NFL Week 3 Thursday Night Football Review: Browns Outlast Steelers & Take Lead in AFC North With Big Win

    

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Cleveland Browns 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

This was a pleasant surprise. The Browns almost always seem to struggle against the Steelers, much like they did last season. But evidently, Pittsburgh really is not the same team without T.J. Watt, as they have been winless in games when he has been injured. He did not play in this one, and it probably proved costly to them.

It was a tight game, quite competitive right through the end. The final score looks deceptive, as it suggests that the Browns won by a fairly comfortable margin. But they scored a defensive touchdown on the final play of the game to ice it, and also to more than cover the odds. 

Cleveland's running game was very solid and impressive. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett also proved to manage the offense efficiently and effectively. All of it translated to the Browns managing to hang onto the ball, controlling the clock with over 36 minutes in time of possession. They also managed to score when they needed to, building a lead and expanding it late. It was not a fireworks display, but it also did not need to be. The Browns defense did their job, and made the lead stand up,

A solid win for the Browns, and a nice recovery from that crushing, shocking loss to the Jets. 

My pick: Inaccurate