Browns get dramatic snow-covered win over Steelers with last-minute TD drive

On By Littum

The Cleveland Browns have had a rough season. They entered Thursday’s game with a 2-8 record. There hasn’t been much to cheer about.

But on Thursday night, the Browns gave their fans a win they’ll remember for a while.

In a blinding blizzard that turned the field into something out of a movie, the Browns put together a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter and beat their AFC North-leading rival Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19. Cleveland QB Jameis Winston hit some clutch throws when he could barely see his receivers downfield, and Nick Chubb scored the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left. And the Browns fans, who have sat through bad football this season and a blizzard Thursday night, still filled the stadium in the last minute to celebrate a fun win.

The Browns are not going to the playoffs. The 2024 season will be mostly forgettable. But the Browns may have some really fond memories of Winston rallying the team in the snow to a win. If they could see the field through that blizzard.

The Steelers, coming off a massive game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, looked like they had a hangover in the first half.

Pittsburgh scored only three points. Kicker Chris Boswell, who has had a remarkable season, missed a kick to the right. The Steelers’ offense was decimated by Myles Garrett, who had three sacks in the first half. Garrett also forced a fumble on Russell Wilson, which the Browns recovered and turned into a field goal just before the half. Cleveland led 10-3 at halftime.

The Browns simply dominated the game up front on defense. In the third quarter, the Steelers went after it on fourth-and-1, and Jaylen Warren was stopped for a 1-yard loss. In the first half, Steelers backup QB Justin Fields set up a fourth-down play and had him run it, and the Browns stopped him for a 2-yard loss.

Cleveland fans had to wonder where that defense, which was also outstanding last season, was in the first 11 weeks of this season.

The Browns kept the momentum going in the second half as the snow fell harder, turning the field white. On a drive early in the fourth quarter, they went for it on fourth-and-goal. Winston jumped into the end zone on a scramble and scored, then the 2-point conversion gave Cleveland an 18-6 lead.

In the snow, it seemed like a very difficult lead to overcome, but Pittsburgh didn’t give up.

The Steelers got a big play from Fields to get back into the game. Fields took off on a 30-yard run down the sideline, the first time the Steelers had hit a big play in a while. It gave Pittsburgh a spark. After a rough pass penalty followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Cleveland, Warren scored a 3-yard touchdown and the Steelers were back in the game.

Then Pittsburgh’s defense came up with a key play. Nick Herbig hit Winston in the snow and the ball bounced loose. The Steelers recovered at Cleveland’s 27-yard line. The Steelers still needed to run an offense in the snow to take the lead and faced a third-and-6. Wilson took a punt to the end zone and Calvin Austin III came down with a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers didn’t get the 2-point conversion, but led 19-18.

The Browns had to put together their own scoring drive in near whiteout conditions. Winston somehow completed a 26-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy to get Cleveland into Steelers territory. But Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson picked off Winston with 4:22 left.

It was Brown’s turn to not give up.

Cleveland’s defense held after that, and the ensuing Steelers punt went just 16 yards under pressure in terrible conditions. Cleveland had one more shot to win, starting at Pittsburgh’s 46-yard line with more than three minutes left. Jeudy caught a huge fourth-down pass to keep the drive going. Winston hit Jeudy again on third down for 15 yards to move inside the 10-yard line. The Browns made sure they didn’t have to sweat a field-goal attempt in the snow when Chubb scored on a 2-yard run to give Cleveland a 24-19 lead. The Browns knocked down a Hail Mary attempt on the final play to win.

For the Steelers, it’s a devastating loss after an 8-2 start. But for the Browns, it will be the highlight of their season.

LIVE COVERAGE HAS ENDED53 updates

  • A very specific but frustrating losing streak.

  • Still unclear what happened to George Pickens.

  • Final statistics

    Jameis Winston: 18-of-27 for 219 yards, an interception and a rushing TD

    Russell Wilson: 21-of-28 for 270 yards and a TD.

    Nick Chubb: 20 carries for 59 yards and two TDs.

    Jerry Jeudy: six catches on six targets and 85 yards.

  • Oh, Wilson took a SHOT to the ribs from Jordan Hicks right after the pass.

  • FINAL: Browns 24, Steelers 19

    Russell Wilson goes for the Hail Mary and it is easily knocked down by the Browns defense. Cleveland is coming off a huge win against the AFC North leader, and now it looks like George Pickens got into it with someone.

    What a game.

  • It’s now down to 16 seconds left with 44 yards to go after Jaylen Warren is taken down in bounds on a first down. This accounts for a Russell Wilson Hail Mary.

  • Jaylen Warren returns it to the 35 and the Steelers will go for a touchdown with 50 seconds left and a timeout.

  • TOUCHDOWN: Nick Chubb punches it in to take back the lead

    Nick Chubb completes a disaster sequence for the Steelers with a one-yard touchdown, and the Browns now lead by five with 57 seconds left after a failed two-point conversion. This game became awesome the second the snow started to fall for real.

  • And then Winston finds Jerry Jeudy for a big first down. And then the Steelers defense gets called for delay of game. The Browns now have first-and-goal with 1:43 left and only need a field goal.

  • Correction, Steelers now accept the penalty, so it’s 3rd and 7 for the Browns. The Cleveland crowd is not happy after a Pittsburgh timeout.

  • Huge swing there as Jameis Winston gets taken down on 3rd and 2 but seemed to get a pass to, well, the back of his offensive line. The refs don’t call it intentional grounding, but they do call it illegal touching on a pass by center Ethan Pocic.

    The result is a penalty that is declined and 4th and 7 to the Browns, who go for it.

  • Big play for the Browns, who are knocking on the door of the red zone at the two-minute warning.

  • The Steelers go three-and-out, then a rushed and off-target punt by Corliss Waitman gives the Browns the ball at the Pittsburgh 46. The Browns have the ball again with 3:29 left and two timeouts.

  • CANCEL: Steelers take over with 4:34 left

    And then Jameis Winston does it where Donte Jackson gets the pick. The Steelers can put this game away now with a long drive, from their 24.

  • Jameis Winston is on one right now.

  • TOUCHDOWN: Steelers complete comeback with 23-yard TD to Calvin Austin

    The Browns took an 18-6 lead with 12:16 left in the game. In about six minutes, the Steelers scored a touchdown, recovered the ball on a fumble, then scored another touchdown, all while playing through driving snow.

  • FUMBLE: The Steelers get the ball back at the Browns’ 27

    It has stopped. Nick Herbig gets to Jameis Winston’s blind side and records a clean strip sack where Deshon Elliott recovers the ball. The Steelers are now threatening to take the lead.

  • TOUCHDOWN: Steelers make up Jaylen Warren’s 3-yard score

    With help from both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on that drive, the Steelers get their first touchdown in seven quarters. They are still one stop short of another touchdown, but there is plenty of time left.

  • Amazon reports that this is just the battery hanging out, and Winston could still hear everything, but another component of a wild game.

  • Quick Justin Fields cameo, coming in for three plays and then leaving after getting busted on a roughing the pass penalty.