The Browns have built their season on staying close long enough to win at the end. They have trailed in plenty of games, but they have rarely been pushed around for an entire half. That changed in Pittsburgh on Sunday. With 1st place in the AFC North on the line, the Browns head to the locker room facing a 2-score deficit.
The Steelers lead the Browns 20-6 at halftime at Acrisure Stadium.
30 to go pic.twitter.com/lv1e3lKRKZ
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 1, 2026
Pittsburgh has controlled the game on the ground from the start. Rico Dowdle opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run in the 1st quarter, and the Steelers piled up 160 rushing yards in the 1st half. Jaylen Warren did most of the damage with 102 yards on 10 carries, including a 51-yard run.
It is also the 2nd straight week the Browns have struggled against the run after Tony Pollard ran for 129 yards in Tennessee.
The Steelers added a pair of Chris Boswell field goals before delivering a big blow just before the break. Pat Freiermuth scored on a 1-yard run up the middle with 1 second left in the half, turning a 1-score game into a 14-point lead.
Cleveland’s offense has never found a rhythm. The Browns gained 113 total yards and just 26 on the ground, converted 2 of 6 3rd downs and came away empty on their only red zone trip. Deshaun Watson completed 9 of 13 passes for 107 yards but was sacked 4 times, and the Browns lost 2 fumbles.
Harold Fannin Jr. was the lone bright spot, catching all 6 of his targets for 65 yards. Quinshon Judkins had 27 yards on 7 carries, while Denzel Boston caught 3 of 5 targets for 17 yards. Shedeur Sanders also saw the field, completing both of his passes for 2 yards.
Andre Szmyt kept the Browns within reach, hitting field goals from 32 and 49 yards.
There were a few defensive highlights. Adin Huntington added another sack, Quincy Williams forced a fumble and Carson Schwesinger leads the team with 7 tackles.
The turnovers have been the difference. Pittsburgh has not turned the ball over, and the Browns’ 2 lost fumbles gave the Steelers extra possessions in a half where they already had the ball longer.
The Browns have come back before, rallying from 14-0 down against the Titans just a week ago. But they will have to slow down Pittsburgh’s rushing attack to have any chance. A loss would also leave the Browns 1 defeat away from tying the NFL record for consecutive road losses to one opponent.
NEXT: Insider Reveals When Browns Will Address Deshaun Watson's Future
