Tim Benz: Rush defense, rookie stars top this week's 'Feats of Strength' as Steelers score gutsy win in Cleveland

I’m not sure how the Pittsburgh Steelers got there. But they did. They somehow closed out a gutsy, important 15-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

They lost kicker Chris Boswell to a concussion on a fake field goal. They had more third-down issues on offense. And they committed eight penalties.

That said, the Steelers managed to scratch out a win on the road and prevented a third straight Browns conquest in the rivalry for the first time since 1989.

It didn’t come without some odd twists and turns, though, as you will see while we recap the ups and downs in this week’s “Feats of Strength” and “Airing of Grievances.”

Feats of Strength

Red-zone rookies: The Steelers had some adventures in the offensive red zone. They had a failed fake field goal (more on that later). They got sacked on a 2-point conversion. They settled for a field goal on their second drive of the first half.

However, when the Steelers needed touchdowns badly in the second half after Boswell was injured on the botched fake, their top two rookie draft choices came up huge.

Najee Harris soared through the air for a touchdown late in the third quarter to pull the Steelers within a point.

.@ohthatsNajee22 flying in for 6!

????: CBS pic.twitter.com/aDmsixdhG3

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 31, 2021

Then Pat Freiermuth made a fantastic catch for a score in the fourth quarter to make it 15-10 Steelers.

WHAT A CATCH!!!!!!@pat_fry5 | ????: CBS pic.twitter.com/NKRGy15nSr

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 31, 2021

Freiermuth ended up with four catches for 44 yards. Harris had 120 yards from scrimmage on 29 touches.

You go, Joe: Joe Schobert made his biggest play as a Steeler. And it came against one of his former teams.

The ex-Browns inside linebacker stripped Jarvis Landry to halt a Cleveland drive in the fourth quarter. T.J. Watt pounced on it.

OUR BALL!!!

????: CBS pic.twitter.com/kOHEArKKvw

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 31, 2021

“A great play by Schobert,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Steeped in fundamentals. He did a great job ball-searching. Linebacker versus wide receiver. We fought and fought and came out of there with it. A big-time play.”

That was the only turnover of the game.

Ground-game guts: Credit to the Steelers rush defense. The Browns came into the afternoon leading the NFL in rush yards per game at 170.4.

The Steelers were tied for 12th in rush yards allowed per game at 107.7. But opponents have averaged 127 yards rushing over the past three games. That was pacing for 24th in the NFL based on season-long averages.

However, the Browns only totaled 96 yards on the ground. Star running back Nick Chubb only had 61 yards in his first game back after missing the past two contests. That’s despite the fact all five starting offensive linemen were able to begin the day before Browns right tackle Jack Conklin got hurt.

“It’s a collective,” Tomlin said of his rush defense. “That’s an awesome run team. They really challenge you. And, largely, we stood up.”

Kudos to the defense for holding the Browns to just 3 of 12 on third- and fourth-down conversion attempts as well.

Ground game guts II: Who saw this comin’?

Not only did the Steelers stuff the Browns’ vaunted rush attack, but they also outgained Cleveland on the ground.

The Steelers stuck to their rush attack, totaling 115 yards, even though it only averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Harris ended up with 91 yards on 26 carries.

“The run game component of the game was going to be big,” Tomlin said. “We had to stop their run game. We had to run it. Largely, I think we answered the call in that regard. And I think that, more than any reason, is why we were victorious.”

Good day all around: Not only did the Steelers (4-3) win a division game to jump in front of Cleveland for third place in the AFC North, but they also closed ground on the division leaders.

The Bengals (5-3) surprisingly lost to the New York Jets (2-5) by a final of 34-31. And the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) had a bye.

The Steelers play the Chicago Bears (3-5) on “Monday Night Football” next week. The Bengals and Browns play each other. The Ravens host the Minnesota Vikings.

Airing of Grievances

The play before the play: There was a lot to dislike about the Steelers’ fake field goal that went awry at the end of the first half.

It didn’t work. It didn’t appear to have the Browns off-guard. And Boswell got hurt trying to run it.

What I hated about the decision on fourth down was the call on third down before it. If you are going to take a big chance on the fake field goal on fourth down, why not take a more calculated risk on third down and maybe go for the end zone? Or at least do something besides running Harris on third-and-17.

Maybe the decision to try the fake was made during the timeout between downs. But if that’s the case, it feels awfully impulsive. If that possibility existed at all in those circumstances, then they should’ve gone for the end zone, or tried to keep the drive alive on third-and-17 from the 18-yard line.

And one more thing!: Another grievance to air about the fake field goal? Sure. I’ve got one.

It should’ve been a penalty on Cleveland for roughing the passer. Yes. The passer. Not the kicker. Boswell got hit high and late after getting rid of the ball.

That’s not just me expressing that opinion. Former referee turned CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore took that position as well.

Even though Chris Boswell is a kicker by position, on this fake field goal attempt, he is a passer. A defender cannot hit the passer forcibly in the head or neck area. IMO this should have been a 15 yard penalty for roughing in #PITvsCLE. pic.twitter.com/EXnOfledfv

— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) October 31, 2021

That should’ve been a penalty on Jordan Elliott.

A little help?: After Harris scored to pull the Steelers within one point at 10-9, they didn’t have Boswell to kick an extra point.

So Ben Roethlisberger ran into the end zone for a 2-point conversion. But it got called back thanks to a penalty against Kendrick Green.

The ball got moved back to the 12-yard line, and Roethlisberger’s pass attempt was foiled by pressure from Myles Garrett, who was being blocked one-on-one by rookie Dan Moore Jr.

Why? It’s Garrett. He’s an All-Pro. Give Moore some help in a situation so crucial. A chip from a running back or a tight end would’ve helped.

After all, Garrett already had eaten Moore alive in the red zone once before earlier in the game.

There goes the Sack Reaper! ⚡️@Flash_Garrett | #Browns pic.twitter.com/ctzU93c0k7

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 31, 2021

The Steelers didn’t have to go with an empty set on that. I’d rather see more protection for Roethlisberger and one less person in a pattern that close to the end zone.