Lead
On December 28, 2025 in Cleveland, the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6, snapping a four-game skid and surpassing last season’s win total. Myles Garrett fell short of the NFL single-season sack mark for now but played a pivotal role in the upset. Shedeur Sanders threw a touchdown and two interceptions, while Aaron Rodgers finished 21 of 39 for 168 yards in a game the Steelers could not solve in the red zone. The result postponed Pittsburgh’s AFC North clinch and set up decisive Week 18 matchups.
Key Takeaways
- Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh 13-6 on December 28, 2025, improving to 4-12 and ending a four-game losing streak.
- Myles Garrett generated a team-high six pressures on 39 pass rushes and was chip- or double-teamed 16 times; his pursuit of the single-season sack record continues.
- Shedeur Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, moving his starting record to 2-4.
- Aaron Rodgers went 21 of 39 for 168 yards; the Steelers were held without a touchdown for the first time by Cleveland since Dec. 10, 2009.
- Rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. scored the Browns’ lone touchdown (his third TD in four games) but left with an aggravated groin and did not return.
- Chris Boswell kicked two field goals for Pittsburgh; Andre Szmyt accounted for Cleveland’s other two field goals, including a 33-yarder with 1:40 remaining.
- Pittsburgh (9-7) will host Baltimore in Week 18 with the AFC North and the No. 4 seed on the line; Cleveland finishes at Cincinnati.
- Injuries: Steelers TE Darnell Washington suffered a broken arm; Browns G Wyatt Teller aggravated a calf injury and G Tevin Jenkins sustained a concussion.
Background
The Browns entered Week 17 at 3-12, carrying low playoff expectations but a growing focus on ending the season with momentum and player development. Myles Garrett has been a focal point all year—both as a defensive anchor for Cleveland and as a contender for the NFL single-season sack record, a milestone that added drama to matchups against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh arrived at FirstEnergy Stadium with a 9-7 mark and simple scenarios to clinch the AFC North: win Sunday or have Baltimore lose. Absent top receiver DK Metcalf—serving the first game of a two-game suspension after an incident in Detroit—the Steelers still expected to lock down the division with a victory.
Main Event
Cleveland struck early, scoring on its first two possessions to build a 10-0 first-quarter lead. Sanders connected with rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. on a 28-yard touchdown at 5:11 of the first quarter; Fannin adjusted his route and finished the play at the goal line, though he later aggravated a preexisting groin injury and exited the game.
The Browns’ offense supplemented the touchdown with two field goals from Andre Szmyt, the second a 33-yard kick with 1:40 left that proved decisive. Sanders finished 17 of 23 for 186 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions, and was credited with steady pocket presence despite the turnovers.
Pittsburgh moved into Cleveland territory late but failed to produce a touchdown. Rodgers engineered a late drive to the Browns’ 7-yard line, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling was blanketed by Denzel Ward on fourth-and-goal with 17 seconds remaining, and Pittsburgh turned it over on downs.
Defensively, Garrett pressured Rodgers frequently—six pressures on 39 pass rushes—and was often neutralized by chips or doubles on 16 snaps. Despite the attention, Cleveland’s defense held the Steelers scoreless in the red zone and limited them to two field goals.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate consequence is twofold: Cleveland salvages a morale-boosting win and eclipses last season’s win total; Pittsburgh’s path to the division title now requires home-field resolution against Baltimore. For the Browns, the victory validates defensive emphasis and incremental progress from younger contributors like Fannin and other role players.
For Garrett, the game illustrated both his dominance and the league’s respect for his pursuit of a record—teams game-planned to contain him via chips, doubles and quarterback rollouts. Those tactics lowered his isolated pass-rush opportunities and, while he produced pressure, they delayed any chance at breaking the sack mark in Week 17.
Pittsburgh’s inability to score a touchdown against a sub-.500 team raises questions about offensive adaptability without DK Metcalf. Rodgers moved the ball at times but failed to generate a signature scoring play; that shortfall will be under the microscope ahead of a winner-take-all Week 18 against Baltimore.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Record (pre-Week 18) | Points (this game) | Key QB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 4-12 | 13 | Shedeur Sanders (17/23, 186 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 | 6 | Aaron Rodgers (21/39, 168 yds) |
The table highlights the contrast between Pittsburgh’s overall season success (9-7 entering Week 18) and Cleveland’s modest gains. Stat lines show Cleveland leaned on efficient if conservative passing and relied on special teams for scoring support, while Pittsburgh struggled to convert red-zone trips into touchdowns.
Reactions & Quotes
Coaches and players framed the win as a collective defensive effort and a meaningful victory against a division rival.
“It feels great. They’re our rival, we always want to beat them, doesn’t matter the circumstances,”
Myles Garrett
Garrett emphasized rivalry importance over individual milestones; his comments underlined team-first priorities despite the attention on his sack chase.
“I have full confidence we’ll go home and win next week,”
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers expressed belief in Pittsburgh’s ability to bounce back, framing Week 18 at Heinz Field as the decisive moment for the AFC North.
“Outstanding, and a bunch of individual efforts…I thought Tyson Campbell was outstanding,”
Kevin Stefanski, Browns head coach
Stefanski credited multiple defenders for the game plan’s execution and singled out individual plays that stifled Pittsburgh’s scoring attempts.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Garrett would have broken the single-season sack record in Week 18 if he had not been so frequently chipped or doubled remains speculative.
- The long-term severity and recovery timeline for Harold Fannin Jr.’s aggravated groin injury were not announced immediately after the game.
- Any additional roster moves or disciplinary measures related to DK Metcalf’s suspension beyond the stated two-game ban were not reported at the time of this recap.
Bottom Line
Cleveland’s 13-6 victory over Pittsburgh is a meaningful late-season win that highlights defensive improvements and the emergence of young contributors, even as injuries and turnovers temper the offensive outlook. For Garrett, the game showcased his disruptive presence but also how opponents can slow a record chase through targeted game plans.
For Pittsburgh, the loss postpones a division clinch and raises stakes heading into Week 18 at home against Baltimore. Both teams enter the final week with clear, immediate objectives: the Browns to finish on a higher note and the Steelers to secure the AFC North and a top-four seed in the AFC playoffs.