Abbotsford's Claypool, Pittsburgh destroy Cleveland
Decisive victory keeps Steelers undefeated and puts an end to Browns' 4-game winning streak
Abbotsford's Chase Claypool scored his sixth touchdown of the season Sunday as the host Pittsburgh Steelers dominated their AFC North rival Cleveland Browns 38-7.
Pittsburgh improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1978 while Cleveland (4-2) had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger was 14 of 22 passing for 162 yards, including a scoring pass to James Washington. James Conner rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown while Claypool and Benny Snell Jr. also each ran for a touchdown. Minkah Fitzpatrick had an interception return for a touchdown.
Claypool, who was a firstround draft pick of the Steelers after a standout college career at Notre Dame, caught four passes for 74 yards. He now has 17 receptions on the season to go with his six touchdowns, having scored four last week in a win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Steelers defence dominated throughout. The Browns, who entered as the NFL's top rushing team, were held to just 75 rushing yards and Cleveland was an anemic 1-of-12 on third down conversions.
Cleveland's Baker Mayfield was 10 of 18 for 119 yards, including a touchdown to Rashard Higgins, with two interceptions and four sacks.
Case Keenum came in for the fourth quarter.
The Steelers' opening drive ended with Chris Boswell's 35-yard field goal.
Cleveland's first possession ended with Fitzpatrick's interception of Mayfield's pass over the middle and 33-yard return for a touchdown, giving Pittsburgh a 10-0 lead.
Roethlisberger hit just 2 of 8 passes in the first quarter, but hit 5-for-5 on the first drive in the second, including a 36-yard completion down the left side to Claypool that helped set up Conner's 3-yard scoring run for a 17-0 lead.
After Cam Sutton picked off Mayfield, Washington was wide open down the right side for a 28-yard touchdown catch for a 24-0 lead.
Cleveland struck with 1:01 left in the first half when Mayfield's 13-yard pass found Higgins alone on the right edge of the end zone, making it 24-7.
In the third quarter, Claypool's 3-yard run to the left pylon gave the Steelers a 31-7 lead and Snell pushed it to 38-7 with a 1-yard walk into the end zone with 8:08 left.