What they’re saying about Browns vs. Steelers on Thursday night: Social media reaction

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns almost had a case of deja vu on Thursday night from their collapse on Sunday vs. the Jets. But unlike Sunday, the Browns closed things out and knocked off the Steelers, 29-17.

Jacoby Brissett threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Amari Cooper had 101 yards receiving and a touchdown, and David Njoku caught nine passes for 89 yards and a TD. On the ground, Nick Chubb rushed for 113 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Browns had a nine-point lead in the fourth cut down to six on a Chris Boswell field goal. Pittsburgh almost recovered the ensuing onside kick, but it was knocked out of bounds.

The Browns are now 2-1, ensuring they will be in first place in the AFC North heading into Week 4 at Atlanta.

This game had plenty of drama throughout, with reaction coming in from many places on Twitter.

Here is how social media reacted during Thursday night’s game.

First quarter

Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb and Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey took a photo together before kickoff.

“There were plays to be had on the first drive… Browns didn’t execute and it was largely Brissett being too cautious,” Pete Smith of Browns Digest tweeted.

“Pitt finally takes a shot down the field but it all one-on-one vs Denzel on a route where they probably didn’t need hand signals. Browns will take that play call all day on third and short. No chance,” 92.3 The Fan’s Anthony Lima tweeted.

“Jacoby is gonna have to hit some splash throws tonight. Steelers are pressing up hardddddd,” Cory Kinnan of the Orange and Brown Report tweeted.

“400 yards rushing in 2 games. 3rd-and-one is a gift,” NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano tweeted after Jacoby Brissett got sacked on a 3rd-and-1.

“Browns & Steelers are about to set an NFL record for punts tonight with the way this game is going,” The Ringer’s NFL Twitter account posted.

“Steelers sticking to small ball. Means they can’t win unless it’s a low scoring game or they get defensive points,” former Browns CEO Joe Banner tweeted.

“Nick Chubb is the best pure running back in football,” Joe Dolan of Fantasy Points tweeted.

“Yessir!!!! Cooooooooopppppp TD! #Browns,” LeBron James tweeted following Amari Cooper’s 11-yard touchdown reception from Brissett.

“Pickens just made the catch of the year. Holy cow,” ESPN Cleveland’s Matt Fontana tweeted.

Kinnan: “lol some stuff just is unguardable.”

Second quarter

“Najee Harris sought out that gentleman,” former NFL defensive end Chris Long tweeted after Harris ran through Browns safety John Johnson III on a game-tying 5-yard touchdown run.

“Lack of attention to detail from Cooper. Can’t have that from your top receiver,” RealGM’s Jeff Risdon tweeted after Cooper’s 58-yard reception was negated because he stepped out of bounds before the catch.

“a jet sweep into a pass back into a screen Stefanski is a wild boy,” Jordan Zirm of the Sporting News tweeted.

“No Joke Jacoby and Njoku,” NFL analyst Brian Baldinger tweeted following David Njoku’s seven-yard touchdown reception to give the Browns a 13-7 lead.

Smith after another missed extra point from Cade York: “Cade York’s big leg doesn’t matter when he can’t get the easy ones.”

“Defense is an absolute mess. No other way to put it,” Cody Suek of the Orange and Brown Report tweeted after the Steelers muscled through the Browns’ defense to take a 14-13 lead.

“This defense has too much on-paper talent to look as miserable as they have again tonight,” Fox college basketball announcer John Fanta tweeted.

“Chief having himself a nice little first half. #Browns” P.J. Ziegler of Fox 8 tweeted.

“Steelers defense looks totally unimposing without TJ Watt,” Sports Illustrated writer Albert Breer tweeted.

Zirm: “so proud of my large adult son David Njoku”

“Browns will make playoffs!! Especially getting deshaun late in the season!!” Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons tweeted.

“Exactly what we said!!!!! @David_Njoku80 WORKKKKKMKKK,” former Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. tweeted.

“#Browns defensive struggles continue tonight,” Camryn Justice of WEWS-TV tweeted.

