Steelers without Ben, Bell and Brown beat Browns 27-24 in OT.
The no longer winless Browns were seeking their second straight win on the road vs. the playoff bound 10-5 Steelers, who were playing without Big Ben, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.
In the Browns opening drive RG3 threw his first TD pass of the season in four starts to Rookie TE Seth DeValve. RG3's 12-yard pass put Cleveland up 7-0 at the start of the second quarter against the Steelers who had Landry Jones at QB in the season finale.
Early in the second quarter, RG3 threw his second TD pass of the season; a 4-yard score to his other TE Gary Barnidge making it 14-0 Browns. Late in the 2nd quarter RG3 threw a pick in the Red Zone.
Browns second turnover set-up Pittsburgh first TD. First time Browns center Fabiano snapped the ball over RG3's head. He attempted to fall on the ball and lost possession. Shortly thereafter Pittsburgh got on the board via a 11-yard TD pass to DeAngelo Williams just prior to halftime making it 14-7.
RG3 was attempting to make a case for himself to remain as the Browns starter in 2017. He had his best game with Cleveland going 29 for 40 for 232-yards and rushed for 32-yards, including a 19-yard scramble. This was impressive performance considering he was concussed on Christmas eve in the Chargers game.
Browns RB Crowell helped his QB control the time of possession and stay in the game. He had 152-yards on 19 carries including a 67-yard run to set-up the TD that tied the game at 21-21.
Steelers back-up QB Landry Jones played a much better second half and finished the game going 24 for 37 for 277-yards with a TD and pick.
Browns Cody Parkey missed a 49-yard Field Goal with less than nine minutes to play. At that time it remained tied at 14 apiece. Jones proceeded to throw his 2nd TD pass; a 11-yard strike to WR Demarcus Ayers to make it 21-14 Pittsburgh.
Set up by Crowell's long run, Browns tied the game at 21-21 after Cleveland scored via a 5-yard Atkinson run. A second big Cleveland turnover; a rare Crowell fumble in the Red Zone denied the Browns a TD which would of likely iced the game. Instead, the game went into OT.
Browns were in the Red Zone yet again in OT, but had to settle for a 34-yard FG to put the Browns up 24-21 with 7:17 to play in OT. Jones drove his team down the field 75-yards ending the game on a 26-yard TD pass to Cobi Hamilton.
Cleveland ended their dismal season at 1-15 though and remained the team that gets the #1 pick in the draft. Pittsburgh improved to 11-5.
Following the OT loss to the Steelers Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam said "I think we have the right people in place."
Haslam went on to say "I could not be more pleased with the job that Hue and his staff are doing. You wouldn't think this was a team that was 1-14 that was out there battling. So really pleased with Hue and really pleased with our personnel group."
