Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt celebrates with safety Jaquan Brisker after sacking Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the first half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Jared Verse called the Steelers “dirty” following the Browns’ victory in Cleveland one month ago. The Browns defensive end followed that up with more trash talk in the lead-up to Sunday’s first-place showdown at Acrisure Stadium.
The mantra in the locker room following the Steelers’ 27-6 victory was “we talk with our pads.” But Jaquan Brisker couldn’t resist the urge to take a shot at Verse, who does a lot of talking for someone who doesn’t have a sack on the season.
“He should have kept his mouth shut,” the Steelers safety said. “All that talking and to come out with zero tackles, that’s bad. You didn’t stand behind your words and you didn’t stand on business. He has to look himself in the mirror and get better.”
The official box score actually said Verse had one tackle, but he was front and center in one of the most talked-about plays of the game.
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.
Verse jumped while attempting to block a Chris Boswell extra point and Steelers offense lineman Mason McCormick caught him in the air and dumped him on his head.
McCormick was called for a personal foul penalty, but it was an early tone-setter for the Steelers.
“I really had no idea who it was,” McCormick said. “I just felt someone jump. We’re told to get jumper’s hands down, and that’s really it.”
If Verse’s trash talking wasn’t enough to get the Steelers’ attention, Browns coach Todd Monken elected to take the ball after they won the coin toss.
“I think them taking the ball was kind of disrespectful, especially with us being at home,” Brisker said. “That turned us up. You saw how the first series went. From there we were just [gouging] them.”
The Gateway product kept going.
“I wouldn’t say a particular player amped us up. I wouldn’t say [Verse] motivated us,” Brisker said. “I would say we were just motivated overall. We didn’t like how the first meeting went. Of course, we heard the noise. That added to it. But it wasn’t just Verse. We were just hungry to win.”
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.
Verse didn’t do much on the field but kept talking after the game.
He said the McCormick play was “very uncalled for.”
“I’m very upset about it,” Verse said. “It’s football. Obviously, if this wasn’t football I’d be reacting in a different way. We kind of handled that and walked away with the flag.”
Verse added: “That’s just the way there are. Him specifically, that’s the way he plays. That was just a lack of awareness on my part. I should have had a better grasp of the type of player I was going up against.”
More from Brisker
The Steelers appeared to force a Cleveland three-and-out on the first series of the game, but Brisker was called for a personal foul on Browns quarterback DeShaun Watson. The flag came out a good five seconds after the play ended.
Brisker was not a fan of the call.
“I think it’s just babying the quarterback,” he said. “He’s laying there and crying or whatever he’s doing. It is what it is. I don’t assume I’m going to get fined because if you watch it, I hit him with my chest and I’m going to his side. But he had his binky today, so they threw it out there.”
Turning up the heat
The eight sacks the Steelers recorded were the most in a game since the final game of the 2021 season, when they had nine against Baker Mayfield and the Browns.
The improved effort from their pass rush came one month after the Steelers got to Watson only twice in their Week 4 loss in Cleveland.
“It was great to not only win, but to win dominantly,” said Alex Highsmith, who had a half sack and three hits on Watson. “We were relentless up front. We know we have the guys up front to be able to have days like that. It was awesome having a day like that where everyone ate and everyone came to the party.”
T.J Watt led the charge with two sacks of Watson and is tied for the NFL lead with 7 1/2 sacks through the eight games.
Watt has 19 1/2 sacks in his career against the Browns, the most by any defender against the Browns in league history.
Defensive dominance
The Steelers’ defense has allowed just one second-half touchdown this season. They have allowed 47 points in the second half, third-fewest in the league.
The Steelers held the Browns to minus-1 yard in the first quarter. That was their fewest yards allowed in the first quarter since Week 17 in 2017, when they held the Browns to minus-17 yards.
First Published: November 1, 2026, 4:27 p.m.