing 31-24 to Tampa Bay, they clinched the NFC South Division. In other scores, The Eagles fell 6-0 to Dallas, the Minnesota beat Chicago 23-10. Detroit beat Green Bay 35-10, Kansas City beat Denver 27-24, Indianapolis beat Houston 22-13, and the NY Giants beat Washington 18-10 and San Francisco beat the LA Rams 34-13.
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