The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered an inexcusable road loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, falling 13-6 on Sunday and squandering a golden opportunity to clinch the AFC North.
The Steelers were a mess on offense without D.K. Metcalf, failing to score a touchdown for the first time all season. All they managed was a pair of Chris Boswell field goals in the second quarter before getting shut out for the entire second half.
After starting December 3-0 with three strong performances, Aaron Rodgers endured his worst game in four weeks. The 42-year-old QB looked his age, completing only 21 of 39 passes for 168 yards and no touchdowns.
Rodgers was sacked twice, but not by Myles Garrett, who was held without a sack in both of his games against Pittsburgh this year. He remains 0.5 sacks shy of the NFL single-season record of 22.5, which he’ll try to break in the Browns’ season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the game, Garrett criticized the Steelers for seeming more focused on stopping him rather than winning the game.
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“They were more worried about keeping me away from Aaron (Rodgers) than getting the win, and I think that’s what came back to bite them,” Garrett told reporters during his postgame press conference.
True or not, Pittsburgh’s offense did seem to look more conservative and trepidatious than usual on Sunday. Rodgers was getting the ball out quickly rather than letting plays develop, and Garrett may have been in his head.
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Garrett is one of the rare defensive players in the NFL who can impact a game with his mere presence, and that may have been the case on Sunday.
Regardless, now the Steelers must beat the Baltimore Ravens at home next week if they want to make the playoffs. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, the Ravens don’t have a game-wrecker of Garrett’s caliber.
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Featured image via Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates a sack against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates a sack against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field.