Steelers vs. Browns final score, results: Jacoby Brissett, Nick Chubb power Cleveland past Pittsburgh

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Nick Chubb
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After last week's late-game meltdown against the Jets, Browns fans could be forgiven for not feeling comfortable with its team having another two-score lead with two minutes remaining,.

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell booted a 34-yard field goal with 1:48 left to cut the Browns' advantage to six points, which meant an onside kick was coming. Though the play was a bit too close for comfort, Cleveland recovered.

The Steelers eventually got one last play on offense from their 4 with nine seconds to go. A fumbled lateral resulted in an extra Cleveland touchdown for good measure. The Browns won the AFC North clash 29-17 and took sole possession of first place in the division.

MORE: George Pickens' circus catch for Steelers draws OBJ comparisons

Fill-in Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett looked formidable against the Steelers. He peppered the defense with shots across the field. He connected seven times with receiver Amari Cooper for 101 yards and a first-quarter touchdown. He hit tight end David Njoku nine times for 89 yards and a second-quarter touchdown.

And then there was Nick Chubb. The Browns running back consistently powered through the Steelers' defense; he finished with 23 carries, 113 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that pushed Cleveland's advantage to 23-14 with 9:29 remaining.

Cleveland's defense did the rest. After looking shaky against Joe Flacco and the Jets, the unit held the Steelers to just a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter and the Boswell field goal.

MORE: Why did the Browns trade for Amari Cooper?

Pittsburgh finished the game with 308 yards of offense to Cleveland's 376. Cleveland owned the time of possession battle 36:09-23:51.

The Sporting News tracked live scores and highlights from the "Thursday Night Football" matchup between the Steelers and Browns. Read below for the updates made during the AFC North showdown in Cleveland.

Steelers vs. Browns score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Steelers 0 14 0 3 17
Browns 7 6 3 13 29

Steelers vs. Browns live updates, highlights from 'Thursday Night Football'

(All times Eastern)

Fourth quarter

11:26 p.m. Browns scoring play: The Steelers try to lateral but fumble, and Ward recovers in the end zone for a touchdown as time expires. Browns win 29-17 — and cover the 4.5-point spread. Browns win 29-17.

11:25 p.m.: Bojorquez's punt pins the Steelers back at the 4.

11:24 p.m.: Browns call a timeout with 14 seconds left. They send their punting unit out on a fourth-and-inches from the Pittsburgh 37.

11:21 p.m.: After a review, Chubb is ruled down just shy of the marker. Browns can still wind the clock down to at least 15 seconds.

11:18 p.m.: Chubb appears to get right to the line, but the officials will bring out the chains to measure it. They signal a first down.

11:17 p.m.: Browns wind the clock down to 54 seconds and then use their first timeout of the half. They need a yard to end the game.

11:16 p.m.: Chubb is stopped a yard short after rushing for 6. Browns will have a third-and-1 from the Pittsburgh 37 but can wind the clock down.

11:15 p.m.: Chubb powers ahead for 3 yards. The Steelers immediately use their final timeout. 

11:11 p.m.: Onside kick attempt by the Steelers is recovered by the Browns, and Pickens is called for being offside. The Browns take over at the Steelers' 46 with 1:46 left.

11:09 p.m. Steelers scoring play: Browns had too many men on the field, which turns a fourth-and-6 into a fourth-and-1. Steelers still settle for the field goal, a 35-yarder to make it a one-score game with 1:48 remaining. Browns lead 23-17.

11:07 p.m.: The Steelers are called for an illegal shift and the Browns are called for pass interference right before the two-minute warning. The penalties offset.

11:06 p.m.: Trubisky goes back Pickens' way, this time a quick pass that picks up 5. He's tackled inbounds.

11:05 p.m.: Trubisky takes a shot into the end zone down the right sideline. The pass looked at first to be intercepted by Emerson, but his right foot landed just out of bounds.

11:04 p.m.: Steelers start their drive with three straight big plays. Trubisky hits Johnson along the sideline for 13, then finds Freiermuth down the middle on back-to-back passes of 26 and 15 yards. Pittsburgh is quickly up to the Cleveland 26.

11:03 p.m.: Bojorquez's punt goes out at the Pittsburgh 20. The Steelers will take over with 3:13 left in the game.

