Welcome to the NFL, where in the end it is proven time and again that anyone can beat anyone. The Cleveland Browns, who have been disastrous in recent games, won 24:19 against the favored Pittsburgh Steelers in the Thursday Night Game of Week 12.
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston had a spectacular game in the snow. After an impressive running touchdown in the fourth quarter, Winston appeared to be the celebrated hero, but a fumble and an interception put the Browns in grave danger. The Steelers took the lead for a while before the Browns defense turned the game around again with an important stop. Winston showed nerve on a crucial third attempt that enabled Nick Chubb’s second touchdown. It was an emotional moment, especially for Chubb, after he was injured against the Steelers last season.
The Steelers missed the chance to win due to questionable decisions in the final phase. Instead of forcing a fourth attempt by the Browns, head coach Mike Tomlin took a penalty, which not only allowed Cleveland to take more time off the clock, but ultimately secured the victory. Even before halftime, Tomlin did not use the remaining time efficiently, which led to criticism of his game management. It was a typical “trap game” for the Steelers: After a big win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 and a short preseason, they stumbled against a seemingly inferior team.
The Browns defense, which had often disappointed so far, was at its best this evening. Especially at the beginning, she dominated with four sacks and a forced turnover by Myles Garrett, which shaped the game. Despite some weaknesses in the second half, the defense managed to force a quick three-and-out in the decisive phase, thus enabling the Browns’ final attack. The weather conditions helped the Browns defense better play to its strengths.
The Steelers offense got going late in the game when Justin Fields provided a breath of fresh air in the fourth quarter. His 30-yard run and a penalty against the Browns defense helped the Steelers score important points. Russell Wilson started strong but was slowed by weak pass protection and numerous penalties. Dan Moore in particular had great difficulties with Myles Garrett, which significantly disrupted the Steelers’ flow of the game.
Week 12 at a glance:
- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns 19:24
- Kansas City Chiefs @ Carolina Panthers -:-
- Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears -:-
- Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans -:-
- Detroit Lions @ Indianapolis Colts -:-
- New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins -:-
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New York Giants -:-
- Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders -:-
- Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders -:-
- San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers -:-
- Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks -:-
- Philadelphia Eagles @ Los Angeles Rams -:-
- Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Chargers -:-
- BYE: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets
About the author
Dirk Kaiser has been active in the field of American football on many levels for over 20 years. In addition to the NFL, he also covers the ELF and GFL for TOUCHDOWN24.
