Browns defense answered the call in second half of win over Steelers

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns defense spent the last week under fire for what happened in the game’s final 1:55 against the Jets. They deserved it.

They also deserve credit on Thursday night, in a game where they weren’t exactly sharp for 60 minutes, for coming up with the exact stops the Browns needed at the exact moments they needed them. The Browns moved to 2-1 on the season with a 29-17 win in their first AFC North game of the season.

Cade York gave the Browns a 16-14 lead with 2:31 left in the third quarter on a 34-yard field goal. The Browns defense, to that point, had bent but not completely broken — but they were allowing a struggling Steelers offense to look a little too comfortable.

If “Please get a three-and-out” wasn’t trending on Twitter as the defense took the field, it would be surprising.

Steelers running back Najee Harris ran for a yard on first down from the Pittsburgh 25, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky ran for six yards and then, on third-and-3, looked deep to wide receiver Diontae Johnson down the sideline, who couldn’t haul in a pass with cornerback Denzel Ward draped on him.

The Steelers sent out their punt team.

The Browns offense, in turf and clock chewing mode all night, put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive lasting 6:35, ending in a fourth-down leap by Nick Chubb into the endzone. They took a 23-14 lead after York’s extra point.

Suddenly the mojo was back and the defense forced a three-and-out again on the next Steelers drive. They did it again with Pittsburgh backed up at the goal line after the Browns offense was forced to punt.

How this defense performs with better offenses on the horizon is still a valid question, but when the Browns needed them to step up they did, twice. It was a far from perfect performance and Trubisky and the Steelers offense were able to get some work done late to make everyone just a tad nervous.

Those back-to-back three-and-outs, however, ensured the Steelers weren’t going to break any Browns’ fans hearts. The defense even got a touchdown on the final play when Denzel Ward fell on the blall, just for the fun of it. Now the Browns — and mostly the defense — could breathe a deep sigh of relief as they get to a much-needed long weekend.

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