11:02 p.m.: Highsmith gets into the backfield and takes down Brissett for a 7-yard sack. The Browns will punt from their 42.

11:01 p.m.: Chubb is stopped 2 yards behind the line by Cameron Heyward. The Steelers use their second timeout.

11 p.m.: Hunt picks up 2 yards to the Pittsburgh 49. The Steelers use their first timeout of the half.

10:59 p.m.: Rogers fields the punt and returns it 4 yards to the Cleveland 49.

10:58 p.m.: Jacob Philips runs around and takes Trubisky down for a 3-yard loss . Steelers will punt.

10:57 p.m.: Trubisky starts the drive with a pass to Claypool for a quick 7 yards. His next pass bounces short of Johnson.

10:54 p.m.: Great job by the Browns' punt team to down the ball at the Steelers' 6. Steelers will have the ball with 5:29 left and down by two scores.

10:53 p.m.: Brissett throws to Cooper, who would have had a first down had the ball not bounced out of his hands. Bojorquez is out to punt.

10:52 p.m.: Chubb rushes for a hard 3 yards, but Alex Highsmith blows up the next play, tackling Chubb in the backfield for a loss of 5 to bring up a third-and-12.

10:51 p.m.: Chubb rushes ahead for 3 and then Brissett hits Njoku down the middle for 8 to the 50.

10:48 p.m.: Harvin sends the punt to Cleveland's 32 and Rogers returns it to the 39. The Browns will take over with 8:32 left, leading by nine.

10:46 p.m.: After a rush for no gain by Harris, Trubisky's pass to Claypool is broken up. Kevin Dotson is called for a false start and then Trubisky overthrows Pat Freiermuth down the middle. Steelers are facing a fourth-and-15 from their 20.

10:45 p.m.: The Steelers will start at the 25 after a touchback.

10:40 p.m. Browns scoring play: Chubb comes in after Hunt can't get it done and powers up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run. York makes the PAT and Cleveland is now up two scores with 9:29 left. Browns extend their lead to 23-14.

10:40 p.m.: Hunt is stuffed at the 1. Browns have a decision to make on fourth-and-goal.

10:39 p.m.: Hunt picks gains 5 and 2 yards on consecutive runs to get to the Pittsburgh 1.

10:38 p.m.: Brissett powers ahead for 6 to the Pittsburgh 8. First-and-goal.

10:37 p.m.: The Browns bring in Hunt after Chubb's big carry and he picks up 8. His next carry gains only a yard to set up a third-and-inches.

10:36 p.m.: Chubb powers ahead through more contact and fights for 16 to the Pittsburgh 23.

10:35 p.m.: On third-and-1, Brissett rolls out on play-action and pitches it deep to Cooper for 32 yards.

Third quarter

10:31 p.m.: Browns starting to feed Chubb a bit more. Chubb fights ahead for a pickup of five on the first play, then picks up four more on the next carry as the quarter comes to a close.

10:30 p.m.: Harvin's punt is stopped at the 20.

10:28 p.m.: Back-to-back rushes to start the drive, first a 1-yard carry by Harris and then Trubisky takes an option to his left for a pickup of six. His first pass of the drive is incomplete as Johnson drops a deep shot left, and the Steelers will have to punt on 4th and three.

10:27 p.m.: Steelers will start their next drive at the 25 after taking the touchback.

10:24 p.m. Browns scoring play: York gives Cleveland the lead as he drills the 34-yard field goal with 2:31 left. Browns take a 16-14 lead.

10:23 p.m.: Brissett fires it out to Hunt, but the ball hits his hands and bounces back up.

10:22 p.m.: Brissett tries to find Njoku, then Cooper, but to no avail. The first pass was in the hands of Njoku, but he dropped it after the hit by Cameron Sutton. The second is thrown behind Cooper and hits corner Ahkello Witherspoon in the leg.

10:20 p.m.: Brissett connects with Cooper for six, then keeps it himself on a sneak to pick up the first with a rush for two. Browns have a 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 16.

10:20 p.m.: After the injury timeout, Chubb rushes to the right side for a pickup of three to the 24.

