2021 Steelers Season Recall: Big Ben goes out with a big bang in win over Cleveland
Steel City Underground presents our 2021 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.
Few players get an opportunity to write their own story, but Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger did just that as he got to have a rare “farewell” game at home, as his impending retirement was officially made public roughly one week earlier.
The excitement was palpable for the Steelers, who would be hosting the Cleveland Browns for ESPN’s Monday Night Football in a contest that would coincidentally be the last game where Pittsburgh’s stadium would also be known as Heinz Field.
Doubling-down on the stakes, the Steelers were embarrassed the last time they faced the Browns in the Steel City. On this night, however, the Black and Gold were looking to send Big Ben off in a big way, despite NFL lines having the Steelers as a slight one-point favorite.
The game began in the same slow first quarter fashion that the offense had been known for all season. The Steelers first two possessions were punts, followed by a turnover on downs when Roethlisberger couldn’t connect with TE Pat Freiermuth.
The Browns offense would be met with more friction by the Steelers defense, however, with their first eight possessions resulting in six punts, a turnover on downs and an interception.
This helped the Steelers jump out to a 10-0 in the second quarter, as Roethlisberger found WR Diontae Johnson on a five-yard touchdown pass, followed by a punt. Ahkello Witherspoon took the ball away, intercepting Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield on their first snap in the next series, as the Steelers drove down to the four-yard-line but had to settle for a Chris Boswell 22-yard field goal.
The toss would prove to be Roethlisberger’s only touchdown pass of the game, finishing with spotty numbers overall. Despite 46 pass attempts, Big Ben would only throw for 123 yards, plus a touchdown and interception each, as the Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 26-14 victory.
Staying true to form, Big Ben still tried to lead the Steelers to additional points before halftime, but would be picked off looking for Chase Claypool as both teams headed for the locker room.
The Steeler defense forced a three-and-out for Cleveland’s opening half possession to start the third quarter. Pittsburgh’s offense went to work again, but still couldn’t add an exclamation point on a 11-play, 66-yard drive that ended in another Boswell field goal.
Both teams traded short possessions again before Mayfield led the Browns to their first points, closing the gap on the farewell tour to 13-7 in favor of the Steelers. The Steelers would then punt, making everyone feel ill as the clocked ticked into the fourth quarter.
The Steelers offense once again mustered just enough room for Boswell to attempt, and convert, on a 50-yard field goal to extend their lead to 16-7.
The homefield crowd whet their appetite on the next series, as Mayfield and the Browns continuously shot themselves in the foot:
- Alex Highsmith stopped Nick Chubb for a loss of two yards
- Mayfield was sacked for a loss of five by Derrek Tuszka
- Mayfield run negated by a holding penalty
- Browns false start penalty
- D’Ernest Johnson runs for four yards on 3rd-and-30 from their own 5
- Delay of Game penalty on the punt sends the Browns to 4th-and-30 on their own 5
Ray-Ray McCloud would return the ball 14 yards, which was just enough for Boz to blast a 48-yarder to extend the Steelers lead to 19-7, but the Browns would bounce right back. Baker would lead the opposition on a 17-play, 76-yard drive as the quarterback found TE Harrison Bryant for a touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s lead was less comfortable at 19-14 as Cleveland’s onside attempt failed.
Looking to exhaust the Browns three timeouts, Steelers OC Matt Canada called on the offense to run the ball three consecutive times, with the third being the charm: Najee Harris broke free for a 37-yard score.
Cleveland got the ball back, but Mayfield would be picked off by Tre Norwood at the very end, which would see Roethlisberger head out to the field for a final kneel down and a 26-14 win.
