Browns most to blame for losing battle for AFC North's top spot vs. Steelers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns entered Week 8 with an opportunity to seize control of the AFC North. Instead, they left Acrisure Stadium with a bruising 27-6 defeat, a 5-3 record, and plenty of questions. Pittsburgh exposed Cleveland's weaknesses in a major way. The Browns were careless with the football, undisciplined, and unable to stop a punishing ground attack. Four factors stand out after this damaging divisional defeat.
Got away quickly
The Week 8 showdown was billed as a heavyweight brawl for AFC North supremacy. However, it quickly devolved into a one-sided nightmare for Todd Monken's traveling squad. From the opening possession, Cleveland looked rattled by Pittsburgh's ferocity. The Browns failed to score a single touchdown all afternoon. They relied on two Andre Szmyt field goals just to avoid a shutout. The Browns managed 319 total yards, highlighted by Harold Fannin Jr.'s gritty ten-catch, 154-yard effort.
Pittsburgh systematically broke Cleveland's will. They held the Browns' ground game to just 34 yards while pilin...