CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns had little to celebrate following Sunday's 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season, the running game managed just 34 yards, and Deshaun Watson was sacked eight times as the Browns fell to 5-3.
There were still several individual performances worth recognizing, particularly from Cleveland's young players. But the defeat also exposed similar problems that must be addressed at some point, and preferrably before the Browns travel to New Orleans next Sunday.
Heroes
Harold Fannin Jr. — Fannin was easily Cleveland's most productive offensive player, catching 10 passes for a career-high 154 yards. His performance was the second-highest single-game receiving total by a tight end in franchise history, and he accounted for nearly half of Cleveland's gross passing yardage.
His afternoon wasn't without mistakes. Fannin lost a fumble on Cleveland's opening possession, giving Pittsburgh an early opportunity. But he responded with a productive game, including a 37-yard reception in the fourth quarter that moved the Browns to the Steelers' two-yard line. On an afternoon when the offense struggled to accomplish much of anything, Fannin was a consistent threat.
Denzel Ward — Ward continued his strong season with another interception, his third of the year. The veteran cornerback wrestled the ball away from Pittsburgh receiver DK Metcalf in the third quarter, securing Cleveland's only takeaway of the afternoon.
Ward also recorded two passes defended, accounting for half of the Browns' total. His third interception ties his career high for a single season, with nine games still remaining. Although Cleveland's defense struggled against the run, Ward provided one of its few bright spots.
Mason Graham — Graham was one of the few Browns defenders consistently making plays behind Pittsburgh's line of scrimmage. The second-year defensive tackle finished with three tackles for loss, leading a Cleveland defense that recorded seven as a team.
Pittsburgh rushed for 200 yards, making this a difficult game to celebrate anyone on the defensive front. But Graham's individual effort deserves recognition. He disrupted plays in the backfield, even as the Steelers found success elsewhere in the running game.
Zeroes
Spencer Fano and the Offensive Line — Cleveland's offensive line was overwhelmed by Pittsburgh's pass rush, allowing eight sacks for 41 yards in losses. The Browns were also flagged for four offensive holding penalties, further complicating an afternoon when they struggled to sustain drives.
Fano had an especially difficult afternoon against Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. According to reporting based on NFL Next Gen Stats, Fano surrendered 10 combined pressures in those matchups. He was also called for holding multiple times, including a penalty that erased a play during Cleveland's third-quarter drive.
The problems weren't limited to Fano. Watson rarely had a clean pocket, and the offensive line struggled to create running lanes throughout the afternoon. Cleveland's 34 rushing yards were a season low, and the Browns averaged just 2.3 yards per carry. The protection problems extended beyond one player, and the entire unit struggled to handle Pittsburgh's defensive front.
Quinshon Judkins — Judkins finished with just 25 yards on 11 carries, averaging 2.3 yards per attempt. His longest run gained seven yards, and Cleveland never established anything resembling a consistent rushing attack.
The offensive line deserves much of the blame, as Judkins frequently encountered defenders before he had an opportunity to build momentum. But Cleveland needs more production from its leading running back, even when blocking is less than ideal. Judkins also lost three yards on a first-and-goal carry from Pittsburgh's two-yard line in the fourth quarter, putting the Browns in a difficult position near the goal line, though even here he had little time to do much else.
Judkins compounded his frustrating afternoon with a 15-yard taunting penalty following a third-quarter reception. The Browns were already struggling to move the football consistently, and the unnecessary penalty cost them valuable field position.
Deshaun Watson — Watson's final passing numbers were respectable, completing 27 of 39 attempts for 324 yards without an interception. But those numbers don't tell the entire story of an offense that failed to reach the end zone.
Watson lost a fumble on a first-quarter sack, giving Pittsburgh possession at Cleveland's 45-yard line after the Browns had already turned the ball over on their opening possession. He also struggled to escape pressure, and while the offensive line was responsible for many of the eight sacks, Watson must recognize when to get rid of the football rather than allowing plays to develop into larger losses.
The Browns couldn't capitalize on their best scoring opportunity, reaching Pittsburgh's two-yard line early in the fourth quarter before turning the ball over on downs. Watson moved the ball through the air, but Cleveland needed its quarterback to turn those yards into points. Against a division rival, 324 passing yards mean little when the offense produces only six points.