10:16 p.m.: The Browns convert on another fourth down try as Hunt finds some space and rushes for nine yards, but on the play, left tackle Jedrick Willis is injured. The Browns will have a 1st and 10 at the Steelers 27.

10:16 p.m.: Hunt can't quite reach the first down as he is stopped just a yard short at the Pittsburgh 36.

10:15 p.m.: Chubb continues his strong drive, fighting through some defenders for eight yards to make it a 3rd and three.

10:13 p.m.: The Browns go back to Chubb, who takes a group of defenders up the field a few yards to rush ahead for nine yards. Brissett picked up five on the next play, but a holding penalty brings it back to a 2nd and 11 at the Pittsburgh 46.

10:12 p.m.: Brissett out to another favorite target, this one Njoku, who catches a tight end screen and bulls his way ahead for 12 yards.

10:12 p.m.: Another big connection from Brissett to Cooper. Cooper caches a pass just in front of the first down marker and carves down the right sideline for a gain of 28 yards up to the Cleveland 43.

10:11 p.m.: Chubb starts the Cleveland drive with a gain of one.

10:07 p.m.: Steelers, lining up to punt, are called for a delay of game. Rogers fair catches the punt at the Cleveland 14.

10:06 p.m.: Trubisky can't connect with Claypool, who is also called for offensive pass interference. The penalty was declined, bringing up a 4th and five with 9:43 left.

10:04 p.m.: The Steelers are hit with a penalty for an ineligible man down the field, and the play is coming back. Steelers, facing a 2nd and 19, immediately pick most of that yardage back up as Trubisky finds Johnson wide open for 14 yards.

10 p.m.: Shovel pass from Trubisky out to Warren picks up big yardage cutting through the Browns defense and darting down the right sideline until he is finally brought down in the red zone, though there is a penalty flag on the field. During the play, Anthony Walker Jr. is injured, and the cart is coming out.

9:59 p.m.: Trubisky dumps the ball off to Harris, who is quickly swarmed by the Cleveland defense for a loss of four yards.

9:58 p.m.: Harris rushes ahead for three yards to move up to the 45, and then he catches a pass from Trubisky and hurdles a defender to pick up nine to move up to Cleveland's 46.

9:55 p.m.: Trubisky rolls out and evades pressure, and his pass out right to a diving Claypool picks up 14. After a penalty against the Browns, Harris rushes for four yards and another for two to move the chains up to the Pittsburgh 42.

9:54 p.m.: Trubisky throws a quick pass to the right side out to Johnson, who can only take it a yard as he wraps around to the outside. His next pass attempt, this time to Pickens, falls incomplete.

9:53 p.m.: Starting the third, Gunner Olszewski tries to return the kickoff, but only brings it out to the 16.

Second Quarter

9:42 p.m.: Here's a look at how the two QBs have done, per Next Gen Stats.

9:38 p.m.: Trubisky misses Pickens as the second quarter comes to an end.

9:36 p.m.: Trubisky well over-shoots Claypool out to the right for an incompletion, then misses Pickens out to the left. The Browns use their second timeout with six seconds left. Pittsburgh likely has to have this next play in the end zone or have a quick play out of bounds.

9:34 p.m.: Another deep shot by Trubisky as he finds Claypool down the left sideline for 20 yards. But he's tackled in bounds at the Cleveland 43, forcing the Steelers to use their final timeout with 16 seconds left.

9:34 p.m.: Trubisky starts the drive with an incompletion out to Johnson, but Ward is called for a five-yard holding penalty.

9:31 p.m.: Officials overturn the call on the field and say that Cooper did not have control over the ball. The Steelers will take over at their own 28 with one timeout and 27 seconds left on the clock.

9:30 p.m.: Brissett hits Cooper with a leaping throw up the middle for a first down. The Browns take a timeout as the officials decide to take a look at the catch by Cooper.

9:28 p.m.: Brissett gets David Bell involved for the first time, firing him on a slant route, but he's stopped short two yards shy of the first down. Browns call a timeout facing a 4th and two.

9:26 p.m.: Not much happening on the next two plays as Hunt rushes for no gain and then catches a pass for a modest pickup of two. The Steelers use a timeout with 50 seconds left.

9:25 p.m.: First play out of the two-minute warning, Hunt cuts through the line to pick up 11 and move up to the Pittsburgh 39.

