CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns fans, this one’s for you — especially for those of you in the whipping wind and whirling snow at Huntington Bank Field.
Browns fans, you finally saw a team this season who are worthy of you.
The Browns did more than beat Pittsburgh 24-19.
They beat Pittsburgh when it seemed as if they had blown the game.
They beat Pittsburgh with Nick Chubb scoring two touchdowns, including a bullish 2-yard run with 57 seconds left. Yes, Chubb was one of the heroes against the team where he suffered that horrible knee injury in 2023, ending his season and leading to a pair of major surgeries.
They beat Pittsburgh with Jameis Winston leading the Browns on two TD drives in the fourth quarter … in near blizzard conditions … against a Steeler defense that usually thrives in these situations.
They beat Pittsburgh with Myles Garrett playing like a Hall of Famer. Give him three sacks. Give him a forced fumble. Give the man some respect for playing hurt all year, yet not missing a game.
This night was a reminder of why Browns fans love Nick Chubb.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
What a night!
That’s right, Browns fans. Your favorite team beat Pittsburgh.
They did it on a Thursday night when the second half looked like both teams were playing in one of those little snowy domes — Christmas kind, not the ones you find in the NFL. It’s those little ones where you shake it and here comes the whiteout.
They did it on a night where the Browns could have said, “We’re 2-8. Everyone thinks we stink. It’s freezing out here. It’s not our year. We just played four days ago and got our butts kicked. Let’s get this over with.”
Instead, the Browns played with the steely mindset that has driven Pittsburgh to the top of the AFC North.
They showed heart. They showed a willingness to come back when it seemed the game was lost. They also showed they could beat the Steelers at their own black, blue and bruising style of play.
There was Jameis Winston passing through the snow for 219 yards and a victory over Pittsburgh. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Time to celebrate!
Anybody sing Jingle Bells? Winston was gleefully doing that after the game.
Anybody in the mood to make snow angels? Several Browns were doing that after the game.
Anybody want to see the usual stoic Chubb smile? This was the game for you, especially after he scored that final TD.
“Nick Chubb is my favorite player on the team,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “He does the right thing all the time. He’s such a special, special player.”
I bet he’s your favorite player, too. If not, he’s close to the top of the list.
What to make of this team?
The Browns have defeated Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the top two teams in their division.
They’ve done it with Winston at quarterback. He has a 2-2 record since taking over for injured Deshaun Watson (1-6 record).
I know Winston throws interceptions. But I also know Winston gives you a chance to win a game. He threw for more than 200 yards … again.
Winston has thrown for at least 200 yards in all four of starts. Watson never did this season. With Winston at QB, you see Jerry Jeudy (six catches, 85 yards) turning into the receiver the Browns imagined when trading for him.
Jeudy has piled up at least 70 yards receiving in all four of Winston’s starts. The passing attack looks better with Winston, even in the wild, windy conditions on the lakefront.
Winston has thrown seven TD passes and only three interceptions. He has a respectable 90.8 QB rating. In his four starts, he’s averaging 295 yards passing per game.
He has faced the Chargers, Steelers, Saints and Ravens — teams with a combined 26-17 record. He’s 2-2 in those games. He also has an upbeat vibe that appeals to his teammates.
The team is still 3-8. The playoffs seem almost impossible. But there are moments in a downer of an NFL season when the fans can look up, maybe laugh a bit and say, “Now that was fun.”
That was Thursday night down on the snowy shores of Lake Erie.