The Steelers’ NFL playoff hopes are hanging in the balance after Aaron Rodgers and his teammates suffered a brutal loss against Shedeur Sanders and the Browns.
Pittsburgh had a chance to seal their AFC North title since 2020 with a win in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon, but Rodgers and Co inexplicably came up short, losing 6-13 after a failed final drive that ended just short of the end zone.
With the loss, the Steelers’ playoff chances now sit at 44.8%, per ESPN’s prediction model, and their season will come down to a shootout next week with divisional rivals the Baltimore Ravens.
That Week 18 shootout between the Ravens and Steelers will decide who wins the AFC North, and who marches on to the playoffs.
In Sunday’s game, Sanders threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, securing just the second win of his fledgling career – and by far the biggest.
The Browns (4-12) snapped a four-game losing streak, along with a seven-game skid in division games. It is the first time since December 10, 2009, that the Browns defeated the Steelers and held them without a touchdown.
Aaron Rodgers is now facing the prospect of a final-week showdown with the Ravens
Shedeur Sanders secured just the second win of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland scored on its first two possessions and jumped out to a 10-0 lead.
Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes, including a touchdown and two interceptions as he improved to 2-4 as an NFL starting quarterback.
Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored a touchdown for the third time in four games and Andre Szmyt had two field goals, including one from 33 yards that put the Browns up 13-6 with 1:40 remaining.
Pittsburgh got the ball at its 35 after a touchback. Rodgers got the Steelers to the Browns 11 in four plays, including completions of 29 and 11 yards to tight end Pat Freiermuth.
A 3-yard completion to Adam Thielen on first-and-10 got the Steelers to the Browns 7, but Rodgers was unable to connect with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the next three plays.
Denzel Ward blanketed Valdes-Scantling on a pass to the right corner of the end zone on fourth-and-7 with 17 seconds remaining as Pittsburgh turned it over on downs.
Myles Garrett was held without a sack for the first time in 10 games. He remains at 22 and needs one against Cincinnati next week to surpass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt for the single-season NFL mark.
Sanders greets his father Deion ahead of the game at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday
It was veteran vs rookie and the young Browns QB came out on top, to the surprise of many
The Browns scored on their opening possession for the second straight game on Szmyt’s 50-yard field goal.
After Pittsburgh went three-and-out, Cleveland got into the end zone on the ensuing series when Fannin caught a 28-yard TD pass from Sanders to make it 10-0. Fannin adjusted his route as the ball hung in the air. He caught it at the 1 before rolling into the end zone with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Fannin aggravated his groin injury on the play and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Fannin originally suffered the injury during Friday’s practice.
The Steelers closed within 10-6 at halftime on a pair of field goals by Chris Boswell. Pittsburgh appeared to go three-and-out on its second drive, but Cleveland’s Rayshawn Jenkins was called for taunting.
Harold Fannin Jr scored yet another touchdown but then went off after suffering another injury
Boswell connected from 44 yards early in the second quarter to put the Steelers on the board. He added a 40-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.
Boswell was short on a 54-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter after Alex Wright sacked Rodgers for a 5-yard loss at the Browns 36 on third-and-14.
Pittsburgh wasted a prime scoring chance with 2:46 remaining in the first half when it turned it over on downs at the Cleveland 22 when Rodgers wasn’t able to connect with Scotty Miller on a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-1.
The Steelers drive started at the Browns 31 when rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer, who went to Ohio State, picked off Sanders’ pass at the Pittsburgh 42 and returned it 27 yards into Cleveland territory.