9:22 p.m.: The Browns go to Chubb for a gain of three up to the 50 as they continue to drive up the field fast.

9:21 p.m.: The Brissett-to-Njoku connection is working well. After a short pass up the middle for six, the two connect again first for a gain of 19 and then again for 10 to move all the way up to the Cleveland 47.

9:20 p.m.: Another long field ahead for Cleveland as Jerome Ford decides to bring the kickoff out of the end zone and is stopped at the Cleveland 12.

9:16 p.m. Steelers scoring play: Trubisky rushes around to the right side and just does make it into the end zone before his knee is done. Boswell drills the PAT and Pittsburgh takes its first lead of the day with 3:50 left in the half. Steelers take a 14-13 lead.

9:15 p.m.: Harris nearly makes it to the goal-line, but is stopped a yard short by Cleveland's defense.

9:14 p.m.: The Steelers are moving downfield fast. Chase Claypool takes a jet sweep 11 yards down field to the Cleveland 15, and Harris cuts up to the five on the next play. Pittsburgh has a 1st and goal from the 5.

9:13 p.m.: Harris is swallowed up quickly at the 26 for a short gain of one.

9:12 p.m.: Harris carries the ball for a gain of four, but on the next drive, Warren fumbles the ball following a pickup of 17. Fortunately for the Steelers, Johnson is there on the right sideline to pounce on the ball and recover it for Pittsburgh.

9:11 p.m.: Trubisky, again, airing it out downfield, finding Johnson down the right sideline for a gain of 16 to the Cleveland 44.

9:10 p.m.: Pittsburgh starts the drive with a quick first down as Trubisky rolls out and finds Johnson for a gain of eight to the right before Harris powers his way up the middle for a gain of three. Pittsburgh up to its 36.

9:09 p.m.: The Steelers will start at the 25 on a touchback.

9:05 p.m. Browns scoring play: Brissett picks up his second touchdown pass of the day as Njoku makes a leaping grab in the end zone. Cade York misses his second point-after in as many weeks, however, as it clangs off the upright. Browns take a 13-7 lead.

9:04 p.m.: Browns will have a 1st and goal after a short pass to Njoku for six and a rush by Hunt for six to the right. Ball at the Pittsburgh 7.

9:04 p.m.: Chubb, somehow, picks up a yard after the play is blown up, but he miraculously cuts through the defense to pick up a yard.

9:03 p.m.: Brissett again firing down field, this time hitting Cooper on an out route for a gain of 18 out to the Pittsburgh 20.

9:02 p.m.: Back-to-back first downs, this time with some trickery. Brissett hands the ball to Hunt on a jet sweep, it gets flicked back to Brissett and he hits Hunt for a gain of 11.

9:01 p.m.: This time, Brissett connects with Peoples-Jones for a gain of 10 and a first down.

9 p.m.: Hunt can only pick up a yard after bouncing to the left, and Brissett misses Donovan Peoples-Jones on the next play. Cleveland facing a 3rd and nine from its own 41 with 12:57 left in the half.

8:58 p.m.: The Browns keep the drive moving down the field despite the penalty as Njoku finds space on the right side of the field and hauls in a 13-yard pass. Steelers have to call a timeout after some confusion on defense.

8:56 p.m.: Brissett goes right back to Cooper, hitting him on a curl route for a gain of six. They connect on a deep shot on the next play, but it's brought back after Cooper stepped out of bounds and came back in to make the play. Illegal touching the call makes it a 2nd and four at the Cleveland 27.

8:55 p.m.: Browns can only bring the kickoff out to the 21.

8:52 p.m. Steelers scoring play: Tie game in Cleveland. Harris bounces to the outside for a touchdown five seconds into the second quarter. Steelers tie the game at 7.

First Quarter

8:49 p.m.: Back-to-back runs by Warren for six and seven yards send Pittsburgh up with a 1st and goal from the Cleveland 5 heading into the second quarter.

8:48 p.m.: After Warren rushes for seven, Pickens makes an incredible one-handed snag down the right sideline for a gain of 36 at the Cleveland 18.

8:47 p.m.: Following a short pass of three yards to Jaylen Warren, Trubisky rolls out and hits Johnson, who takes it for a gain of 11.

