Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2024 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-08, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 27–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Winston (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -8.97 total EPA, and +0.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (13:26) 5-J.Winston pass short middle intended for 24-N.Chubb INTERCEPTED by 95-K.Benton at CLE 42. 95-K.Benton to CLE 31 for 11 yards (24-N.Chubb).

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 P. Freiermuth · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +5.71 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.90 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Jeudy · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +4.57 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Winston · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.77 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Akins · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.09 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.09 EPA/play
5. 5 V. Jefferson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.06 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.06 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
7. 7 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.26 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Proche · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.17 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.59 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

• Cleveland Browns — J. Jeudy (J. Winston pass) (Q1 50:57)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — N. Harris (Q2 41:04)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — V. Jefferson (R. Wilson pass) (Q3 23:41)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — P. Freiermuth (R. Wilson pass) (Q3 18:56)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Njoku (J. Winston pass) (Q4 7:25)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q1 54:35)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 34:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 12 (Q1 54:35) — (9:35) 9-C.Boswell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 35 (Q1 50:57) — (5:57) (Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass deep middle to 3-J.Jeudy for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 50:50) — 7-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 41:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 41:00) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 36 (Q2 34:27) — (4:27) 9-C.Boswell 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 14–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 10 (Q3 23:41) — (8:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right to 11-V.Jefferson for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 23:37) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 20 (Q3 18:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short middle to 88-P.Freiermuth for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN [63-T.McGill].; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 18:51) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 15 (Q4 7:25) — (7:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass short right to 85-D.Njoku for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 7:19) — 7-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

Turning points

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 43:26) — (13:26) 5-J.Winston pass short middle intended for 24-N.Chubb INTERCEPTED by 95-K.Benton at CLE 42. 95-K.Benton to CLE 31 for 11 yards (24-N.Chubb). [WPA -18.3% · EPA -6.25]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 50:57) — (5:57) (Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass deep middle to 3-J.Jeudy for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.8% · EPA +4.78]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 30:28) — (:28) 7-D.Hopkins 38 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez. [WPA -9.4% · EPA -2.84]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 33:01) — (3:01) (Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass short left to 88-J.Akins to PIT 47 for 14 yards (24-J.Porter). [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.09]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 52:25) — (7:25) (Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass deep middle to 8-E.Moore to PIT 36 for 20 yards (25-D.Elliott). [WPA +9.3% · EPA +1.88]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 43:26) — (13:26) 5-J.Winston pass short middle intended for 24-N.Chubb INTERCEPTED by 95-K.Benton at CLE 42. 95-K.Benton to CLE 31 for 11 yards (24-N.Chubb). [WPA -18.3% · EPA -6.25]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 50:57) — (5:57) (Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass deep middle to 3-J.Jeudy for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.8% · EPA +4.78]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 4:49) — (4:49) (Shotgun) 84-C.Patterson right tackle to CLE 47 for -2 yards (57-I.McGuire). FUMBLES (57-I.McGuire), RECOVERED by CLE-95-M.Garrett at 50. [WPA -3.8% · EPA -4.64]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 4:07) — (4:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass deep right intended for 8-E.Moore INTERCEPTED by 42-J.Pierre at PIT 18. 42-J.Pierre to PIT 36 for 18 yards (55-E.Pocic; 81-M.Woods). [WPA -4.3% · EPA -4.55]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Winston (Cleveland Browns) · 47 dropbacks · 51.1% completion · +0.4% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -8.97 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 31 dropbacks · 48.4% completion · -1.7% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +0.99 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Pittsburgh Steelers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -16.67 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 14 drives, -2.32 total EPA, 5 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.
• P. Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 54:35 · CLE 12 · Score 0-3
   (9:35) 9-C.Boswell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
2. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 50:57 · PIT 35 · Score 6-3
   (5:57) (Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass deep middle to 3-J.Jeudy for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 50:50 · PIT 15 · Score 7-3
   7-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 41:04 · CLE 1 · Score 7-9
   (11:04) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 41:00 · CLE 15 · Score 7-10
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 34:27 · CLE 36 · Score 7-13
   (4:27) 9-C.Boswell 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 23:41 · CLE 10 · Score 7-19
   (8:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right to 11-V.Jefferson for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 23:37 · CLE 15 · Score 7-20
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 18:56 · CLE 20 · Score 7-26
   (3:56) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short middle to 88-P.Freiermuth for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN [63-T.McGill].
10. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 18:51 · CLE 15 · Score 7-27
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
11. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 7:25 · PIT 15 · Score 13-27
    (7:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Winston pass short right to 85-D.Njoku for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 7:19 · PIT 15 · Score 14-27
    7-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.