Harris, Freiermuth Score, Steelers Hang on in Wild Win over Browns

CLEVELAND — Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth both scored touchdowns and the Pittsburgh Steelers held on for a wild 15-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday.
Freiermuth hauled in a Ben Roethlisberger pass in the back of the end zone with 11:04 to play in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers the lead for good.

The Pittsburgh defense got two stops to hold the margin, the first when Joe Schobert stripped the football from Jarvis Landry with the Browns in field goal range and T.J. Watt recovered. After a Steelers punt, Minkah Fitzpatrick broke up a fourth-down pass to Jarvis Landry to give Pittsburgh the ball back.

Roethlisberger hit Diontae Johnson on a slant to give the Steelers a first down and seal the victory.

Much of the drama of the second half of the game centered on the Steelers playing without their field goal kicker, as Chris Boswell was injured late in the first half when he took a hit while attempting a fake field goal. Boswell was held out of the rest of the game while being evaluated for a concussion.

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Not only did the Steelers not get any points on that late first-half drive, with the score then tied 3-3, but they were forced to go for a two-point conversion after both second-half touchdowns.

Both tries failed, leaving the Steelers defense to hold a five-point late margin instead of being a 10-point game.
That unit stepped up, sacking Baker Mayfield four times and holding the Browns’ potent rushing attack to 96 yards on 23 carries. Mayfield finished 20 of 31 for 225 yards.

Roethlisberger was an efficient 22 of 33 for 266 yards and the touchdown pass to to Freiermuth. Harris rushed 24 times for 88 yards and one score. The Steelers did not turn the ball over.

Watt added 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits to his fumble recovery. Chris Wormley, Isaiah Loudermilk and Cam Heyward each sacked Mayfield.

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Pittsburgh (4-3) passed Cleveland (4-4) for third place in the AFC North with the win.