Recapping Steelers 38-7 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 6

The Steelers put a beating on the Cleveland Browns on Week 6. Here is a recap from Pittsburgh’s blowout win at home in Week 6.

It’s hard to ask for much more of the Steelers than what we witnessed on Sunday afternoon, as Mike Tomlin’s team annihilated the Cleveland Browns in a game that really wasn’t close from the start. I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t how I saw the game playing out.

Though the Browns were pretty banged up heading into Week 6, they were the best team in the league at running the wide zone, and Baker Mayfield has been really good rolling out of the pocket. With the way Pittsburgh’s secondary has played early this year (and even last week against Eagles receiver, Travis Fulgham) I was envisioning a lot more big plays by Cleveland’s defense. But that wasn’t the case at all.

While Pittsburgh’s front seven was their usual dominant selves on Sunday, the secondary stepped up their game big-time with players like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steven Nelson, Joe Haden, and Cameron Sutton pitching in huge performances.

What went right for the Steelers

Getting an early lead was huge against a team like this. Ben Roethlisberger easily marched his squad down the field on their opening drive, but the offense stalled in the red zone and the Steelers settled for three points. However, just a few plays later, Fitzpatrick took an interception back to the house – making it a 10-0 game very early in the first quarter.

With a two-score lead, Pittsburgh teed off on Baker Mayfield – so much so that I almost felt bad for the Browns quarterback. According to ESPN, Mayfield was sacked 4 times for minus 20 yards in this contest. He also took a number of big shots as he delivered the football – eventually leaving the game (most likely as a precaution to his health).

Pittsburgh’s defensive line was utterly dominant, and my game ball in this contest goes to Stephon Tuitt. Tuitt earned 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 2 QB hits, but was constantly in the backfield making plays, and was a huge part of the defense that held Kareem Hunt and company to just 3.4 yards per carry (much of it coming in garbage time).

The Steelers held an impressive 24-7 lead at halftime, and Cleveland never did anything to tighten the gap in the second half. Eventually, Pittsburgh ran away with it and simply sat on the ball in the fourth quarter – ultimately finishing the game 38-7.

While there was hardly anything negative to take away from this game, second-year linebacker, Devin Bush, suffered what could turn out to be a serious knee injury. In a play where he never made contact with the ball-carrier, Bush pulled up lame – grabbing his left knee as he rolled around on the ground. He was later ruled out for the contest.

Losing Devin Bush could be a devastating blow to one of the NFL’s best defenses. Fortunately, Pittsburgh looked equally impressive when he was out of the game. This has been the best start to a Steelers season in my lifetime. Let’s hope it continues next week against the undefeated Tennessee Titans.