Steelers tight end Darnell Washington carries in front of Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger during the second half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
I wonder when Jared Verse realized that he had messed up?
Was it when his team’s offense turned the ball over in its first two possessions? Or when he was slammed headfirst into the turf by Mason McCormick?
The long runs up the middle from Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle might have done the trick.
If not, the final tally on the scoreboard, “Steelers 27, Browns 6,” should’ve driven the point home.
Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig sacks Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the first half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
After talking trash all week — all month, actually — Verse, a newcomer to this rivalry, learned the hard way what happens whenever the Browns come to Pittsburgh.
“We’ll let our pads talk every single time,” Cam Heyward said. “ … I don’t think you can ever win a game by just talking about it. You gotta go out there and execute.”
For 60 minutes, the Steelers bullied the Browns like the little brother they’ve been for more than two decades.
They dominated up front on both sides of the ball. They built an early lead and never relented, even with the Browns’ pathetic antics in the final minute.
They avenged their loss in Cleveland last month and tallied their 26th win in 27 regular season matchups against the Browns at Acrisure Stadium.
“I think we were clearly ready to play today,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think our guys did a great job of keeping it about beating Cleveland.”
It all started on the ground. The Steelers ran the ball down the Browns’ throats.
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward celebrates a stop during the second half of an NFL football game against the Browns at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
The duo of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle was stellar again, combining for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Pat Freiermuth had a rushing score as well, a one-yard dive that served as the back-breaker just before halftime.
“We wanted to run the ball,” McCarthy said. “It was a focal point today, and I feel like we accomplished that.”
The offense wasn’t perfect. It had a pair of disappointing trips to the red zone in the first half, twice settling for a field goal inside the Browns’ 10-yard line. But it didn’t matter.
The Browns simply weren’t tough enough to match what the Steelers were offering — and the Steelers knew it.
“I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage,” Aaron Rodgers said. “When we played up there in Cleveland, we [allowed] a bunch of sacks, didn’t run it super efficiently. But I feel like from first go, we had a good mindset.”
The defense was even better.
After allowing Deshaun Watson to lead a winning drive in Week 4, the Steelers ensured no such heroics took place this time around.
The pass rush was the best it’s been all season, racking up eight sacks and forcing a slew of other mistakes. Cleveland’s run game was non-existent, finishing with only 34 yards. Its passing attack delivered in spurts but not when it mattered.
The Browns failed to reach the end zone. Todd Monken did all he could to try to get them there, even burning a timeout in the final minute despite his team trailing by 21 points. The Steelers refused to let up and shut them down one more time.
“As a defense, we just try to be as stingy as possible,” Heyward said. “When we want to win games, it’s about keeping them out of the end zone. We take a lot of pride in that.”
The Steelers are sitting pretty heading into their bye week. They have won four straight games and sit atop the AFC North. They’re about as healthy as any fan could hope for in early November.
This was a reality the Browns likely envisioned for themselves. But that all changed when they arrived in Pittsburgh, where they were bullied into submission.
Once again, big brother had the last laugh.
First Published: November 1, 2026, 3:15 p.m.
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