Pittsburgh Pass TJ Watt sets a career record of four of his team’s nine sacks on the night to move to the top of the standings with 21.5 in the season, putting him just shy – with one game left to play – of the official all-time record. times established by Michael Strahan for the Giants in 2001
Last updated: 04/01/22 6:33
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger greets fans before leaving Heinz Field for the last time
Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass in what was arguably his last home game in Pittsburgh and the Steelers kept their meager playoff hopes alive with a 26-14 win over already eliminated Cleveland Browns on Monday night.
Game history
Though Roethlisberger was in the center of the match, and during the thrilling scenes at the end where he appeared to greet his adoring fans, it was the efforts of rookie running behind Najee Harris and the Pittsburgh defensive line – and especially the extraordinary passing rusher. TJ Watt – who dazzled the night.
Watt set the career record of four of his team’s nine sacks when he took the lead of the league with 21.5 in the season, putting him just shy – with one game left to play – of the official all-time record set by Michael. Strahan for the New York Giants in 2001
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Harris, meanwhile, rushed for career best 188 yards over 28 courses, breaking the Steelers franchise’s single-season rookie run record, his 1,172 yards topping Hall of Famer Franco Harris’s 1,055 in 1972. Harris froze the Pittsburgh win by breaking free for a 37-yard running touchdown in the last minute.
Novice Najee Harris returned 188 yards across 28 courses, including a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter
Roethlisberger threw a five-yard touchdown pass over Diontae Johnson in the second quarter but, if this was to truly be the 39-year-old’s last game in front of his home fans at Heinz Field, it was far from his best outing as he only completed 24 of his 46 attempts to score the season low of 123 yards.
The two-time Super Bowl winner with the Steelers, who turns 40 in March, did not officially announce his retirement from the NFL, but in preparation for this game he said “all signs that it could be.” The quarterback moved up to fifth place on the NFL’s all-time past yard list on Dec. 19 and holds the most Pittsburgh franchise pass records, including completions (5,386), yards (63,721), and touchdowns (416). .
Browns QB Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, endured a tough night, going 16 of 38 for 185 yards, coming sack nine times, as well as throwing two touchdowns – to David Njoku and Harrison Bryant – and two interceptions.
Chris Boswell was successful with four field goal attempts to see the Steelers open a 19-7 lead in the final six minutes of the game. Though the Browns scored a five-point game just over a minute from the end of Mayfield’s second goal of the day, any hope of a notable comeback was soon quashed as Pittsburgh recovered the next game kick and Harris went to the races three games later.
With the win, the Steelers (8-7-1) are again guaranteed to finish the season .500 or higher. They have yet to return a losing record in any of coach Mike Tomlin’s 15 seasons at the helm of the team.
TJ Watt hit a career-high four sack to see him hit one of Michael Strahan’s all-time records
Leading statistics
browns
- Passes: Baker Mayfield, 16/38, 185 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Run: Nick Chubb, 12 courses, 58 yards
- Reception: Donovan Peoples-Jones, three holds, 76 yards
Steelers
- Passes: Ben Roethlisberger, 24/46, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing: Najee Harris, 28 transports, 188 yards, 1 TD
- Reception: Diontae Johnson, eight tricks, 31 yards, 1 TD
Score summary
Score summary
| FIRST FOURTH | |
|---|---|
| SECOND FOURTH | |
| Brown 0-7 Steelers | Ben Roethlisberger goes from five yard TD to Diontae Johnson (extra point) |
| Brown 0-10 Steelers | Chris Boswell 22-yard basket |
| THIRD QUARTER | |
| Brown 0-13 Steelers | Chris Boswell 30-yard basket |
| Brown 7-13 Steelers | Baker Mayfield passes three-yard TD to David Njoku (extra point) |
| FOURTH FOURTH | |
| Brown 7-16 Steelers | Chris Boswell 50-yard basket |
| Brown 7-19 Steelers | Chris Boswell 48-yard basket |
| Brown 14-19 Steelers | Baker Mayfield TD pass from one yard to Harrison Bryant (extra point) |
| brown 14-26 Steelers | Najee Harris 37 yard TD run (extra point) |
What’s next?
To access the playoffs, Pittsburgh (8-7-1) must win the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) – also still chasing a postseason spot – on the last Sunday of the regular season, while the Indianapolis Colts are also needed ( 9-7) to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14) and hope that the Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) game with the Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) will not end in a draw.
As for the Browns (7-9), they have already been knocked out of contention before Monday night’s game and their disappointing campaign comes to an end when they host the Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) who have captured the AFC North division.
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