Steelers 17-29 Browns: Cleveland scores on the final play to seal win

Jacoby Brissett threw two touchdown passes, Nick Chubb ran for a score and the Cleveland Browns bounced back from their epic meltdown four days earlier to beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 29-17 on Thursday night.

The Browns (2-1) built a nine-point lead early in the fourth on Chubb’s 1-yard run and then held on for dear life.

The Steelers (1-2) pulled within 23-17 on Chris Boswell’s 34-yard field goal with 1:48 left before Pittsburgh attempted an onside kick. But unlike in Sunday’s 31-30 loss, when the New York Jets overcame a 13-point deficit in the final 1:55 helped by a recovery, the Browns batted the ball out of bounds.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett scrambles for a short gain during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) scores on a pass from Jacoby Brissett with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds (34) defending during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) scores on a pass from Jacoby Brissett with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds (34) defending during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) leaps out of a tackle attempt by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) leaps out of a tackle attempt by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland fans could finally exhale when cornerback Denzel Ward fell on a Steelers fumble in the end zone on the final play for a meaningless touchdown.

Brissett connected with Amari Cooper and David Njoku for TDs, and finished 21 of 31 for 220 yards. The 29-year-old had his second straight solid game as he fills in while Deshaun Watson serves an 11-game suspension.

Chubb had 113 yards and pushed and twisted across the goal line on fourth-and-goal with 9:29 left to put the Browns ahead 23-14.

Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers’ stagnant offense showed signs of life in the first half, but bogged down after halftime, punting on their first three possessions while gaining just 54 yards.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, right, gets around Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, right, gets around Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Criticized for not throwing deep the first two weeks, Trubisky launched a few long balls but didn’t connect nearly enough.

The win smoothed over a rough few days for Cleveland.

Sunday’s debacle was followed by Myles Garrett criticizing fans for booing the Browns as they left the field, and a fan was arrested on charges he threw a plastic bottle in the direction of owner Jimmy Haslam on the sideline.

But there was little drama this time, just a win over their hated neighbors from Pennsylvania.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) rushes Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) but can't get around James Daniels (78) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) rushes Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) but can’t get around James Daniels (78) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the team's NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the team’s NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) is checked by a trainer after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Walker left the game. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) is checked by a trainer after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Walker left the game. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Rookie Cade York’s 34-yard field goal gave the Browns a 16-14 lead in the third quarter, when Cleveland lost four players, including starting linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, to injuries.

Brissett’s 7-yard TD pass to Njoku put the Browns up 13-7 with 8:58 left before halftime. But for the second straight week York missed an extra point.

Trubisky led the Steelers on a 75-yard scoring drive – 51 yards coming on the ground – before the QB rolled right and scored from the 1. Boswell’s PAT put Pittsburgh ahead 14-13.

Steelers rookie receiver George Pickens expressed frustration about not getting the ball during a loss to New England last week, saying he was open “90% of the time.” He wasn’t joking, either.

Trubisky finally hit him with a long ball, but it took a spectacular, one-handed catch by Pickens for a 36-yard gain.

Follow all the Thursday Night Football action with DailyMail.com’s live blog as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cleveland to face their bitter rivals, the Browns…