2024 Week 14: Browns 14, Steelers 27
The Kicker for Cleveland, Dustin Hopkins, missed 2 FGs which helped keep Cleveland out of it but make no mistake, Pittsburgh was the far better team that day.
Pittsburgh (10-3) now has a 2-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North, and it’s commanding enough, and they have the right tiebreakers, that they should win the division. I think it’ll be tied at (12-5) with the Ravens but they win due to the tiebreaker advantages.
Cleveland (3-10) will likely win one more game this season and have a top 3-5 pick in the upcoming draft. It’ll be interesting to see if they go QB, stick by Winston, or try to build their roster up around Deshaun. No matter what money is going to be tight because of that fully guaranteed contract Watson has.
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QB Report:
- Russell Wilson (15/26 for 158 yards, 2 TDs; 6 rushes for 17 yards) has been one of the best QBs in the league going back to Denver’s late turnaround last season. In Russ’s last 16 starts he is (12-4)... (6-1) as the Steelers starter. Russ is perfect for the Steelers because he wins games, and Tomlin wins games. It might not be the prettiest or most fun win you’ll ever see but the most important number in sports is the one in the “win” column.
- Jameis Winston’s (24/41 for 212 yards, 2 TDs/2 INTs; 3 rushes for 28 yards) career resurgence has been fun, and given the situation, he did play pretty well. Cleveland would be better off with those blocking dummies that can’t be knocked over rather than whatever garbage they have playing on the line for them now… and he still throws for 200 yards and 2 scores. Jameis prayed and his prayers were answered, he was delivered from pick-sixes, and the two that he threw weren’t the classic egregious Jameis INTs we have come to expect.
RB Report:
- Neither Nick Chubb (11-48-0) nor Jerome Ford (10-28-0; 3 catches for 19 yards) are FF-viable this season. As noted, the Browns don’t have any blocking so there’s no room for Chubb or Ford to get going. They both look good visually, there’s just nowhere to go.
- Art Smith has figured out the Steelers backfield a bit more, Jaylen Warren (9-47-0; 2 catches for 25 yards) is starting to play more and get more touches, and he’s a value-add to the offense. The more Warren is involved the better the Steelers offense looks, just like it was last year.
WR Report:
- George Pickens was ruled out with a hamstring injury, and it wasn’t Calvin Austin (1-4-0/4) who benefited the most, but rather it was split between Scotty Miller (3-38-0/4) and Mike Williams (3-36-0/4). Big Mike Williams actually looked a little bit like his prime Chargers days in this game. He had his moments, and if he can continue to find his way to his old self it gives a much-needed boost to the Steelers passing game.
image source: (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)