Claypool scores again for 5-0 Steelers
Abbotsford's Chase Claypool scored his sixth touchdown of the season Sunday as the 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.
“It didn't feel like we were doing a lot on offence,” Roethlisberger said. “We ended up scoring 31 points on offence, and I know the defence got a touchdown for us, but it never really felt like we did much. That's what is special about this team, and this offence — everyone contributes and everyone makes plays.”
Claypool, who was a first-round 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 -own conversions.
Cleveland's Baker Mayfield was 10 of 18 for 119 yards, including a touchdown to Rashard Higgins, with two interceptions and four sacks.
Mayfield entered the game with bruised ribs, and that injury seemed to be aggravated when he was hit by Pittsburgh's Cam Heyward late in the first half, but he returned for the third 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 Pittsburgh lead.
After Cam Sutton picked off Mayfield, Washington was wide open down the right side for a 28yard 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 three-yard run to the left pylon gave the Steelers a 31-7 lead and Snell pushed it to 38-7 with a oneyard walk into the end zone with 8:08 left.