The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 23-9 at Acrisure Stadium, continuing their dominance in the rivalry and improving their record to 4-1 on the season. Pittsburgh built a lead through a string of field goals before breaking the game open in the second half, while Cleveland managed just three touchdown-less field goals and never crossed the end.
Aaron Rodgers paced the offense, completing 21 of 30 passes for 235 yards and two touchdown throws, spreading the ball to multiple targets and avoiding the kinds of mistakes that have plagued other quarterbacks facing Cleveland’s front lines this season. Rodgers’ touchdown connections included a short strike to Connor Heyward that opened the scoring in the second half and a 25-yard lob to DK Metcalf that effectively put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers leaned on Chris Boswell in the first half, knocking through three long field goals (including attempts from 44, 50 and 48 yards) to turn sustained drives into points and keep pressure on the Browns’ offense even when Pittsburgh couldn’t reach the end zone. Running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell helped grind out yardage on the ground, combining for effective late-down work that kept drives alive and set up Boswell’s chances.
Pittsburgh’s defense controlled the day, sacking Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel six times and consistently pressuring him into hurried throws and disrupted timing; Gabriel finished under heavy duress and Cleveland could not manufacture a red‑zone touchdown against the Steelers’ front and second-level tacklers. Key stops and a costly Browns special-teams foul that gave Pittsburgh a fresh set of downs were turning points that swung momentum firmly to the home team.
The win was vintage AFC North football: physical, penalty-laden at times, and decided by a complementary mix of opportunistic special teams, a veteran quarterback’s efficient ball‑management, and a defense that refused to yield in key moments. Pittsburgh’s balance and ability to convert opponent mistakes into scoring chances flipped the script in the second half and sealed a statement victory to open divisional play.
Next: Pittsburgh visits the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night.