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Monday 2 deceMber 2019
Duck’s Dynasty? Backup Hodges leads Steelers by Browns 20-13

By WILL GRAVES and an interception, and
PITTSBURGH (AP) — No played the second half
fighting. No helmet swing- with his right (throwing)
ing. Barely any trash talk- hand in a protective glove
ing. Just football. after smacking it against
And one very loud state- the face mask of Pittsburgh
ment from the banged-up linebacker Bud Dupree.
Pittsburgh Steelers written Mayfield declined to
not on a T-shirt but all over blame the injury, which
the Heinz Field turf: The the Browns described as
faces may change when a bruise, as a reason be-
Cleveland visits Pittsburgh. hind his so-so second half.
The result does not. Mayfield went 8 of 15 for
Undrafted rookie free 98 yards after getting hurt,
agent Devlin “Duck” Hodg- his final throw a wayward
es threw for 212 yards with toss in the direction of Jar-
a touchdown and an in- vis Landry that Steelers cor-
terception, fellow rookie nerback and former Brown
Benny Snell ran for 63 yards Joe Haden picked off
and a score and the large- with 1:06 remaining. Nick
ly anonymous Steelers (7- Chubb ran for 58 yards and
5) surged past the Browns Kareem Hunt added 65 to-
20-13 on Sunday. The hosts tal yards and a touchdown
exacted a measure of re- Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington (13) celebrates with tight end Vance reception. But Cleveland
venge for its ugly, brawl- McDonald (89) after making a touchdown catch from Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges (6) failed to pull even with the
during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019,
marred defeat in Cleve- in Pittsburgh. Steelers in the AFC North
land two weeks ago by Associated Press and sweep the season se-
keeping the Browns (5-7) ries from its rival for the first
winless in Pittsburgh for 16 Steelers guard David De- the middle of the playoff part to Hodges, a champi- time in 31 years.
years and counting. Castro said. chase after rallying from 10 on duck caller in his down “PITTSBURGH STARTED IT” ...
“It’s been a weird year,” Yet the Steelers remain in points down thanks in large time now 2-0 as starter. AND FINISHED IT
Bumped to the top of the The teams’ first meeting
depth chart last week in on Nov. 14 ended with an
place of struggling Mason ugly altercation between
Rudolph, Hodges com- Cleveland defensive end
pleted 14 of 21 passes and Myles Garrett and Rudolph
hardly played like a guy that ended with Garrett hit-
cut at the end of training ting Rudolph in the head
camp. with Rudolph’s helmet. The
“I’ve always believed in ensuing fallout — which
myself,” Hodges said. “I included Garrett being
know I have people in my suspended indefinitely; Ru-
corner who believed in me. dolph fending off Garrett’s
Even the guys on the team, allegation that he used a
when I was let go, I had a racial slur shortly before
bunch of them text me and things got out of hand;
say, ‘Hey, this isn’t over for suspensions for Browns de-
you.’” fensive end Larry Ogunjobi
It might be for the Browns and Steelers center Maur-
(5-7), who saw their three- kice Pouncey — reignited
game winning streak come a rivalry that’s been domi-
to a crashing halt. They nated by the Steelers since
were outplayed over the Cleveland returned to the
final three quarters by a NFL a generation ago.
Steelers team riddled with Just in case it needed a
injury and inexperience at little more stoking, Browns
the offensive skill positions. coach Freddie Kitchens
Cleveland likely now needs was spotted wearing a
to win out and get some “Pittsburgh started it” T-shirt
help to reach the playoffs. on Friday night. Several
“No one is coming to save Steelers responded with
us,” Cleveland defensive some inauspicious ward-
tackle Sheldon Richardson robe choices while walking
said. “It’s too late in the into work on Sunday.
season for that. We’re all “I think it was pretty stu-
we got.” pid,” DeCastro said. “It’s a
The Browns had their lot of bulletin board mate-
chances. Cleveland took rial. I don’t know why you
an early 10-0 lead but sput- do that as a coach. I just
tered the rest of the way. don’t get that. Of course
Baker Mayfield complet- it’s going to motivate us.
ed 18 of 32 passes for 196 What are you thinking? It’s
yards with a touchdown just not smart.”q