Jacoby Brissett delivers for Browns in crucial win over Steelers | Jeff Schudel
Sep. 23—Raise your hand if you were worried about how Jacoby Brissett would play as the Browns starting quarterback. Don't feel bad. You weren't the only one.
Brissett completed 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards, two of them for touchdowns, on Sept. 22 to lead the Browns past the Steelers, 29-17, at FirstEnergy Stadium. A national "Thursday Night Football" audience got to see the Browns' offense is in good hands while Deshaun Watson serves his 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
The Browns defense, after giving up two Pittsburgh touchdowns in the first half, did its part to make sure this one didn't get away.
Jacoby Brissett won't pat himself on the back after leading the #Browns past the #Steelers Thursday night. He said he knows he can look his teammates in the eyes and say he gives his best effort. pic.twitter.com/xdTBaqKnHN
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) September 23, 2022
Four days earlier, the defense collapsed at the worst possible time. The Jets, trailing 30-17 with 1:55 to play, scored two passing touchdowns to pull off a 31-30 upset. Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods was skewered by fans on Twitter and sports talk radio from the end of the game with the Jets until kickoff in the game with the Steelers.
The Browns are 2-1. Brissett played well enough in the first three games for them to be undefeated.
"It was a great team win," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said after the #Browns beat the Steelers, 29-17. pic.twitter.com/WJstQDWQFC
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) September 23, 2022
The loss to the Jets could have lingered, but the moment was not too big for Brissett, who ran for three first downs to keep drives alive. One of his keepers, on fourth-and-1 from the Cleveland 49, gained three yards. The drive continued and Brissett finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. He gained six yards on third-and-1 from the Pittsburgh 14 before Nick Chubb leaped into the end zone from the 1 for a 23-14 lead in the fourth quarter. He pumped his fist on that one in a rare show of emotion.
"I'm not into this to answer any (doubters) questions," Brissett said after the game. "I'm here to play good football, play for my teammates and enjoy this moment. That's what it really is all about.
"I could look those guys in their faces and tell them I'm giving my best. That's what I look forward to."
The defense held the Steelers to one field goal and 111 yards total offense in the second half. The Steelers were 1-of-9 on third down for the game.
A record of 2-1 is just one game better than 1-2 in the standings, obviously, but it is much more than that after the way the Browns gave the game away last week. And to do it against the Steelers, a team that has owned the Browns since 1999, made it even more special. The Browns are now 12-3 after a loss under Kevin Stefanski.
"That's not an easy thing to bounce back from," Stefanski said. "In the locker room, we talked about it on Sunday. We talked about it on Monday.
"I'm proud of those guys because you can't let a loss linger. We won't let this win linger, either. But I'm proud of how they responded. You have to be resilient."
And what more can be said about Chubb, who rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries?
Chubb took the loss to the Jets harder than any other player on the team. He blamed himself for scoring the touchdown that gave the Browns the 30-17 lead. He said he should have gone to the ground so the Browns could run the clock out.
Chubb certainly didn't let the loss to the Jets affect the way he played against the Steelers. He broke tackles as though he was playing against a mediocre junior high school defense.
"If you can't slow down Chubb, you can't beat this group," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We kind of knew that and we didn't get it done."
Browns punter Corey Bojorquez was outstanding. He landed one punt at the Pittsburgh 6 with 3:13 to play and the Browns ahead, 23-14. He landed another one at the 4 with nine seconds left when the score was 23-17.
The Steelers tried a desperate hook and ladder on the final play. It ended with Browns cornerback Denzel Ward recovering a fumble in the end zone.
The Browns don't play again until Oct. 2 when they meet the Falcons in Atlanta. They feel much better about themselves today than when they awakened on Sept. 19 after losing to the Jets.
PHOTOS: Browns vs. Steelers, Sept. 22, 2022
