The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns both entered the Week 11 game with a 6-3 record, but there were more comparisons between these bitter division rivals than just their record. Both teams have been plagued by injury, and are also injected with hope at the prospects of an AFC North, and playoff berth, looking wide open.

When the game started on the shores of Lake Eerie, it was the Steelers winning the opening coin toss and deferring their possession to the second half. Therefore, it was Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) and the Browns offense taking the field first. DTR was able to move the ball to midfield, but that was when the drive stalled.

The Browns’ punt had Kenny Pickett and company starting their first drive at their own 5-yard line. The first drive for the Steelers was short-lived as Kenny Pickett was sacked on first down and almost equated in a safety. The team was lucky to get a punt away without surrendering points.

Starting at the 50-yard line, DTR and the Browns’ running game quickly moved the ball inside the 5-yard line. On a critical 3rd and goal it looked like Jerome Ford was stopped short, but Kevin Stefanski’s challenge overruled the play and was deemed a touchdown. Despite clear visual evidence, the Steelers trailed 7-0.

The Steelers next drive did nothing more than flip the field before sending the ball back to Cleveland. At the end of the first quarter the Browns were punting the ball back to Pittsburgh after their first three-and-out of the game. The result for the Steelers offense? Another field-flipping drive that didn’t equate in points.

DTR and the Browns started at their own 10-yard line, but couldn’t muster a first down. Meanwhile, the Steelers weren’t having those 3-and-out possessions, but could do nothing in Cleveland territory before sending the ball back to the Browns.

Cleveland’s last possession of the second quarter was their best since their first scoring drive. DTR’s legs equated in several 3rd down conversions, and as the clock hit zero the score for the first half it was 10-0 Browns with the Steelers getting the ball to start the second half.

The second play of the Steelers’ drive equated in more yards than the team amassed the entire first half. It was a 74-yard Jaylen Warren scamper for a touchdown on a sweep play.

ALL ABOARD THE J-TRAIN 🚂 @Nunless2

📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSnfvVk pic.twitter.com/zbXbxnHM8V

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 19, 2023

Chris Boswell’s extra point was good, making the score 10-7 Browns in the early stages of the first half.

Both offenses continued to struggle moving the ball in any way throughout the third quarter. Even after a Chandon Sullivan interception, the Steelers offense went three-and-out and Pressley Harvin shanked the ball back to the Browns. Nonetheless, the Pittsburgh defense stood tall and got the ball right back to the offense.

While it was sluggish throughout the game, Pittsburgh’s offense was able to tie the game behind the hard running of Jaylen Warren and set up a Chris Boswell field goal with 7:40 left in the 4th quarter.

Both teams exchanged possessions before the Steelers got the ball back with 1:42 remaining in regulation with one timeout remaining. Needing just a field goal to win the game, the drive lasted just 14 seconds with three straight incomplete passes. Cleveland took over with 1:14 left and two timeouts, and it took DTR little time to move into field goal range.

Hopkins’ field goal was good as time expired, giving the Browns the 13-10 win. The loss moves the Steelers’ record to 6-4 as they now prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12 of the regular season. Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they press on throughout the regular season.