Steelers studs and duds in their ugly Week 2 win over Browns

It was far from pretty, but the Steelers managed to notch their first win of the season in a 26-22 slugfest against the Browns Monday night. In a game that featured more injuries than touchdowns, there were very few true positives for either team to take away from the night. 

Both offenses were dreadful, the defenses were dominant but still had their fair share of bad moments. The aforementioned injuries were sad to see as well, particularly Nick Chubb’s. I hope to see a full recovery and a successful return from him next year.

Still, the Steelers got big plays from multiple players this week after a Week 1 where really only T.J. Watt showed up. Even the offense showed a few glimpses of potential. Let’s begin though by giving the heroes of the game their flowers.

Stud: Steelers pass rush decimated Deshaun Watson

Tell me if you have heard this before: The Steelers pass rush was the main reason they won Monday night. It's something fans have become accustomed to in recent years, with the emergence of T.J. Watt and company.

Even without Came Heyward the combination of Watt, Alex Highsmith, Larry Ogunjobi, and others harrassed Browns QB Deshaun Watson all night long. In a game where the run defense was poor even after Chubb's unfortunate injury, being able to keep Watson off balance was key to coming away victorious.

On top of his day rushing the passer, Highsmith caught a tipped pass and took it all the way for his first NFL touchdown. He of course was part of the even more important second defensive score as well, stripping the ball from Watson late in the game with Watt taking care of the rest on a scoop-and-score. Watt had an impressive game in his own right while breaking the Steelers sack record, but they both certainly earned their combined $45 million in salary.