CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6 on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, securing a divisional upset despite a losing season. A crowd of 67,194 saw the Browns’ defense dominate, holding Pittsburgh to a pair of second-quarter field goals by Chris Boswell. Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders provided the game’s only touchdown with a 28-yard pass to Harold Fannin Jr. in the first quarter. Andre Szmyt added two field goals for the Browns. Pittsburgh’s offense, led by Aaron Rodgers, was stifled throughout, with a missed 54-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter sealing the outcome. The victory improved Cleveland to 4-12, while Pittsburgh fell to 9-7.

CLEVELAND (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive struggle and missed opportunities, the Cleveland Browns, led by a poised performance from quarterback Shedeur Sanders, secured a 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field. A crowd of 67,194 witnessed a contest that defied pregame projections, as the Steelers’ offense, averaging over 24 points per game during a recent three-game winning streak, was held without a touchdown for the first time this season. The Browns, entering the game with a 3-12 record, outlasted a Pittsburgh team fighting for playoff positioning, now 9-7. The most important part of the game was the sustained defensive pressure applied by Cleveland, which consistently derailed Pittsburgh’s drives and held future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in check. Rodgers finished 21 of 39 for 168 yards and was sacked three times, unable to find the end zone against a swarming Browns unit. Cleveland set the tone early. After a 50-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt capped their opening drive, the Browns’ defense forced a quick punt. Sanders then engineered the game’s only touchdown drive, a methodical 11-play, 70-yard march. The key play was a perfectly thrown 28-yard strike from Sanders to tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who hauled in the pass in the end zone for a score. Fannin was injured on the play, but the touchdown gave Cleveland a 10-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter. Pittsburgh’s offense, stagnant for most of the first half, managed only two Chris Boswell field goals—from 44 and 40 yards—both set up by rare flashes of production. The latter came as time expired in the first half after Rodgers connected with tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 23-yard gain to the Cleveland 28, salvaging points from a desperate two-minute drill. The second half devolved into a punting duel, with both defenses dominating. Pittsburgh’s best chance to seize momentum came early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 10-6, they drove to the Cleveland 27, but the drive stalled. On fourth down, Boswell’s 54-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right, preserving the Browns’ four-point lead. Cleveland’s defense sealed the victory late. With Pittsburgh forced to burn all its timeouts during Cleveland’s final possession, the Browns ran the clock down to 1:40 before Szmyt connected on a 33-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13-6. Rodgers had one final chance, moving the Steelers from their own 35 to the Cleveland 7-yard line in the final minute. However, with no timeouts and facing a relentless pass rush, Rodgers’ final four passes from the 7 fell incomplete, the last batted away in the end zone as time expired. Sanders, the top star for Cleveland, was efficient and effective, completing 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards and the touchdown to Fannin. He added 20 yards on four scrambles, avoiding critical mistakes. His counterpart, Rodgers, was harassed all afternoon by a Browns defense that recorded nine tackles for loss. Linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Devin Bush each tallied nine tackles, while safety Grant Delpit had eight tackles and a sack. For Pittsburgh, running back Jaylen Warren provided a bright spot with 64 rushing yards on 12 carries. Freiermuth led all receivers with 63 yards on three catches. Safety Kyle Dugger intercepted a Sanders pass in the fourth quarter to give Pittsburgh life, but the offense could not capitalize. The result was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting in October, a 23-9 Steelers win. It also confounded statistical models, as National Statistical’s ELO system gave Pittsburgh a 78.3% probability to win, and the combined score of 19 points fell dramatically under the over/under line of 34.5. The Steelers, whose playoff hopes took a hit, will look to regroup when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, January 3. The Browns, who improved to 4-12, will travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals the same day.

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Steelers, riding a three-game winning streak and fighting for playoff position, will visit the struggling Cleveland Browns in an AFC North clash on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field. Despite their divergent trajectories, the Browns (3-12) have been installed as a 3-point favorite by oddsmakers, with an over/under of 34.5 points. A projection from National Statistical forecasts a 27-21 Cleveland victory. The Steelers (9-6) have found momentum behind veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In last week’s 29-24 win at Detroit, Rodgers completed 27 of 41 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown, adding two rushing scores. Running back Jaylen Warren gashed the Lions for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Rodgers has been efficient during the winning streak, completing over 70% of his passes in the two games prior to Detroit. Pittsburgh’s offense will look to exploit a Cleveland defense that has allowed an average of over 24 points per game this season. The Browns, mired in a four-game losing skid, will rely on rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders, a dual-threat playmaker, passed for 157 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 49 yards in a narrow 23-20 loss to Buffalo last week. His standout performance came in a Week 13 shootout, a 31-29 loss to Tennessee where he threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score. Cleveland’s lone bright spot in recent weeks was a 31-6 rout of Miami in Week 7, but consistency has eluded them. They will seek to avenge a 23-9 loss in Pittsburgh from Week 6. The Steelers have dominated the recent series, winning the last meeting and seven of the past ten matchups. With a potential postseason berth on the line, Pittsburgh aims to solidify its standing, while Cleveland looks to play spoiler and build momentum for 2026 in the season’s final home game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST.