Browns Fight Through Snow To Stun Steelers, 24-19: Game Notes

A display of resolve and toughness led the Browns past their division rival at Huntington Bank Field on TNF.

We need these, man. In the worst way possible. The 2024 season has been filled with far too many weeks like what we just experienced just four day ago, but last night we got that necessary reminder.

The reminder being that when these guys lay it all on the line, they’re good enough to play with anyone and also good enough to beat anyone. This 24-19 win over the Steelers on Thursday Night Football felt like last year in so many ways. A game where it felt like they had no business winning before it kicked off and the odds stacked against them at several moments throughout it. Yet, they found a way.

They overcame the odds in the data as well.

As the snow started to pour down in the second half the Browns took an 18-6 lead in the early 4th quarter on a Jameis Winston 2-yard touchdown run that saw him trudge through the snow and take a hit as he dove into the end zone. However, the Steelers fought back and scored two consecutive touchdowns in two minutes to stun the Browns and take a 19-18 lead with just 6:15 remaining.

That was the moment the group could have folded. They put it all on the line to go up 12 with just over 12 minutes to play just to watch Pittsburgh take the lead back from them. But they were steadfast in this one and despite having to punt one more time, the defense met the occasion and Winston and the offense mounted that key final touchdown drive to seal the deal. All of which just felt so right after a season of so much wrong. I had fun and I hope you did too.

Let’s do some Week 12 Game Notes.

• Another strong Jameis Winston game given the elements and opponent. He ends up with 219 passing yards and an interception (one which was thrown in the worst of the wind and was a slight landmark confusion with Elijah Moore) which doesn’t look overly strong on the surface but it was the way he extended with his legs to make throws outside the pocket, played on time and with accuracy when he was in rhythm, and just keep battling late as the elements grew nastier. Gutsy performance from the veteran.

• The run game had a decent mix of gun run and under-center where Nick Chubb ran for 59 yards on 20 carries. The long for the night was only 7 yards but they started to really put some strong efforts on display late in gun inside zone and it helped them seal the deal.

• Jerry Jeudy was really special in this one. He was on it all evening from the start and led the receiver room in the biggest moments. He hauled-in all six of his targets for a team and game-high 85 receiving yards. His route running was crisp and he was playing fast all evening. He had some really strong efforts in the better parts of the weather and was sure handed late when they needed him most in the snow. Such a big performance.