By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
CLEVELAND, OH--The AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers were ‘sitting pretty’ after their 29-24 win vs. the Detroit Lions. Along with the 2nd place Baltimore Ravens losing to the New England Patriots, all the Steelers needed was another Ravens loss to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday or for them to beat the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field to clinch their first division title since 2020.
To coin a phrase from Major League Baseball, the Steelers went 0-2 with those hopes this weekend. First, they received no help from the Packers as they were the victims of a 41-24 rout by the Ravens (8-7) as RB Derrick Henry manhandled them for 216 yards and 4 TDs on Saturday, and then the Steelers failed to help themselves by getting upset by the 3-12 Browns 13-6, dropping their record to 9-6 and ending their 3-game winning streak.
“You know, a tough, hard fought AFC North matchup. We certainly didn’t make enough plays today, and they did. I’ve got to compliment those guys on an outstanding winning effort,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
In this low-scoring affair that was affected by the weather, rookie QB Shedeur Sanders (17/23, 186 yards, TD, 2 INT) and the Browns made just enough plays to get the win, which unfortunately was the opposite for the Steelers as they failed to score a TD the entire game.
“You know, I didn’t think we played poorly. We just didn’t make enough plays,” said Tomlin. “I thought they played well. I thought the game was kind of unfolding in the way that you would anticipate, but we never made that signature play that kind of got us over the hump. That generally is the deciding factor in games like this and we generally make them. We didn’t make them today.”
After giving up 10 first-quarter points, the Steelers defense was able to contain Sanders and the Browns offense as LB Alex Highsmith sacked him 2 times and LB Jack Sawyer and S Kyle Dugger each had interceptions, but the offense (who had their opportunities) were unable to convert them into TDs. Their only points came off the foot of K Chris Boswell as he connected for 2 FGs and had a painful miss on another late in the game.
“You know, they had a lot to do with it. They made some plays. And I’m never one not to compliment worthy opponents, and certainly they made plays today,” said Tomlin.
It truly was a challenging day for Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (21/39, 168 yards) as he had to adjust to a passing attack that was without leading WR DK Metcalf (suspension) and eventually TE Darnell Washington who left the game due to a broken arm.
“It was an impact, but we certainly have capable men, and we expect those guys to make necessary plays, and we certainly didn’t make enough today,” said Tomlin regarding Metcalf’s absence.
When asked about how much time Washington could miss due to his injury, Tomlin replied “That, I don’t know.”
The Steelers will now have to face the Ravens in the rematch at Acrisure Stadium for the rights to the AFC North Title and a trip to the playoffs. For both teams, it will be a Game 7-type atmosphere where it’s win or go home.
“Because we’ve done it all season. We’ve handled adversity well and when we’ve had to play our best ball, we did. Other than today,” said Rodgers.
“We’ve been here before, and so certainly we have a big week ahead of us, man, in the big game, in Acrisure next weekend,” said Tomlin.
Please email Ray at rayporterjr72@gmail.com
Follow him @RP2872_Jr on X
