Week 11 Game Recap: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Cleveland Browns 20

What you need to know

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Ben Roethlisberger shook off a dismal first half performance and led the Steelers to four consecutive second half scoring drives, including three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and two in the final four-plus minutes, to defeat the Browns. Roethlisberger, who threw for just 36 yards along with three interceptions in the first half, finished with 272 passing yards and two touchdowns. Two of his interceptions were due to dropped passes by his receivers, although he was anything but sharp through the first three quarters. His first interception was off target and returned for a 57 yard touchdown in the second quarter and many of his passes were behind his receiver and/or high of his mark.

The Steelers switched to a no huddle offense late in the third quarter, and from there Roethlisberger caught fire, completing 20 of 31 passes for 232 yards (18 of 29, 229 and both touchdowns in the fourth quarter) and Pittsburgh gained 236 of its 338 total yards on its final three drives.

WR Hines Ward caught eight of Roethlisberger’s 25 completed passes for 81 yards. Santonio Holmes had 75 receiving yards, including a touchdown grab early in the fourth quarter, and Willie Parker ran for a touchdown with 4:14 remaining, and caught a game winning four yard shovel pass with 32 seconds left in the game.

Parker struggled on the ground, gaining 46 yards on 16 carries, but made up for it with his two touchdowns. He only had six first half carries for 19 yards and zero receptions in the first half. He did not find daylight in the second half, collecting 27 yards on ten carries, but did manage four receptions and 17 yards.

The Steelers’ defense sacked QB Charlie Frye five times and forced two turnovers via fumble recoveries. After giving up 71 first half rushing yards, the Steelers held Cleveland to just 28 second half yards on the ground, forcing the Browns to throw more often in the second half, despite trying to protect a lead. The Steelers did not give up an offensive touchdown.

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland gained 196 first half yards, 71 on the ground and 122 through the air by QB Charlie Frye. Frye was nothing spectacular, but was safe with the ball, opting to throw underneath almost exclusively throughout the game, letting his receivers do most of the work. Frye led the Browns into Pittsburgh territory six times, including twice in the red zone, but could come away with only six offensive points. The four failed possessions in Steelers’ territory were from a missed field goal, and two incomplete Hail Mary attempts to WR Braylon Edwards at the end of each half and an early first quarter fumble.

Frye hooked up with Edwards five times for 99 yards in the first half, and Edwards finished with a game high 137 receiving yards on his seven receptions. His long of 62 yards helped set up a Phil Dawson field goal in the second quarter. TE Kellen Winslow caught all four of his passes in the second half for 36 yards.

With RB Reuben Droughns announced as out two hours before the game with a sprained foot, the Browns turned to backup RB Jared Wright. Wright was successful in the first half picking up a modest 46 yards on 12 carries. He actually improved on his yards per carry, but was limited to just six carries and 27 yards in the second half, despite the Browns having a lead up until the final minute of the game.

The Browns’ defense and special teams carried Cleveland to its near-victory, scoring once via an interception return by Daven Holly and again on a 92 yard kick return by Joshua Cribbs in the fourth quarter. They had three interceptions in all and two sacks. Despite relentless pass rush, particularly in the second half, they gave up 272 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown to RB Willie Parker.

What you ought to know

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 25 - 44 - 272 - 2 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 2 - 20 - 0

Roethlisberger was off the mark for much of the game, completing five of 13 pass attempts late into the third quarter. He had three first half interceptions as he was often behind his target with his throws. His worst effort was a high and wide screen pass to WR Santonio Holmes, who tipped it to CB Daven Holly, who scored on the 57 yard interception return. His receivers didn’t help in dropping four passes two of which were picked off for interceptions. After two three and outs to open the second half, the Steelers switched to a hurry up offense and Roethlisberger flourished completing 18 of his final 29 pass attempts for 224 yards, all in the fourth quarter.

Roethlisberger completed five of seven passes and scrambled to find Holmes early in the fourth quarter to cut Cleveland’s lead to 13-10. He went eight of 14 on the Steelers’ second touchdown drive by converting three third downs. And he went six of nine on their game winning drive, capped off by Roethlisberger breaking free from a near sack to release a shovel pass to Willie Parker for a four yard touchdown. Roethlisberger took several shots in the second half, and was seen grimacing after getting up with a bloody jersey at the two minute mark, holding his throwing arm awkwardly, but he stood up to the pressure and delivered in the end.

