The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't lost a home regular-season game against the Cleveland Browns since 2003, before Ben Roethlisberger was drafted... and that streak wasn't about to end in Week 8. After losing on the road against Cleveland on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, this was a revenge game for Mike McCarthy's team.
And they succeeded with flying colors.
From early in the game, the Steelers imposed their will on the Browns team that entered the contest with a 5-2 record. This never felt close, as Pittsburgh bullied Cleveland in nearly every facet of the game. Meanwhile, the Steelers had a collection of players who stood out in a positive light, while a few notable starters fell flat in the convincing AFC North win.
These Pittsburgh Steelers winners stood out against the Browns as the losers didn't help their cause
Winner: Jaylen Warren
What can we say about Jaylen Warren that hasn't already been said over the past five weeks? Despite being a former undrafted free agent, Warren quickly established himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL in his fifth season in 2026.
He only helped his status this week.
Warren humiliated Cleveland's defense with 143 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries (8.4 yards per carry), per ESPN stats. Surprisingly, Warren didn't record a receiving yard on two targets, but it didn't matter. Warren's dominance on the ground made a world of difference in this contest.
Winner: Alex Highsmith
Alex Highsmith must have heard that NFL teams came sniffing around with trade talks this week. Yeah, we can safely put those to rest after his performance in Week 8.
Highsmith was electrifying off the edge against rookie left tackle Spencer Fano. He was constantly wreaking havoc as a pass rusher, and though he recorded just a half-sack, he drew holding penalties and made Fano's life miserable on Sunday.
Winner: Darnell Washington
Darnell Washington made things look easy in Week 8. Despite earning just five targets, the mammoth tight end led the team with 94 receiving yards.
On one slot fade in the second half, Washington rumbled down the sideline for a 58-yard gain before being pushed out at the one-yard line, just short of a score. We know how good Washington is as a blocker, but with him starting to take off in the receiving game, look out!
Winner: Cameron Heyward
Cam Heyward truly looks like one of the few ageless wonders around the NFL again this year. The 37-year-old defensive tackle helped shut down a helpless Browns rushing attack that recorded just 34 yards on 15 carries (2.3 yards per carry), while bulldozing offensive linemen into the quarterback.
Heyward's impression on the game doesn't always show up in the box score, but it did in Week 8. He finished the game with six tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack-and-a-half, and a pass deflection.
Winner: Pat Freiermuth
We talked about Darnell Washington, so it's only right that we mention his counterpart at tight end. Pat Freiermuth was only targeted twice against the Browns, but he turned his two opportunities into 35 yards. This included a big conversion on a 28-yard catch down the seam on a high throw from Aaron Rodgers.
Freiermuth also cracked some helmets as a run blocker in Week 8, which helped the team to a 200-yard performance on the ground.
Winner: Nick Herbig
Steelers fans asked for the $100 million pass rusher to step up, and he did. Herbig got pressure on the quarterback and caused disruption in the backfield. He only converted his three pressures into one sack, but he's been underrated as a run defender at times. That was the case against the Browns.
Winner: T.J. Watt
T.J. Watt is out to prove that he's not leaving stardom without a fight. Now 32, Watt has been criticized for being in decline, but he's still found a way to make a splash routinely this season. Watt recorded four pressures against the Browns while turning his opportunities into a pair of sacks.
Watt continues to energize a surging defense, and he's firmly in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion as we enter the halfway point of the 2026 season.
Loser: DK Metcalf
We can't be too hard on any particular Steelers player after a win like that... except for DK Metcalf. For whatever reason, Metcalf has a way of making simple, routine NFL plays look extraordinarily difficult.
The veteran receiver reeled in just one reception for four yards on six targets. His worst play of the game was a drop on a wide-open pass deep down the middle of the field. This is hardly his first bad game of the season, and if it weren't for his reputation and the Steelers' high investment in the former Pro Bowler, he might be benched by now.
Loser: Jaquan Brisker
It's hard to have many losers on the Steelers' defense when Pittsburgh allows just six points all game, but Brisker was picked on early and often by tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who finished the game with 10 catches for 154 yards.
Brisker wasn't the only culprit, but he had some of the worst plays in coverage by a Steelers defender in this contest.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
I'm not trying to hate on the 42-year-old quarterback, as he did more than enough to aid the Steelers in their victory. Yet, his performances still don't have many fans convinced that he's playing well enough to carry this team to playoff success.
Despite the Steelers bullying the Browns in every department, Rodgers finished the game completing 13 of 25 passes for 172 yards and an interception. He came up just short on a pair of touchdown passes, and the interception wasn't really his fault. Still, this is such a low-upside passing offense, and Rodgers isn't going above and beyond to overcome his unspectacular wide receiver room.
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