Cleveland Browns (4-12) – Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) : 13-6
The AFC North will have a final in the final week. The Browns’ victory deprives the Steelers of qualifying for the playoffs this evening. Aaron Rodgers had the opportunity to go for the division title late in the match. With just over two minutes to play, the four-time MVP could not do better than in the previous 58 minutes. The quarterback has a final opportunity to snatch an extension after a quick opposing field goal. If they get to the red zone quickly, Rodgers stumbles four times and has to lose.
Deprived of suspended DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh’s aerial game remained blocked. The statistics were inflated by the very last possession, but the attack above all gave the impression of being able to play 3 days without managing to score a touchdown.
In the sadness of Cleveland
Lovers of offensive play refrain. The divisional duel played in the cold Ohio rain was not rich in epic flight. Shedeur Sanders (17/23, 186 yards, 1 TD, 2 int) had a pretty good start to his afternoon. A field goal and a touchdown after one quarter, the rookie went out after the release of his favorite target Harold Fannin Jr. 3 first attempts obtained throughout the rest of the meeting, for 4 punts and two interceptions. Starving.
Like the entire season, it’s Cleveland’s defense that gets the job done. And if Myles Garrett did not manage to break the sack record this evening, his teammates muzzled the opponent. By forcing 4 punts and three blocked 4th attempts, they played the game from start to finish to disrupt the plans of their rivals.
Pittsburgh lacked talent in the aerial game to hope for better, and a little more inspired and creative play calling. Aaron Rodgers (21/39, 168 yards) was deprived of solutions and showed himself incapable of creating them himself. In a week, Mike Tomlin’s men will play their future in the season against the great rival of Baltimore, still alive despite a chaotic season. A double or nothing meeting where the Steelers will absolutely have to offer something else so as not to anticipate their vacation.
