CLEVELAND — The Browns were playing for nothing by pride and being a spoiler. The Pittsburgh Steelers were playing for the AFC North championship.
Turns out, there’s always something to play for when Cleveland is playing Pittsburgh. That showed as the Browns led the whole way in a 13-6 win over the Steelers.
The game came down to four plays from the Browns’ 10. After a 3-yard pass to Adam Thielen on first down, three Aaron Rodgers passes from the Cleveland 7 were incomplete, including a fourth-down pass break-up by Denzel Ward.
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The Browns win means they improve to 4-12. It also means the Steelers have to beat the Baltimore Ravens in Pittsburgh in Week 18 in order to win the AFC North, or the Ravens will win the divsion.
Here’s how the Browns’ fourth consecutive home win over Pittsburgh played out:
Andre Szmyt’s 33-yard FG pushes Browns lead out late
The Browns have a 13-6 advantage with 1:44 remaining after Andre Szmyt kicked a 33-yard field goal. The Steelers have no timeouts remaining,
Browns get Shelby Harris batted ball to forced turnover on downs
Shelby Harris batted down Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-and-10 pass from the Steelers 20. It gives the ball to Cleveland with 1:58 remaining and holding a 10-6 lead.
Corey Bojorquez with huge punt to flip field late
The Browns got the punt they needed when they were in a fourth-and-1 from their own 19. Corey Bojorquez uncorked a 61-yard punt that Pittsburgh’s Scotty Miller had to fair catch at the Steelers’ 20 with 2:16 remaining.
Teven Jenkins with concussion, will not return
Teven Jenkins has been ruled out with a concussion. Zak Zinter has replaced him at right guard.
Terrible Shedeur Sanders decision leads to interception by Kyle Dugger
Shedeur Sanders tried to lob a pass across and down the field. The moon ball became an easy interception for Pittsburgh’s Kyle Dugger, who was boxing out wide receiver Jerry Jeudy at the Pittsburgh 34 with 12:02 remaining.
Teven Jenkins being evaluated for a concussion
Right guard Teven Jenkins was questionable to return as he’s being evaluated for a concussion. Zak Zinter has replaced him in the lineup.
Steelers’ Chris Boswell short on 54-yard FG
The Steelers came away with no points on a promising drive when Chris Boswell’s 54-yard field goal toward the west goal posts was short. The long field goal try was set up by a 5-yard loss on a sack by Alex Wright on third down.
The Browns take over at their own 44 with 12:53 remaining.
End 3 quarter: Cleveland Browns 10, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
The Steelers have a first down at the Browns 27 to open the fourth quarter.
Teven Jenkins in Browns medical tent
Right guard Teven Jenkins went into medical tent after the Browns’ offensive series. Zak Zinter, technically the No. 3 right guard, was getting loose on the sideline.
No official word has been given by Browns about the injury.
Alex Highsmith with sack for Steelers on 2nd down
The Steelers’ Alex Highsmith came up with a second-down sack of Shedeur Sanders that left the Browns in third-and-15 from the Cleveland 30. It was the second sack of Sanders in the game, both by Highsmith.
Cam Heyward roughing the passer flag bails out Browns
The Browns were mired in a hole on second-and-14 from their own 10. Shedeur Sanders threw incomplete while pressured by Cam Heyward.
Heyward, though, hit Sanders and landed on him, drawing a roughing the passer penalty. That gave Cleveland a first down at its own 25.
Harold Fannin Jr. ruled out for remainder of game
The Browns officially ruled out tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with a groin injury. He suffered the injury on the game’s lone touchdown.
Halftime: Chris Boswell pulls Steelers within 10-6 of Browns
Chris Boswell kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. That pulled the Steelers wuthin 10-6 of the Browns.
Pittsburgh gets the second-half kickoff.
Blake Whiteheart breaks up potential Nick Herbig pick 6
Shedeur Sanders can thank tight end Blake Whiteheart for not throwing an interception to Nick Herbig was turned into a touchdown. Whiteheart broke up a pass that Herbig perfectly read and was going to turn into a pick 6.
Steelers’ 4th-and-1 pass incomplete
The Steelers tried a fade route on a fourth-and-1 play from the Browns 22 with 2:46 remaining. It was nowhere near the intended wide receiver, Scotty Miller.
Steelers TE Darnell Washington out for rest of the game
A literal big target for the Steelers is out due to injury. Pittsburgh has ruled out tight end Darnell Washington with a forearm injury.
Alex Highsmith’s hit sets up Jack Sawyer’s pick of Shedeur Sanders
The Steelers’ Alex Highsmith beat left tackle Cam Robinson and hit Shedeur Sanders as he was throwing the ball. That led to an interception by Jack Sawyer that he returned 29 yards to the Browns 31 with 4:55 remaining in the second quarter.
Browns can’t convert 4th down in Steelers territory
The Browns got 11 yards back on third-and-17 when Shedeur Sanders scrambled. On fourth-and-6 from the Steelers 33, they elected to go for it, but Sanders’ pass to Sal Cannella was low and wide and was incomplete with 10:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Carson Schwesinger working out thigh injury
Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been working out a thigh injury on the bike on the sideline, according to the TV broadcast.
Chris Boswell puts Pittsburgh Steelers on the board
The Steelers came away with points on a 44-yard Chris Boswell field goal. The kick, with 14:54 left in the second quarter, cut the Browns lead to 10-3.
End 1st quarter: Cleveland Browns 10, Pittsburgh Steelers 0
The Steelers have a third-and-14 at the Browns 26 to open the second quarter.