8:46 p.m.: The Steelers will start on offense at the 25.

8:42 p.m. Browns scoring play: Cleveland strikes first as Brissett finds Cooper up the middle for a touchdown to give Cleveland the lead with 2:54 left. Browns take a 7-0 lead.

8:41 p.m.: Chubb bursts down the right side and carves his way through the defense for 36 yards, then follows it up with a gain of one. Browns out to the Pittsburgh 12.

8:39 p.m.: Brissett has plenty of time and finds David Njoku, who nearly reaches the first-down marker, but he's stopped a yard short. The Browns go for it on 4th and one and sneak it with Brissett for a gain of three.

8:39 p.m.: Chubb can only pick up a yard, and Brissett follows that up with an incompletion to him out to the left.

8:35 p.m.: The 49-yard field goal try by Chris Boswell hooks wide right at the very end, missing by a foot. Cleveland will take over at the 32.

8:33 p.m.: Trubisky hits Pickens on an attempted wide receiver screen, but the play is blown up for a loss of two by Martin Emerson. Trubisky dumps the ball off to Harris for a short gain of four to bring up a 4th and four.

8:32 p.m.: It doesn't take long for Pittsburgh to push further into Cleveland territory. Harris takes back-to-back handoffs for gains of 10 and four.

8:31 p.m.: Bojorquez's punt appears to be tipped on the way up. As a result, the Steelers will start at the Browns' 48.

8:29 p.m.: Alex Highsmith is called for a neutral zone infraction to move the Cleveland offense up to a 3rd and one, but Brissett is sacked for a loss of nine by Larry Ogunjobi on the next play to bring up a punt.

8:28 p.m.: Just like the first drive, the Browns are starting the drive with Chubb, who carried it to the left side for two yards. The next play, Brissett gets Kareem Hunt involved, hitting him for a two-yard gain.

8:24 p.m.: Trubisky can't connect with Johnson on a deep shot down the right sideline, but it's broken up by Denzel Ward, forcing a punt on 4th and five. Pressley Harvin punts the ball out to the Cleveland 23, where it is fair caught by Chester Rogers.

8:23 p.m.: Mitch Trubisky starts the Steelers' drive by getting flushed out of the pocket and connect on a pass with Diontae Johnson for 13 yards to the right side. Najee Harris follows that up with two carries up the middle to bring up a 3rd and five.

8:19 p.m.: Two incompletions and a gain of zero from Amari Cooper will force the Browns to punt from their own 39. Corey Bojorquez punts it into the end zone for a touchback.

8:18 p.m.: After a short carry to start, Nick Chubb rushed right up the middle for a 13-yard gain and nearly broke for more had he not been tripped up at the Cleveland 39.

8:17 p.m.: Cleveland's offense will start at the 25 after a touchback to start the game.

8:10 p.m.: The Browns have taken the field against the Steelers ahead of this pivotal, early season rivalry matchup.

What time is the NFL game tonight?

  • Date: Thursday, Sept. 22
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Steelers and the Browns will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET from FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland

MORE: Why the Mitch Trubisky-George Pickens connection is still a work in progress

Where to watch Steelers vs. Browns

  • Live stream: Amazon Prime

The matchup between the Steelers and Browns will be carried exclusively on Amazon Prime. Last Thursday, the Chargers and Chiefs played in the inaugural presentation of "Thursday Night Football" on Amazon Prime.

Al Michaels will call the play-by-play for the game and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will provide analysis. Kaylee Hartung will be the sideline reporter.

MORE: How many people watched 'Thursday Night Football' on Amazon?

Why is 'Thursday Night Football' on Amazon Prime?

This is the first year "Thursday Night Football" will be on Amazon after years of bouncing from network to network.

Before the 2017 season, Amazon acquired non-exclusive streaming rights for several "Thursday Night Football" games during the season. In March 2021, it officially acquired the rights to be the exclusive home of the prime-time series for a $1 billion per year.

MORE: How Amazon won rights to TNF

The deal was initially slated to begin in 2023, but Fox ended its deal with the NFL a year early, paving the way for Amazon to carry games exclusively starting in 2022. The streaming giant will be the exclusive home through 2033.

Author(s)
Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News.