T.J. Watt scooped up a loose ball from DeShaun Watson and ran 17 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth period, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Cleveland Browns 26-22 on Monday night.
Tony Jones Jr. scored two touchdowns, rookie Blake Grupe kicked two field goals and New Orleans beat Carolina, improving to a 2-0 record for the first time since 2013. The Saints prevailed at North Carolina by a final score of 20-17.
Steelers Extend Dominance Against Browns
The game was marred by a serious knee injury to Cleveland's star running back, Nick Chubb. It was not a good night for the Browns.
The Steelers defeated the Browns for the 20th consecutive time at home in the regular season with outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.
Highsmith, who had returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the game, beat Cleveland left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and knocked the ball out of Watson's hands.
Watt picked it up and ran all the way home, extending the Steelers' Monday night home winning streak to 21 in a row since 1991.
The Browns played most of the final three quarters without Chubb, who caught a pass from Watson early in the second quarter and got to the Pittsburgh 3-yard line.
Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick lunged at Chubb's legs, and the four-time Pro Bowler's left leg bent awkwardly under him.
The player had to be stretchered off. Jerome Ford, Chubb's replacement, rushed for 106 yards and caught a 3-yard touchdown pass for the Browns, but Cleveland's mistakes cost them a chance to win in Pittsburgh.
Watson completed 22 of 40 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was also penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct for grabbing a Steelers player's facemask while running. The penalties cut short two promising offensive series.
Kenny Pickett and the Steelers offense struggled. Pickett completed 15 of 30 passes for 222 yards.
A defense crucial to winning the game, the adjustments the offense must make and more about the 26-22 win vs. the Browns. ⤵️
📰: @RaulGtz https://t.co/3hKGGaw8YV
- Steelers en Español (@LosSteelers) September 19, 2023
Saints Beat Panthers
Jones replaced the injured Jamaal Williams late in the first half and rushed for 34 yards on 12 attempts. The night did not look positive for Carolina.
The Saints defense did the rest, holding Panthers rookie Bryce Young to just 153 yards per pass in his home debut. New Orleans limited Carolina to 239 yards and caught quarterback Young, the first overall pick in the draft, four times.
The Saints nearly completed two full games without allowing a touchdown before giving up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Young to Adam Thielen with one minute and sixteen seconds left in the game.
Young's two-point conversion to Thielen brought the Panthers within three points, but the Saints recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Derek Carr had an interception following a bad pass in triple coverage and missed several other open receivers as the Saints headed into the locker room at halftime with a 6-3 lead.
Carr improved in the second half, however, connecting with Chris Olave on a 42-yard run that set up Jones' first touchdown. Carr finished with 228 yards passing and the lone interception.