RB Willie Parker, Rush: 16 - 46 - 1, Rec: 4 - 17 - 1 (6 targets)

Despite rushing for 164 yards less than he did last week, Parker looked very similar to how he looked in Week 10 when he gained 213 rushing yards. The only difference was that he was unable to break loose for one of his signature big runs to the outside. The Browns contained Parker in terms of yards to the tune of 49 rushing and 17 receiving, all the while keeping him in between the hash marks and/or flushing him out of bounds when he went wide. He is now averaging just 49.6 rushing yards in five road games this season. But Parker still cashed in on two fourth quarter touchdowns, a one yard plunge and a game winning four yard shovel pass with 32 seconds left in regulation, giving him 12 for the season.

RB Najeh Davenport, Rush: 2 - 11 - 0, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Davenport had only four offensive touches, two carries and two receptions for 27 total yards. He also had 20 kick return yards, but had a 48 yard kick return called back on a holding penalty. He left the game in the second half with a groin injury and CB Ike Taylor took his place on kick returns.

WR Hines Ward, Rec: 7 - 81 - 0 (12 targets)

Ward got off to a rocky start, catching just one pass for nine yards in the first half. On that catch, he clearly fumbled the ball upon being gang tackled, but the referees inexplicably ruled him down by contact, saving him from a lost fumble. Ward would not be saved by the refs early in the second quarter when he couldn’t hang onto a pass over the middle. He bobbled it and it picked off just as the Steelers were driving inside the Browns 10 yard line. Ward rebounded for a solid second half. He caught six passes for 72 yards, including a 23 yarder to help set up WR Santonio Holmes’ touchdown, three passes on the Steelers’ second scoring drive and a leaping 21 yard reception over the middle to Cleveland’s 24 yard line on Pittsburgh’s game winning drive. On that play, however, Ward suffered a bruised knee and he was helped to the locker room. HC Bill Cowher said he believes Ward will be okay.

WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 5 - 75 - 1 (10 targets)

Holmes chipped in nicely with five receptions, 75 yards and a touchdown, the first of his career. He too started slowly when he dropped an easy pass in the flat on a third and four in Browns’ territory. Holmes was also the target of a high and wide pass from Roethlisberger in the second quarter. He made a stab at it with one hand, but tipped it to CB Daven Holly, who returned it for a touchdown. Holmes rallied to catch four passes for 64 yards in the fourth quarter. He caught a 21 yard pass over the middle on third and 20, which helped set up his own 20 yard touchdown pass. On the broken play, he came to QB Ben Roethlisberger’s aid and caught a wobbled pass at the two yard line before sneaking in for the score. Holmes also caught two passes on the game winning drive, a 15 yarder at the two minute warning and an eight yard third down conversion inside the Browns’ 20 yard line.

WR Cedrick Wilson, Rec: 3 - 27 - 0 (8 targets)

Wilson was the cause behind QB Ben Roethlisberger’s third interception when he let a pass bounce off his pads and up into the hands of CB Daven Holly. All three of his catches were in the early stages of the Steelers’ second touchdown drive. He did catch a deep pass along the sideline for 28 yards early in the fourth quarter, but was flagged for offensive pass interference.

WR Nate Washington, Rec: 2 - 24 - 0 (5 targets)

Washington was the only wide receiver not to drop a pass for the Steelers. Both of his receptions were on the Steelers’ final drive. His first was a 13 yard catch on second and ten. His second went for 11 yards as he dragged his tackler across the first down marker to the Browns’ five yard line. RB Willie Parker’s scored the game winner two plays later.

TE Heath Miller, Rec: 2 - 32 - 0 (3 targets)

Miller caught two 16 yard passes. Both catches began Pittsburgh’s first and second scoring drives.

PK Jeff Reed 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Reed bounced his 43 yard field goal off the left upright and converted three extra points.

PIT Rush Defense

The Steelers kept the Browns out of the end zone and limited their long run to 12 yards on a quarterback scramble and held the Browns to 99 rushing yards at 3.4 yards a carry. NT Casey Hampton forced a fumble (recovered by S Ryan Clark) that led to a Steelers field goal. LB James Farrior led the Steelers with 12 total tackles.

PIT Pass Defense

CB Bryant McFadden started for CB Deshea Townsend (concussion) and broke up the Browns only non-Hail Mary deep ball early in the first quarter. The Steelers didn’t have an answer for WR Braylon Edwards (7-137), but got to QB Charlie Frye five times and forced him to fumble once. LB Clark Haggans had a sack and fumble recovery.

