Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns: 2022 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-09-22, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 29–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

M. Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with -7.81 total EPA, and +0.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Njoku (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.43 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (:34) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle to 2-A.Cooper to PIT 28 for 3 yards (55-D.Bush). The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 7-J.Brisse

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 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +6.43 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Brissett · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +3.23 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Cooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.97 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Warren · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +2.92 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Hunt · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.73 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.51 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Claypool · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +1.20 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Trubisky · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +1.18 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 — A. Cooper (J. Brissett pass) (Q1 47:57)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — N. Harris (Q2 45:00)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Njoku (J. Brissett pass) (Q2 39:01)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Trubisky (Q2 33:55)
• Cleveland Browns — N. Chubb (Q4 9:33)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Johnson (M. Trubisky pass) (Q4 0:09)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — C. York (Q3 17:34)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q4 1:51)

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 7–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 11 (Q1 47:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle to 2-A.Cooper for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 47:54) — 3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 14–6. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 5 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CLE-21-D.Ward, Defensive Offside, declined.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 44:55) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 7 (Q2 39:01) — (9:01) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short right to 85-D.Njoku for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 33:55) — (3:55) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 33:50) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 3–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the PIT 16 (Q3 17:34) — (2:34) 3-C.York 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 13–3. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q4 9:33) — (9:33) 68-M.Dunn and 72-H.Froholdt reported in as eligible. 24-N.Chubb right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 9:29) — 3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 17 (Q4 1:51) — (1:51) 9-C.Boswell 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CLE 96 (Q4 0:09).

Turning points

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 30:34) — (:34) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle to 2-A.Cooper to PIT 28 for 3 yards (55-D.Bush). The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 7-J.Brisse [WPA -15.2% · EPA -2.20]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:39) — (6:39) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 7-J.Brissett scrambles right end ran ob at PIT 31 for 5 yards (50-M.Reed). PENALTY on CLE-68-M.Dunn, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 36 - No Play [WPA -9.7% · EPA -1.51]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:00) — (6:00) 9-C.Boswell 49 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -3.69]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 49:20) — (4:20) (Shotgun) 24-N.Chubb right tackle to PIT 12 for 36 yards (34-T.Edmunds). [WPA +8.9% · EPA +2.19]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 19:41) — (4:41) 27-K.Hunt right guard to PIT 27 for 9 yards (25-A.Witherspoon, 51-M.Jack). CLE-71-J.Wills was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +8.9% · EPA +2.28]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:09) — (:09) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short left to 18-D.Johnson to PIT 12 for 8 yards. Lateral to 11-C.Claypool to PIT 6 for -6 yards. Lateral to 22-N.Harris to PIT 2 for -4 yards. FUMBLES, touched at P [WPA -2.0% · EPA -6.94]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:00) — (6:00) 9-C.Boswell 49 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -3.69]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 54:27) — (9:27) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett sacked at CLE 23 for -8 yards (sack split by 99-L.Ogunjobi and 56-A.Highsmith). [WPA -7.5% · EPA -2.78]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 23:51) — (8:51) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short right to 2-A.Cooper ran ob at CLE 43 for 28 yards (39-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +2.55]

Quarterback report card

M.Trubisky led all passers in efficiency for Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · +0.1% CPOE · -0.21 EPA/play · -7.81 total EPA
• J.Brissett (Cleveland Browns) · 34 dropbacks · 61.8% completion · -0.8% CPOE · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.06 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Cleveland Browns held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.06 vs -0.10), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 11 drives, +5.55 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, -7.36 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Njoku (Cleveland Browns) 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. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 47:57 · PIT 11 · Score 0-6
   (2:57) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle to 2-A.Cooper for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 47:54 · PIT 15 · Score 0-7
   3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · CLE 5 · Score 6-7
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CLE-21-D.Ward, Defensive Offside, declined.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 44:55 · CLE 15 · Score 7-7
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
5. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 39:01 · PIT 7 · Score 7-13
   (9:01) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short right to 85-D.Njoku for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 33:55 · CLE 1 · Score 13-13
   (3:55) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 33:50 · CLE 15 · Score 14-13
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
8. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 17:34 · PIT 16 · Score 14-16
   (2:34) 3-C.York 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
9. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 9:33 · PIT 1 · Score 14-22
   (9:33) 68-M.Dunn and 72-H.Froholdt reported in as eligible. 24-N.Chubb right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 9:29 · PIT 15 · Score 14-23
    3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 1:51 · CLE 17 · Score 17-23
    (1:51) 9-C.Boswell 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
12. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 0:09 · CLE 96 · Score 17-29
    (:09) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short left to 18-D.Johnson to PIT 12 for 8 yards. Lateral to 11-C.Claypool to PIT 6 for -6 yards. Lateral to 22-N.Harris to P