Steelers hold Browns out of end zone in wire-to-wire win

Field Level Media|published: Sun 12th October, 17:33 2025

NFL: Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) runs the ball against Cleveland Browns defense during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers topped the visiting Cleveland Browns 23-9 on Sunday afternoon.

Rodgers, who completed 21 of 30 passes for 235 yards, found Connor Heyward and DK Metcalf for second-half touchdowns. Chris Boswell added three field goals for Pittsburgh (4-1) while Jalen Ramsey had two of the Steelers' six sacks.

Dillon Gabriel was 29 of 52 for 221 yards for Cleveland (1-5), which has not won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh since 2003. The Browns managed only 248 total yards of offense -- highlighted by rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.'s seven receptions for 81 yards -- as they have yet to score more than 17 points in a game this season.

Rodgers and Darnell Washington hooked up for a 36-yard pass on the second play of the game, which led to Boswell's 44-yard field goal.

The AFC North-leading Steelers tacked on two more field goals in the second quarter before the Browns finally got on the board on Andre Szmyt's 31-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

However, the Browns were unable to carry over any momentum into the third quarter as they went three-and-out to open the second half.

Pittsburgh cashed in on its ensuing possession, driving 79 yards to the end zone. Rodgers sprinted out right before finding a well-covered Heyward for a 12-yard score and a 16-3 lead with 7:46 left in the third.

Szmyt responded with a 53-yard field goal for the Browns before the Steelers came back with another touchdown to take a 23-6 lead. Rodgers found Roman Wilson (12 yards) and Washington (14 yards) for nice gains during the drive, then Metcalf got open down the right sideline for a 25-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Gabriel and the Browns then compiled an 18-play drive, but they had to settle for Szmyt's 32-yard field goal to get within 23-9 with 9:29 left.

Boswell slipped on a field-goal attempt with under four minutes to go, keeping it a two-possession game. Cleveland drove into the red zone in the waning minutes, but Gabriel's fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

--Field Level Media