CLEVELAND — When people use terms like "AFC North Football," they're taking about games like the one played Thursday night on the shores of Lake Erie.
As the snow battered Huntington Bank Field, the ensuing backdrop turned what was already a fierce rivalry into a modern masterpiece. In what will forever be remembered as one of their all-time classic meetups, it was the Browns who came away smiling, knocking off the hated Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 under the lights and flakes.
With Cleveland now 3-8, it won't do much to redeem what has been a disastrous season, but it can at least somewhat numb the pain, and not just because the more than 60,000 fans in attendance couldn't feel their toes. Fittingly, it was Nick Chubb who played the role of hero, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute left. It was the beloved Pro Bowler's first game against the Steelers since suffering a gruesome knee injury in Pittsburgh more than a year ago.
Chubb ran for just 59 yards on 20 carries, but scored twice and proved to be a galvanizing force for his teammates, who all had praise for him afterwards.
"I know how important this was for him," quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw for 219 yards and ran for a TD, said. "And we ain't going to talk about last year. You all know the gig, but I'm so grateful and happy that I was able to see a smile on his face after that sweet victory against this team."
The Steelers got the ball back with a chance to win it, but Russell Wilson's last-second pass was knocked down by Denzel Ward. The loss drops the division-leading Steelers to 8-3 and marks their fifth defeat in six tries at Huntington Bank Field, including the last three in a row.
It's hard to believe, but the stadium's grass was emerald green when the game kicked off around 8:15 p.m., and it stayed that way into the third quarter. Even when the snow began to pick up, it was still difficult to imagine what would transpire, until maybe when Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's beard became covered with white.
Within minutes, the field was blanketed with an icy sheet, a scene that made old school football fans blush both with pride and chilled cheeks. As the weather got a bit wackier, the game did, as well.
Leading 10-6 early in the fourth quarter, Winston finished off a 10-play drive with a diving two-yard touchdown on fourth down, and the 2-point conversion pass to David Njoku gave the Browns a seemingly comfortable 12-point lead. The Steelers fought back with a Jaylen Warren score, and on the second play of the next series, Winston was strip-sacked by Nick Herbig, setting up Calvin Austin III's 23-yard TD catch on the ensuing possession that made it 19-18 Pittsburgh.
Austin finished the night with three catches for 78 yards. Wilson threw for 270 yards while completing 21 of 28 throws.
Things continued to slip away when Donte Jackson picked off a wayward Winston throw in Pittsburgh territory, but Cleveland's defense — which took a great deal of criticism after its flat performance in New Orleans four days ago — held firm and forced a punt. The Browns drove across the 50 again, and on third-and-2 from the 25, Winston chucked away an incompletion that brought up fourth down, and it appeared Kevin Stefanski was about to go for it rather than try a 43-yard field goal in poor conditions.
But Tomlin elected to accept an illegal pass touching penalty on center Ethan Pocic, and while it pushed the Browns back five yards, it also made it third down again. On the next play, Winston hit Jerry Jeudy for a 15-yard gain, one of six grabs for 85 yards for the surging young receiver. Chubb scored two snaps later.
Stefanski later admitted he wasn't going to kick it on fourth down.
"I don't think it's in those conditions. Into the Dawg Pound with that footing, you'd have to kick a really short field goal down there," he explained. "I just think that was very challenging footing for a kicker."
Following the final whistle, Amazon Prime's cameras caught Steelers receiver George Pickens being held back by security as he exchanged words with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II. Pickens was held to four catches and showed his displeasure with the officiating throughout the evening.
Though some of the biggest highlights came on offense, the Browns' defense had plenty of their own shining moments, especially in the opening half. Myles Garrett had three sacks in the first 30 minutes, including a strip of Wilson that led to a Dustin Hopkins field goal that made it 10-3.
"I wanted to make it known that I'm the guy, I'm the No. 1 edge defender," Garrett said. "That was a statement I was intending to make, and I think I made."
Additionally, Pittsburgh was stopped twice on fourth down, and Chris Boswell pushed a 58-yard field goal try on the opening drive.
There are no such thing as moral victories in this sport, but the gloom of the first 10 games won't stop the Browns and their fans from celebrating this triumph. What's more, they'll get the next nine days off before heading to Denver to face the Broncos on "Monday Night Football."
