The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers delivered a classic AFC North battle on December 28, 2025, with Cleveland securing a 13-6 victory at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns built a 10-0 first-quarter advantage and then relied on their defense to protect the lead. Pittsburgh managed only six points and failed to score after halftime. The result gave Cleveland a valuable divisional win while denying Pittsburgh a chance to clinch the AFC North title in Week 17.
The Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats show a game controlled more by defense and field position than offensive production. Shedeur Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Aaron Rodgers finished with 168 passing yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Cleveland also limited Pittsburgh to 262 total yards while producing two takeaways.
Final Score
Cleveland scored first through Andre Szmyt’s 50-yard field goal before Sanders connected with Harold Fannin Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown. Pittsburgh responded with two Chris Boswell field goals in the second quarter. Cleveland added another field goal in the fourth quarter, while Pittsburgh’s offense failed to cross the goal line after halftime. That scoring pattern ultimately decided the contest.
The final score was Cleveland Browns 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 6. Cleveland led 10-0 after the opening quarter and entered halftime ahead 10-6. Neither team scored during the third quarter, but Cleveland’s defense continued to control the game. Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining provided the final points and sealed the Browns’ victory.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Cleveland Browns | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Match Details
The game was played on Sunday, December 28, 2025, during Week 17 of the NFL regular season. Cleveland hosted Pittsburgh at Huntington Bank Field, and the Browns entered the game looking to strengthen their divisional record. Pittsburgh arrived with a 9-6 record and an opportunity to move closer to securing the AFC North.
The Browns finished the game with 291 total yards, while Pittsburgh recorded 262. Cleveland held the ball for 30:39 compared with Pittsburgh’s 29:21. The Browns converted three of 15 third downs, while Pittsburgh converted four of 11. Cleveland also committed six penalties for 45 yards, compared with four penalties for 34 yards by Pittsburgh.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns |
| Date | December 28, 2025 |
| Week | Week 17 |
| Venue | Huntington Bank Field |
| Final Score | Browns 13, Steelers 6 |
| Cleveland Record After Game | 4-12 |
| Pittsburgh Record After Game | 9-7 |
| Cleveland Total Yards | 291 |
| Pittsburgh Total Yards | 262 |
Team Comparison
Cleveland’s biggest advantage came from its ability to combine enough offensive production with strong defensive execution. The Browns produced 184 passing yards and 78 rushing yards, totaling 262 yards of offense. Pittsburgh generated 160 passing yards and 131 rushing yards for 291 total yards. Despite gaining fewer total yards, Cleveland won because it converted key opportunities and avoided turnovers.
The turnover battle was especially important. Pittsburgh intercepted Sanders twice, but Cleveland did not lose a fumble. The Steelers also failed to turn their takeaways into touchdowns. Cleveland’s defense forced Pittsburgh into difficult situations throughout the second half, and the Browns held the Steelers scoreless over the final two quarters.
| Team Statistic | Steelers | Browns |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 291 | 262 |
| Passing Yards | 160 | 184 |
| Rushing Yards | 131 | 78 |
| First Downs | 15 | 11 |
| Third Down | 4/11 | 3/15 |
| Fourth Down | 0/1 | 0/3 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 4-34 | 6-45 |
| Time of Possession | 29:21 | 30:39 |
Passing Stats
Shedeur Sanders delivered an efficient passing performance despite throwing two interceptions. He completed 17 of 23 attempts for 186 yards, giving him a 73.9% completion rate. His only touchdown pass came on Cleveland’s opening-quarter connection with Harold Fannin Jr. Sanders also added 20 rushing yards on four attempts, giving the Browns another element on the ground.
Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 39 attempts for 168 yards and finished without a touchdown or interception. His 64.9 passer rating reflected Pittsburgh’s difficulty creating consistent passing production. Rodgers was sacked twice for eight lost yards. The Steelers moved the ball at times, but Cleveland’s defense prevented those drives from becoming touchdowns.
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shedeur Sanders, CLE | 17/23 | 186 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 75.6 |
| Aaron Rodgers, PIT | 21/39 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 64.9 |
Rushing Stats
Jaylen Warren led Pittsburgh’s rushing attack with 64 yards on 12 carries. He averaged 5.3 yards per attempt and produced the Steelers’ longest rushing play of the game, a 15-yard run. Connor Heyward also made an impact with 26 yards on only two carries, including a 29-yard run earlier in the game that helped Pittsburgh reach scoring range.
Cleveland struggled to establish a powerful ground attack. Dylan Sampson led the Browns with 27 yards on 11 carries, while Raheim Sanders added 21 yards on eight attempts. Shedeur Sanders contributed 20 rushing yards. Cleveland finished with 78 rushing yards, but the offense did enough through passing and field-goal opportunities to maintain control.
| Player | Team | Carries | Rushing Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | 12 | 64 | 5.3 | 15 | 0 |
| Connor Heyward | PIT | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 29 | 0 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | 7 | 26 | 3.7 | 15 | 0 |
| Dylan Sampson | CLE | 11 | 27 | 2.5 | 6 | 0 |
| Raheim Sanders | CLE | 8 | 21 | 2.6 | 6 | 0 |
| Shedeur Sanders | CLE | 4 | 20 | 5.0 | 11 | 0 |
Receiving Stats
Jerry Jeudy was Cleveland’s leading receiver, catching five passes for 54 yards. Cedric Tillman produced the longest Browns reception with a 42-yard catch. Harold Fannin Jr. was the most important receiving player, however, because his 28-yard touchdown reception gave Cleveland its only touchdown of the game. Fannin finished with two receptions for 30 yards.
Pittsburgh’s receiving numbers were led by Pat Freiermuth, who caught three passes for 63 yards. Scotty Miller added three receptions for 25 yards, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught three for 21 yards. No Steelers receiver reached the end zone. Pittsburgh’s inability to turn passing drives into touchdowns remained one of the biggest differences between the teams.
| Player | Team | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Jeudy | CLE | 5 | 54 | 10.8 | 15 | 0 |
| Cedric Tillman | CLE | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 42 | 0 |
| Harold Fannin Jr. | CLE | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 28 | 1 |
| Pat Freiermuth | PIT | 3 | 63 | 21.0 | 29 | 0 |
| Scotty Miller | PIT | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 15 | 0 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | PIT | 3 | 21 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 |
Defensive Player Stats
Cleveland’s defense produced the defining performance of the afternoon. Carson Schwesinger and Devin Bush each recorded nine tackles, while Grant Delpit added eight tackles and one sack. Alex Wright also recorded a sack. The Browns held Pittsburgh without a touchdown and limited the Steelers to only 262 total yards. Myles Garrett finished with one tackle and one quarterback hit.
Pittsburgh’s defense also played well, particularly after Cleveland’s early touchdown. Kyle Dugger led the Steelers with eight tackles and recorded one interception. Jack Sawyer added six tackles and intercepted another pass for a 27-yard return. Alex Highsmith recorded two sacks and four quarterback hits. Pittsburgh generated two takeaways and held Cleveland to zero points during the second and third quarters.
| Player | Team | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Schwesinger | CLE | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Bush | CLE | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Delpit | CLE | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Alex Wright | CLE | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Kyle Dugger | PIT | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Jack Sawyer | PIT | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Patrick Queen | PIT | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Highsmith | PIT | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Important Game Moments
The Browns established momentum immediately. Szmyt opened the scoring with a 50-yard field goal, and Sanders then engineered an 86-yard touchdown drive that ended with Fannin’s 28-yard reception. Cleveland led 10-0 with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter. Pittsburgh answered with two Boswell field goals in the second period, reducing the deficit to four points before halftime.
One of Pittsburgh’s biggest opportunities came when Sawyer intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 27 yards to the Cleveland 31-yard line. The Steelers could not capitalize, as their fourth-down attempt ended unsuccessfully. That sequence proved costly because Pittsburgh never found the end zone. Cleveland eventually added Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to create the final seven-point margin.
Turning Point
The decisive pattern emerged after halftime. Cleveland did not produce a touchdown after its first-quarter score, but the defense repeatedly prevented Pittsburgh from converting its possessions into touchdowns. The Steelers entered the second half needing only a touchdown to take control, yet they remained scoreless through the final two quarters. Cleveland’s defensive pressure and coverage kept Rodgers from generating the explosive scoring plays Pittsburgh needed.
The two Pittsburgh interceptions were also important because they demonstrated how competitive the defensive battle became. Sawyer’s interception created a promising field position opportunity, while Dugger added another takeaway later. Despite those plays, Pittsburgh’s offense could not convert either takeaway into a touchdown. Cleveland’s ability to survive those defensive setbacks while continuing to control the scoreboard ultimately separated the teams.
What the Player Stats Reveal
The Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats underline how unusual the final score was compared with the yardage totals. Pittsburgh gained 291 yards compared with Cleveland’s 262, yet the Steelers scored only six points. Cleveland gained fewer yards but scored the game’s lone touchdown and finished with three successful field goals. The Browns also avoided losing a fumble, while Pittsburgh’s two interceptions of Sanders did not lead to enough points to change the outcome.
The quarterback numbers tell another part of the story. Sanders completed a much higher percentage of his passes, while Rodgers attempted 16 more throws. Pittsburgh relied more heavily on its rushing attack, gaining 131 yards at 5.5 yards per carry. Cleveland managed only 78 rushing yards, but Sanders’ efficiency and Fannin’s touchdown gave the Browns enough offensive production to win.
Final Match Summary
Cleveland’s 13-6 victory over Pittsburgh was built around defense, early execution and timely kicking. Sanders connected with Fannin for the only touchdown, while Szmyt accounted for seven points through his three successful field goals. The Browns’ defense then closed the door, holding Pittsburgh scoreless throughout the second half. Schwesinger and Bush led Cleveland with nine tackles each, while Delpit and Wright recorded sacks.
For Pittsburgh, Warren’s 64 rushing yards and Freiermuth’s 63 receiving yards provided positive individual numbers, but the offense could not finish drives. Rodgers threw for 168 yards without a touchdown, and the Steelers settled for two field goals. Highsmith’s two sacks and Dugger’s eight tackles plus an interception highlighted a strong defensive effort. Still, Cleveland made the crucial plays and finished with a 13-6 divisional win.
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