Cleveland Browns top Pittsburgh Steelers 30-10 in Week 4 as defenses combine for eight interceptions

Cleveland, OH - The Cleveland Browns emerged from a turnover-heavy afternoon with a 30-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, winning by 20 points despite finishing behind Pittsburgh in both offensive yards and first downs.

The statistical profile was anything but conventional. Pittsburgh accumulated 273 offensive yards to Cleveland’s 211 and recorded 14 first downs compared with nine for the Browns. Both defenses intercepted four passes, while the Steelers registered six sacks and Cleveland finished with five.

Yet the final score belonged decisively to the Browns, who were more efficient on third down. Cleveland converted 5 of 12 attempts, while Pittsburgh went 2-for-14. The Steelers also finished just 1-for-6 on fourth down.

Neither side found a touchdown in the red zone. Each team made four trips inside the 20 and came away with one field goal, leaving a sharp contrast between the game’s final score and its identical red-zone production.

Tua Tagovailoa delivered the game’s only verified passing touchdown but also endured an uneven day with the football. Cleveland’s quarterback completed 8 of 18 passes for 160 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, finishing with a 55.0 passer rating. He supplemented that line with 32 rushing yards on six carries, including a 27-yard run.

"There are things in that performance that I have to own, especially putting the ball in danger that many times," Tagovailoa said. "At the same time, we finished with a 30-10 win. You take the result, you learn from everything else and you don’t pretend the mistakes weren’t there."

Joe Royer supplied Cleveland’s biggest receiving total with one reception for 76 yards and a touchdown. Jerry Jeudy added three catches for 55 yards, while Quinshon Judkins carried 16 times for 55 yards as part of a Browns rushing attack that totaled 105 yards.

Cleveland’s offensive numbers were modest across the board. The Browns finished with 106 passing yards and averaged fewer first downs than their opponent, but the scoreboard told a far different story. Their 30 points were three times Pittsburgh’s total.

Aaron Rodgers faced his own turnover problems for the Steelers. He completed 17 of 36 passes for 184 yards and four interceptions, producing a 23.1 passer rating. His longest completion covered 32 yards.

"Four interceptions and that conversion rate aren’t going to give you a stat line you can feel good about," Rodgers said. "We moved the ball for stretches and had four red-zone trips, but the result is 10 points. That’s the part that matters."

DK Metcalf led Pittsburgh’s receivers with four catches for 56 yards. Rico Dowdle provided the Steelers’ top rushing performance, gaining 71 yards on 11 attempts with a long run of 32 yards. Pittsburgh finished with 124 rushing yards and 149 passing yards as a team.

The Steelers’ defense produced one of the afternoon’s most notable performances even in defeat. Jalen Ramsey recorded two interceptions and totaled 30 yards on his returns. T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward each collected two sacks, accounting for four of Pittsburgh’s six.

"Six sacks and four interceptions is real production, but nobody in our room is going to separate that from the final score," Ramsey said. "We lost by 20. There are plays on defense we can respect, but the result is still the result."

Cleveland’s defense answered with five sacks and four interceptions of Rodgers. The Browns also held Pittsburgh without a red-zone touchdown and limited the Steelers to two third-down conversions in 14 attempts. Those numbers stood alongside a final margin that was considerably wider than the difference in offensive production.

For Cleveland, the defining fact was straightforward: a game featuring eight interceptions, 11 sacks and fewer offensive yards than Pittsburgh still ended in a 30-10 Browns victory.

Up Next

The Cleveland Browns will look to follow up the win when they travel to face the New York Jets in Week 5, while the Pittsburgh Steelers return home to host the Indianapolis Colts.