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T.J. Watt recorded a career-high four of his team's nine sacks
and took over the NFL lead with 21.5 as Pittsburgh (8-7-1)
remained in the AFC wild-card mix. Watt is one sack off the
official all-time record set by Michael Strahan in 2001.
The Steelers are a half-game behind the Indianapolis Colts, Las
Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers entering the final week
of the regular season. The Raiders and Chargers face one
another.
Najee Harris rushed for a career-best 188 yards on 28 carries
and also broke the franchise's single-season rookie rushing
record with 1,172 yards. He surpassed Hall of Famer Franco
Harris, who had 1,055 yards in 1972 when the regular season was
14 games long.
Baker Mayfield completed 16 of 38 passes for 185 yards, two
touchdowns and two interceptions for the Browns (7-9), who were
eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. David Njoku and
Harrison Bryant caught touchdown passes.
Roethlisberger wasn't sharp and had a season-low 123 yards on
24-of-46 passing while being intercepted once.
Chris Boswell connected on four field goals and Alex Highsmith
added two sacks as the Pittsburgh defense limited the Browns to
232 yards. The Steelers gained 299.
Cleveland finally got on the board when Mayfield hit Njoku on a
3-yard touchdown pass with 56 seconds left in the third quarter
to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 13-7.
But Boswell sent a 50-yard field goal through the uprights with
9:46 left in the game and added a 48-yarder with 5:48 to play to
give the Steelers a 19-7 advantage.
The Browns pulled within 19-14 with 1:10 left when Mayfield
capped a 17-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring pass to
Bryant. Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers recovered the ensuing
onside kick and Harris put the game away with a 37-yard
touchdown run with 51 seconds remaining.
Roethlisberger threw his touchdown pass and the Pittsburgh
defense held Cleveland to 91 first-half yards en route to a 10-0
lead at the break.
Roethlisberger connected with Diontae Johnson on a 5-yard
scoring pass with 10:39 left in the second quarter. Ahkello
Witherspoon's interception of Mayfield at the Browns' 43 set up
Boswell's 22-yard field goal with 3:02 left in the half.
Boswell kicked a 30-yard field goal to boost the lead to 13-0
with 8:20 left in the third quarter.
--Field Level Media
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