The Pittsburgh Steelers never really got going on either side of the ball on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns. For the first time in a while, that included the defensive side of the ball. The defense had not allowed a play of 40 or more yards since acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick in Week Three, nor had they failed to record at least two takeaways in every game.
Instead, they allowed two such explosive players and recorded zero takeaways. Predictably, with the offense floundering, the Steelers lost. Not that the Browns blew them out of the water—it was just 21-7 at the final, and their last touchdown came a bit late in the game—but clearly the Browns offense was doing something right, even if that was exploiting what the defense was doing wrong.