COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score – Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0) 38 def. Cleveland Browns (4-2) 7

For the first time since 1978, the Steelers are 5-0 after defeating the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field Sunday, stretching the Browns’ winless streak at Heinz Field out another year.

After the Steelers started the scoring in the first quarter on the first drive of the game with a 35-yard field goal by Chris Boswell, it was Minkah Fitzpatrick making a splash play, as he intercepted Baker Mayfield on a third-down play and took it 33 yards to pay dirt. James Conner’s three-yard rushing score with 10:28 left in the second quarter pushed the lead to 17-0 before James Washington caught a 28-yard touchdown from Ben Roethlisberger, which allowed the Steelers to open up a 24-0 lead.

Rashard Higgins found a soft spot in the Steelers’ zone defense with just over a minute left in the second quarter, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Baker Mayfield. In the second half, Chase Claypool scored on a three-yard run and Benny Snell Jr. scored from a yard out to seal the scoring.

The Steelers will travel to Tennessee next week to play the originally postponed game against the 5-0 Titans. Check out our Steelers Reaction podcast tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts for a bigger break down of today’s game.

COMON Network Team Commentary

DONNY CHEDRICK

• Statement Made. Anyone questioning the Steelers after what we saw Sunday at Heinz Field probably doesn’t have much to sing about that tune now. An absolute shellacking on the North Shore. A 30+ point win over a 4-1 football team (now 4-2). There was never a doubt. The Steelers scored early and often, and never allowed Cleveland to feel like they were in the game.
• Garrett = Quiet. Myles Garrett is one of the best defensive players in football and certainly not a fan favorite in Pittsburgh after the Mason Rudolph debacle last season. He had one sack on Sunday. One. A minimal impact.
• Road Trip. Three consecutive road games coming up. All against potential playoff teams. Tennessee then Baltimore then Dallas. Realistically, any outcome for these three weeks won’t hurt the Steelers, even if it’s 0-3. That would put them at 5-3. With seven teams making the playoffs, it wouldn’t hurt. I’ll guess 2-1 for now. That’s a 7-1 start. I think we’d all take it.

Player of the Game – Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT)

KYLE DAWSON

• Man, I did not expect that. I predicted the Steelers to win by a score of 31-30. I really thought this Browns team was good. I believed in Baker Mayfield to do enough good with his supporting cast to keep Cleveland in the game, but what we got was another Browns performance at Heinz Field that will continue their abysmal play at the stadium on the North Shore. There are more than 10 teams in Pennsylvania that have more wins at Heinz Field than the Browns. Baker Mayfield was absolutely atrocious today. Embarrassing. Momma didn’t raise a wuss but momma didn’t raise a winner either. Mayfield is the worst QB in the division and I’m not sure it’s close at all. The rushing game has bailed him out and when it didn’t bail him out today, he got exposed. Case Keenum is better than him and if Keenum’s former QB coach is smart, he’ll stick with Keenum going forward.
• Hopefully Devin Bush is okay. Injury didn’t look horrible but sometimes they don’t look that bad. That said, Robert Spillane was excellent in relief of Bush. I thought he was awesome. He had six tackles including a TFL. Good stuff, but the Steelers need Bush.
• James Conner over 100 yards for the third time this year. He was great today. Add in the touchdown and count in that the Browns’ defense has been good against the run this year and it’s even more impressive. Conner looks like a stud at times, and if he continues to do what he is doing, it’s only going to take more pressure off Ben Roethlisberger.
• Minkah Fitzpatrick. We’ve been asking where he has been and begging for a play. There ya go.
• It was such a shame to watch the Browns perform so poorly in their Super Bowl!

Player of the Game – James Conner (PIT)

JOE SMELTZER

• Baker Mayfield embarrassed the city of Cleveland today. Not that the rest of his goons were impressive by any stretch, but boy did this guy shit the bed
• It’s difficult to pick a player of the game for today, but my vote goes to James Conner. Among the many unexpected things to happen at Heinz Field today was the Steelers establishing the run game. Connor didn’t do much against the Eagles, and Cleveland’s run defense is among the best in football. But Connor was on from the get go, thus taking some pressure off of Ben Roethlisberger and continuing a quietly solid season in the process.
• Speaking of Ben, he was pretty good, too. 

Player of the Game – James Conner (PIT)