Third quarter

Fontana: “Looks like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah might have pulled his groin. He is off the field in the medical tent. #Browns”

Siciliano: “So Harrison and JOK are out in a game where the Browns could use a defensive TD.”

“.@Browns lose both ILB’s in a span of 5 plays….sheesh,” Baldinger tweeted after Anthony Walker Jr. got hurt on a shovel pass to Jaylen Warren.

“Diontae Johnson is carving Denzel up. Got him in a blender,” Kinnan tweeted.

“Why did dummy jump on Anthony Walker Jr there?” Ken Carman of 92.3 The Fan tweeted.

“Jadeveon Clowney is really missed tonight. Big drop-off in the pass rush when offenses can focus on Garrett,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes tweeted.

“It’s fun to live vicariously through Herbstreit as he watches Nick Chubb on the Browns for the first time,” Bill Simmons of The Ringer tweeted.

“Browns are losing players left and right. Now down 4 guys on defense with Jedrick Wills getting looked at on offense,” Smith tweeted.

Zirm: “ok Cade is good again”

Fontana: “Big stop from the #Browns defense. I see Wyatt Teller getting the offense fired up as they come back out. Jed Wills also coming back out after leaving the last drive.”

Fourth quarter

“Chubb & Hunt. RB1 RB1A,” Baldinger tweeted.

Zirm: “Stefanski is so good as a playcaller, man. running a masterclass tonight.”

“Have criticized, will applaud Stefanski. Strong play drawn up, 3rd & 1, play action strike to Cooper, running free middle of Steelers secondary. Bold,” Michael Reghi tweeted.

“Just generally feeling happy for Jacoby Brissett, Amari Cooper and David Njoku. Nice to see all three playing well,” ESPN’s Mike Clay tweeted.

“Nicholas Jamal,” Siciliano tweeted after Chubb’s 1-yard TD run gave the Browns a 23-14 lead.

“Statement drive. #Browns” Dustin Fox of 92.3 The Fan tweeted.

“It’s sad we up two possessions and I still can’t feel secure #Browns” former Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell tweeted.

“Another 3 & out after a score!!!” ESPN Cleveland’s Emmett Golden tweeted.

“It’s really tough to evaluate Mitchell Trubisky when Matt Canada is calling plays. Really tough. #Steelers” Jordan Schultz of The Score tweeted.

“Love Herbie – but hope he knows he’s gonna get crushed for his elf take,” Scott Hanson of NFL Network tweeted after Kirk Herbstreit said he was not a big fan on Brownie the Elf on the 50-yard line.

“David Njoku, 2021: three games with more than 20 routes run. David Njoku, 2022: three games with more than 20 routes run,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell tweeted.

“hmmmmm don’t recognize this defense,” Zirm tweeted after a Jacob Phillips third-down sack forced the Steelers to punt with 5:04 to play.

“Not that they had much chance, but the Steelers just punted away whatever small chance they had,” Banner tweeted.

“You can’t punt down 2 scores with 4:30 left in the game, and then start the same QB you’re scared of using the next week,” Hayden Winks of Underdog Fantasy tweeted.

“Gonna come down to another onside kick. #Browns” Fontana tweeted.

Ziegler: “More special teams blunders. 12 men on the field. #Browns”

Powell: “I need to talk to the special teams coordinator. This hands team blocking is terrible”

“Cleveland played great! Still can’t believe how conservative Pittsburgh was punting that ball down 9 on 4th and 5 w less than 5 to go. Then kicking the FG on 4th and 1. Was baffling,” Fox tweeted.

Carman: “why are we still fake measuring this thing.”

“Jacoby Brissett might be the only NFL starting QB — albeit a placeholder— who gets less love than his running backs AND his offensive linemen. All he’s done is given the #Browns a chance in all three games,” former sports writer Tom Reed tweeted.

“#Browns should’ve been 3-0,” Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweeted.

“NEVER A DOUBT!” Dawgs By Nature tweeted after Denzel Ward jumped on a fumble in the end zone on the final play, making the final score 29-17 Browns.

Zirm: “folks………exhale”

“The 3rd down deep ball to Cooper was a game-changer tonight. Play-action shot play. Saw the route running there, too,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen tweeted.

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