Pittsburgh Steelers 22-24 Cleveland Browns: 18-year playoff drought comes to an end for Browns

The Cleveland Browns buried 18 years of hurt as they clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 behind first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski with a 24-22 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on the final day of the regular season. 

Pittsburgh threatened late heartbreak when JuJu Smith-Schuster's touchdown moved them within two points with a minute-and-a-half remaining before the failed two-point conversion allowed the Browns to run down the clock.

Baker Mayfield spoke of a "win or go home" playoff-esque mentality entering the game, and the Browns quarterback lived up to it as he finished 17-of-27 passing for 196 yards and one touchdown alongside Nick Chubb's first 100-yard game since November.

His opposite number Mason Rudolph flashed glimpses of his deep-ball ability but struggled to convince of his credentials as a long-term successor to Ben Roethlisberger, who was rested alongside center Maurkice Pouncey, defensive tackle Cam Heyward and pass rusher TJ Watt.

• Browns passing: Baker Mayfield, 17/27, 196 yards, 1 TD
• Rushing leader: Nick Chubb, 14 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
• Receiving leader: Rashard Higgins, two catches, 55 yards

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Chubb surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on the season with a 47-yard touchdown run on the Browns' opening drive, punching a hole to the right before making Minkah Fitzpatrick miss with a cut inside and racing away to the end zone.

A lacklustre Rudolph and a lifeless Steelers run game had nothing in reply as Cody Parkey's 23-yard field goal extended Cleveland's advantage after Mayfield had connected with Rashard Higgins for a 44-yard pickup down the sideline.

The Steelers had Fitzpatrick to thank earlier in the drive as he tracked Mayfield's eyes brilliantly to break up a would-be touchdown pass to tight end David Njoku.

Roethlisberger's backup finally hit on a perfectly-weighted deep ball to Diontae Johnson for a gain of 41 yards, followed up by Josh Dobbs' 13-yard run until the Steelers were forced to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Matthew Wright, who cut the lead again with back-to-back 46-yard field goals either side of half-time.

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• Steelers passing: Mason Rudolph, 22/39, 315 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Rushing leader: James Conner, nine carries, 37 yards
• Receiving leader: Chase Claypool, five catches, 101 yards, 1 TD

The Browns woke up in the third quarter with an eight-play drive ending in a two-yard touchdown catch from tight end Austin Hooper after Mayfield had converted on third-and-five with a 14-yard toss to Njoku before scrambling for a 28-yard run.

Jarvis Landry ran in a three-yard touchdown shortly after as Cleveland punished a Rudolph interception gifted to MJ Stewart, whose 30-yard return put the Browns deep in Steelers territory.

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Chase Claypool kept the Steelers in it when he won his wrestle with Terrance Mitchell to haul in a stunning 28-yard touchdown catch, setting the record for most receptions by a rookie in franchise history.

Cleveland survived a late scare when Rudolph fired to Smith-Schuster for a two-yard touchdown to make it 24-22 with 1.26 to play, only to fail on the two-point conversion as the Browns chewed down the clock to see out a famous win.

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