In his second NFL start, Thompson-Robinson helped the Browns (7-3) win, days after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a shoulder injury. His season is over.
With the crowd chanting “D-T-R” and Watson watching from the sideline, Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round selection, completed four passes for 29 yards to set the stage for Hopkins’ game-clinching field goal.
When the ball passed between the posts, Thompson-Robinson crouched down, overcome with emotion. He had to wipe away a few tears.
“Yes, I’m very happy,” he said. I’m happy to be able to offer this victory to my teammates. »
This last sequence was a turnaround for Thompson-Robinson, who had not done much until then to demonstrate that he was capable of leading this type of offensive push.
His numbers haven’t been great – 24 completions in 43 attempts for 165 yards and an interception – but he only suffered one turnover after three at his expense on October 1, in his debut.
“He got through it,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. He made big plays throughout that stretch, and throughout the entire game. I know it wasn’t always perfect, but he succeeded when it counted. »
The Browns thus defeated the Ravens and the Steelers (6-4) in two consecutive weeks for the first time in 15 attempts. And Thompson-Robinson’s performance, while inconsistent at times, gave the Browns hope that this season could still be special despite Watson’s absence.
The Steelers had fewer yards than their opponents for the 10th straight week and couldn’t do much against the Browns’ top-ranked defensive unit.
“We’re going to learn from this,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. We’ll be back. »
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren had a 74-yard rushing touchdown and finished the game with a career-high 129 yards.
The Steelers turned to their own defensive unit in the second half, which did a good job of holding back Thompson-Robinson until the final moments.
The Browns took the ball at their own 35 with 1:18 left, and the quarterback had relays of 15, five, eight and 11 yards to advance the ball to the Steelers’ 34. The latter then received a penalty to bring the Steelers a little closer to the end zone.
This is a rare defeat for the Steelers at the end of a close game. They had won their last nine games decided by eight points or less, including six this season.
The second half proved to be a battle of defensive units and possession.
The Steelers took Warren off the field for an offensive sequence before he made two nice runs to set up Chris Boswell’s 28-yard field goal that tied the game with 7:40 remaining.
After being held to 64 yards in the first half, the Steelers put up 74 on their second play of the third quarter.
Warren found an opening on the right side, avoided a tackle from cornerback Greg Newsome II and outpaced every other defensive player to make the Steelers’ longest play of the season.
It was also the longest run for the Pennsylvania club since 2014.
Myles Garrett set the tone for the Browns defensive unit, sacking Kenny Pickett on the first play.
