Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats On Nov 20, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 20, 2016

CLEVELAND -- The Pittsburgh Steelers used a punishing ground game Sunday to snap a four-game losing streak and beat the winless Cleveland Browns 24-9 on the strength of 146 rushing yards by Le'Veon Bell.

The Steelers are 5-5 and the Browns are 0-11.

Cleveland has lost its last three games in 2015 and all four preseason games this season. The Browns have won three regular-season games since Nov. 23, 2014.

Harsh weather and gusting winds made passing the ball risky, especially in the first half. The conditions definitely favored the Steelers. The Browns in the three games prior to facing the Steelers rushed for 68, 45 and 33 yards. They rushed for 33 yards in the loss to the Steelers.

The Steelers' dominance is illustrated in how they took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Steelers outgained the Browns 217 yards to 41 yards and possessed the ball 20:37 compared to 9:23 for the Browns.

At one point the Steelers had the ball second-and-goal on the Browns 3 with five seconds left in the first half. Instead of sending out Chris Boswell to attempt a third field goal and add to the 6-0 lead, coach Mike Tomlin decided to go for the touchdown. The clock expired on an incomplete pass, but Browns defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun was called for defensive holding. Cornerback Joe Haden was flagged for pass interference on the next play.

Finally, with the clock reading 0:00 on a second straight play, Bell crashed into the end zone from the 1. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a pass to tight end David Johnson for a 14-0 halftime edge.

The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, and then things went from bad to worse for the Browns.

Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler, making his eighth start, suffered a concussion at the end of the third quarter when he was pulled to the ground by Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier and hit by linebacker Lawrence Timmons.

Josh McCown replaced Kessler and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gary Barnidge to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 17-9. Cody Parkey missed the extra- point kick.

More importantly for the Browns than the final score is Kessler's health. The concussion was his second in less than a month. He was knocked out of the game in Cincinnati on Oct. 23 with a concussion. He also suffered rib and best injuries in the Oct. 9 game against New England.

NOTES: Eli Rogers started at WR in place of Darrius Heyward-Bey for the Steelers. ... Ricardo Matthews replaced Cameron Heyward (pectoral injury) at DE for the Steelers. ... The Browns made changes at both safety spots. Ed Reynolds replaced Tracy Howard at FS and Derrick Kindred replaced Ibraheim Campbell at SS. Campbell and Howard are healthy.