Rayshawn Jenkins’ taunting penalty gives Steelers 1st down
The Browns were about to get another defensive three-and-out after an 11-yard completion to Darnell Washington left Pittsburgh in a fourth-and-4 at the Steelers 25. However, safety Rayshawn Jenkins was flagged for taunting, giving the Steelers a first down at their 40.
Harold Fannin Jr. heading to locker room
Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was heading to the locker room after two trips into the medical tent. The Browns have not yet announced the official nature of the injury.
‘Harold Fannin Jr. injured on impressive TD catch for Browns
Harold Fannin Jr. appeared to re-aggravate the groin injury that had him listed as questionable coming into the game. However, he did it in a very impressive fashion.
Fannin was running a corner route that he needed to adjust to catch a ball that was more inside than he had originally expected. On the adjustment, he pulled in the catch and landed right outside the goal line, and simply rolled into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Fannin was clearly limping when he got up before going down and being looked at by the trainers. He walked off on his own and went into the medical tent.
The Andre Szmyt PAT made it 10-0 Browns.
Teven Jenkins at right guard for Browns’ second possession
The Browns are alternating right guards by series. Wyatt Teller got the opening series, and now Teven Jenkins is in for the second one.
Browns defense posts 3-and-out on Steelers’ 1st possession with Aaron Rodgers starting
The Steelers went three-and-out on their first drive. Aaron Rodgers, as expected since the division title is up for grabs, was starting at quarterback.
The longest play was a 4-yard run by Jaylen Warren, one in which he fumbled. However, the Steelers recovered it at their own 32.
Cleveland Browns starting defense vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Browns opening drive ends in Andre Szmyt FG
The Browns got points on their opening drive, just not as many as they wanted. Andre Szmyt kicked a 50-yard field goal with 10:48 remaining in the first quarter for a 3-0 Cleveland lead.
The drive was a nine-play, 41-yard march.
Cleveland Browns starting offense vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Browns win coin toss and will receive
The Browns won the toss and elected to receive to open the game.
Baltimore Ravens rooting hard for Browns
The Ravens need the Browns to beat the Steelers in order to Baltimore to have a shot at the division title and playoffs. Needless to say, the Ravens players are making their rooting interests known.
Harold Fannin Jr. will play for Browns against Steelers
Harold Fannin Jr told everyone he was going to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns tight end was a man of his word.
Despite showing up on the injury report with a groin injury Dec. 26, Fannin was active for the Browns’ final home game. The Canton native had said the same day he was listed as questionable that “I should be good by Sunday.”
The groin injury happened during the Dec. 26 practice. However, Fannin downplayed it, saying, “Yeah, a little tweak. I thought it was best I just stop.”
The Browns were down a tight end already, with David Njoku out for a third consecutive game due to a knee injury. They had elevated tight end Sal Cannella from the practice squad the day before the game.
Fannin set the Browns’ rookie receptions record with 70 catches. He’s currently sixth all-time among Browns rookies in receiving yards with 701, eight yards from tying Greg Little for fifth.
Dillon Gabriel inactive; Bailey Zappe to be Browns’ backup QB
While tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was able to shake off a late-week injury, the same was not true for backup quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel was ruled out with a left shoulder soreness, with practice-squad elevation Bailey Zappe to serve as the backup.
Gabriel went through an early throwing session under the watch of quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and other members of the Browns’ coaching and athletic training staff. The decision was finalized at that point to sit Gabriel.
The Browns did get good news on running back Dylan Sampson, who will be active after missing a pair of games due to a hand injury. Sampson figures to get plenty of chances with Quinshon Judkins having been placed on injured reserve due to his dislocated ankle and fractured fibula.
Cleveland Browns inactive list vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
What time is Browns vs. Steelers today?
The Browns and Bills will kick off at 1 p.m. Dec. 28.
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Browns gameday roster elevations
Here are the Browns players who were elevated from the practice squad to the gameday roster:
Browns injury update
Here are the Browns players who were given game status designations on the injury report:
Steelers injury update
Here are the Steelers players who were given game status designations on the injury report:
Browns 2025 scores, schedule
Steelers 2025 scores, schedule
Pittsburgh Steelers in all-time regular-season/postseason series vs. Cleveland Browns
Today marks the 149th all-time meeting between the Browns and Steelers in the regular season and postseason since 1950, while this is the 56th meeting, regular-season or playoffs, since Cleveland’s expansion team started play in 1999. Here is a look at the Turnpike Rivalry as it heads into its 149th edition:
Cleveland Browns 2025 active roster
Quarterbacks (2): Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders
Running backs (3): Dylan Sampson, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, Trayveon Williams
Wide receivers (6): Isaiah Bond, Jerry Jeudy, Gage Larvadain, Malachi Corley, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash
Tight ends (4): Harold Fannin Jr., David Njoku, Blake Whiteheart, Brenden Bates
Offensive linemen (10): Joel Bitonio, Teven Jenkins, KT Leveston, Cornelius Lucas, Cam Robinson, Wyatt Teller, Luke Wypler, Zak Zinter, Jeremiah Byers, Kendrick Green
Defensive linemen (9): Sam Kamara, Myles Garrett, Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., Shelby Harris, Adin Huntington, Isaiah McGuire, Cameron Thomas, Alex Wright
Linebackers (5): Jerome Baker, Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Carson Schwesinger
Defensive backs (11): Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, Myles Harden, Ronnie Hickman, Rayshawn Jenkins, D’Angelo Ross, Sam Webb, Donovan McMillon, Denzel Ward, Tre Avery, Christopher Edmonds
Specialists (3): Corey Bojorquez, Andre Szmyt, Rex Sunahara
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns pull off upset, stop Steelers from winning AFC North | Recap
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