QB Charlie Frye, Pass: 17 - 27 - 224 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - 27 - 0

Frye logged in another gritty performance throwing for 224 yards, his fourth time over the 200 yard mark, and despite six consecutive incompletions in the two minute drill before halftime, Frye threw for a solid 63 % completion rate. But he failed to throw a touchdown pass and could not get the Browns in the end zone despite six trips into Pittsburgh territory, including two in the red zone. Frye nearly connected twice on two Hail Mary passes to WR Braylon Edwards, but both times Edwards could not hang on to the tipped balls in the end zone. Frye also rushed for 27 yards and lost a fumble on a sack early in the first quarter.

RB Jason Wright, Rush: 18 - 74 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0

Wright received his second start of the season and had his best game of his career with 74 yards rushing. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry and was effective enough to keep the Steelers defense honest, but not enough to keep them off balance. Wright was even more effective in the second half, averaging 4.5 ypc., but only had six carries despite the Browns holding a lead for 29 of 30 minutes in the second half. He also had his long gain of 11 yards and a six yard reception in the third quarter to help set up a Phil Dawson’s early fourth quarter field goal. His first carry of the game would have been for 14 yards, but it was nullified on a holding penalty.

RB Jerome Harrison, Rush: 4 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Harrison spelled Jason Wright twice and had four carries for five yards. He was the closest player to a throw out of bounds by QB Charlie Frye for his lone target of the day. He had a rush for ten yards, but it was called back for holding.

RB Lawrence Vickers, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (1 targets)

Vickers caught a rollout pass and hurdled his tackler for a 12 yard gain in the first quarter. He also scooped up a squib kick and returned it for 12 yards late in the fourth quarter.

RB Terrelle Smith, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0

The husky fullback had one carry in the first quarter for a first down.

RB Reuben Droughns

Droughns, a game time decision, was ruled out before kickoff because of his sprained foot.

WR Braylon Edwards, Rush: 1 - -8 - 0, Rec: 7 - 137 - 0 (10 targets)

Edwards set career highs with seven receptions and 137 yards, 99 of which came in the first half. He saw at least one pass on the Browns’ first four possessions, including his long of 63 yards to set up a Phil Dawson field goal. Edwards caught a simple out pass, but when CB Ike Taylor whiffed on the interception attempt, Edwards had nothing but the sideline in front of him and was eventually tackled at the Steelers’ 19 yard line. Just before halftime and at the end of regulation, Edwards tipped Hail Mary passes to himself, but both were broken up before he could come down with them in the end zone. He was also the target of Cleveland’s only other deep ball in the end zone, but that too was defended. He had one rush on a reverse for minus eight yards.

WR Joe Jurevicius, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (5 targets)

Jurevicius was targeted on three plays in a two minute drill before halftime and consecutive plays in the third quarter but was kept quiet with just one reception for 16 yards.

WR Dennis Northcutt, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets)

Northcutt caught his only target, a three yard pass in the flat on third and four. He returned one punt for six yards.

WR Josh Cribbs

Cribbs improved on his third ranked 27.7 yards per kick return when he ran took a 92 yard return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He totaled 150 kick return yards in all.

TE Kellen Winslow Jr, Rec: 4 - 36 - 0 (6 targets)

Winslow had his second worst game of the season fantasy wise. He was shut out in the first half, and only had one target. His name was called out on a holding penalty, negating a 14 yard run on the Browns first play of the game. He responded with four receptions and 36 yards in the second half, including an 11 yarder to help set up a Phil Dawson field goal. He also caught consecutive passes for six and ten yards with 16 and nine seconds remaining.

TE Steve Heiden, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

Heiden caught a pass in each half, one for eight, the other for six.

PK Phil Dawson 2 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

Dawson’s first field goal attempt was a low liner that clanked off the crossbar from 44 yards in the first quarter. He had no problems with his 24 yard field goal in the second quarter and converted both of his extra point attempts.

CLE Rush Defense

The Browns were able to bottle up RB Willie Parker and prevented him from bouncing outside for big gains, holding him to a long gain of five yards. They played a huge roll in limiting the Steelers to just 83 yards on their first seven possessions. They did yield a touchdown run for one yard but the Steelers only had 77 yards rushing. LB Andra Davis had a game high eight solo tackles

CLE Pass Defense

The Browns found themselves at the right place on three occasions, collecting interceptions off of tipped or bobbled passes by Pittsburgh wide receivers in the first half. CB Daven Holly, a replacement starter for CB Leigh Bodden (ankle), had his first two career interception, including one for a 57 yard touchdown. His second interception was returned to the five yard line, fumbled and recovered by CB Brian Russell in the end zone, but a personal foul on the Browns brought it back to the 44 yard line and the Browns did not score before halftime. Cleveland then suffered a fourth quarter collapse allowing 229 passing yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. LB Willie McGinest had a sack and an interception.