Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2023 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-18, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 26–22 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Watson (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -16.92 total EPA, and -7.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Cooper (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.82 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-41.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (7:06) 4-D.Watson sacked at CLE 13 for -7 yards (56-A.Highsmith). FUMBLES (56-A.Highsmith) [56-A.Highsmith], RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at CLE 16. 90-T.Watt for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Cooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +7.82 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
2. 2 Dav. Bell · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.55 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Warren · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.91 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Ford · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.88 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Ford · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.77 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
6. 6 P. Strong · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.63 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Moore · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.15 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.06 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.01 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Pittsburgh Steelers — A. Highsmith (Q1 60:00)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Ford (D. Watson pass) (Q2 44:09)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — G. Pickens (K. Pickett pass) (Q2 36:16)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Strong (Q3 25:05)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — T. Watt (Q4 7:06)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q1 53:50)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 39:14)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q2 30:27)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q3 26:51)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 75 (Q1 60:00); Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 59:51) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the PIT 25 (Q1 53:50) — (8:50) 7-D.Hopkins 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 11–9. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 3 (Q2 44:09) — (14:09) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 34-J.Ford for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns registered a safety from the PIT 1 (Q2 44:02) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 34-J.Ford rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 34 (Q2 39:14) — (9:14) 9-C.Boswell 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 71 (Q2 36:16) — (6:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Tomlinson].; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the PIT 37 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) 7-D.Hopkins 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 8–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 31 (Q3 26:51) — (11:51) 9-C.Boswell 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q3 25:05) — (10:05) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 20-P.Strong left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns registered a safety from the PIT 2 (Q3 25:01) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-D.Watson rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 80 (Q4 7:06); Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 6:58) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 7:06) — (7:06) 4-D.Watson sacked at CLE 13 for -7 yards (56-A.Highsmith). FUMBLES (56-A.Highsmith) [56-A.Highsmith], RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at CLE 16. 90-T.Watt for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -41.9% · EPA -7.21]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 26:07) — (11:07) (Shotgun) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 34-J.Ford right end to PIT 1 for 69 yards (39-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA +19.3% · EPA +5.48]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 88-H.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 56-A.Highsmith (39-M.Fitzpatrick) at CLE 30. 56-A.Highsmith for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.7% · EPA -7.77]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short right to 89-G.Olszewski to PIT 36 for -1 yards (21-D.Ward). FUMBLES (21-D.Ward), RECOVERED by CLE-22-G.Delpit at PIT 37. 22-G.Delpit to PIT 23 for 14 yards (88-P [WPA -17.2% · EPA -6.19]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 8:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep left to 8-E.Moore ran ob at CLE 19 for 16 yards. [WPA +15.2% · EPA +2.77]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 88-H.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 56-A.Highsmith (39-M.Fitzpatrick) at CLE 30. 56-A.Highsmith for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.7% · EPA -7.77]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 7:06) — (7:06) 4-D.Watson sacked at CLE 13 for -7 yards (56-A.Highsmith). FUMBLES (56-A.Highsmith) [56-A.Highsmith], RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at CLE 16. 90-T.Watt for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -41.9% · EPA -7.21]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short right to 89-G.Olszewski to PIT 36 for -1 yards (21-D.Ward). FUMBLES (21-D.Ward), RECOVERED by CLE-22-G.Delpit at PIT 37. 22-G.Delpit to PIT 23 for 14 yards (88-P [WPA -17.2% · EPA -6.19]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 36:16) — (6:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Tomlinson]. [WPA +14.1% · EPA +5.57]

Quarterback report card

D.Watson led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Watson (Cleveland Browns) · 52 dropbacks · 42.3% completion · -7.5% CPOE · -0.33 EPA/play · -16.92 total EPA
• K.Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 32 dropbacks · 46.9% completion · -15.3% CPOE · -0.42 EPA/play · -13.45 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Cleveland Browns generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.22 vs -0.27), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 15 drives, -22.71 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 16 drives, -19.96 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Pittsburgh Steelers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• A. Cooper (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Watson (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Pickett (PIT) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q1 60:00 · PIT 75 · Score 0-6
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 88-H.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 56-A.Highsmith (39-M.Fitzpatrick) at CLE 30. 56-A.Highsmith for 30 yards, T
2. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 59:51 · CLE 15 · Score 0-7
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
3. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 53:50 · PIT 25 · Score 3-7
   (8:50) 7-D.Hopkins 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
4. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 44:09 · PIT 3 · Score 9-7
   (14:09) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 34-J.Ford for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Cleveland Browns Safety (+2) — Q2 44:02 · PIT 1 · Score 11-7
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 34-J.Ford rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 39:14 · CLE 34 · Score 11-10
   (9:14) 9-C.Boswell 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 36:16 · CLE 71 · Score 11-16
   (6:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Tomlinson].
8. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 30:27 · PIT 37 · Score 14-16
   (:27) 7-D.Hopkins 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 26:51 · CLE 31 · Score 14-19
   (11:51) 9-C.Boswell 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 25:05 · PIT 1 · Score 20-19
    (10:05) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 20-P.Strong left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Cleveland Browns Safety (+2) — Q3 25:01 · PIT 2 · Score 22-19
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-D.Watson rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 7:06 · PIT 80 · Score 22-25
    (7:06) 4-D.Watson sacked at CLE 13 for -7 yards (56-A.Highsmith). FUMBLES (56-A.Highsmith) [56-A.Highsmith], RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at CLE 16. 90-T.Watt for
13. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 6:58 · CLE 15 · Score 22-26
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.