Despite out-gaining the Cleveland Browns 368-304 and winning the turnover battle 3-1, the Pittsburgh Steelers left snowy Cleveland with a 24-19 loss on Thursday night. Fourth downs ended up being the difference, as the Steelers went 1-3 on fourth downs, while the Browns were a perfect 4-4. Chris Boswell also missed a 58-yard field goal.
It certainly was a wild game on the shores of Lake Erie. In fact, the Browns did something that no other team in NFL history has accomplished. The Browns became the first team in league history to commit 3+ turnovers, have 8+ penalties, convert no more than one third down, have under 25:00 time of possession, blow a 12+ point fourth-quarter lead …and yet still win the game.
The Browns are the first team in NFL history to:
commit 3+ turnovers
have 8+ penalties
convert no more than 1 third down
have under 25:00 TOP
blow a 12+ point fourth-quarter lead…and yet still win the game. pic.twitter.com/w6IeEgmSmA
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 22, 2024
Bill Barnwell of ESPN also shared a wild stat from Thursday night’s game. The Browns lost the turnover battle by two, failed to convert even two third downs all game (1-10), didn’t score a return TD and were out-gained. Teams with that combination were 0-67 over the last 30 years before the Browns beat the Steelers.
Fun with junk stat combinations
Browns:
– lost the turnover battle by two
– failed to convert even two third downs all game (1-10)
– didn't score a return TD
– were outgainedTeams with that combination were 0-67 over the last 30 years before the Browns won tonight.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 22, 2024
I’m sure the Steelers coaching staff and players will be kicking themselves over the next nine days until their Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. They should have never lost to Cleveland.
“We should’ve won that game,” Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said after the loss. “We felt like we battled in a tough environment. The way we answered in the fourth quarter was pretty special and we had a chance at the end, too.”
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens flat-out said the Browns are not even a good team.
“The conditions were so bad,” Pickens said when asked about a third-quarter missed connection between him and Russell Wilson. “I don’t even think the QB could see sometimes. When you’ve got conditions like that at the opponent’s home field, it kinda plays in their favor. …
“The conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game. I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kinda saved them today.
The Steelers rematch against the Browns will take place on Dec. 8 at Acrisure Stadium.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Cleveland.