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A16 sports
Monday 4 January 2021

Browns end playoff drought, survive late Steelers rally

By TOM WITHERS Rudolph badly overthrew The team's last playoff visit floated a pass across the solace in playing well.
AP Sports Writer rookie Chase Claypool on was 197 losses, 14 double- field that was intercepted "A backup quarterback in
CLEVELAND (AP) — After the 2-point attempt, and digit-loss seasons and sev- by reserve cornerback M.J. this league, you don't get
nearly two decades of dys- many opportunities," he
function, bad draft picks said. "I didn't care who it
and coaching and front- was. ... Obviously you want
office changes, the NFL's to win the ballgame."
longest playoff drought is GARRETT-RUDOLPH
over. Garrett and Rudolph bare-
The Cleveland Browns are ly crossed paths — until af-
back in the postseason, ter the game.
qualifying for the first time It was their first meeting in
since 2002 on Sunday by Cleveland since Garrett
surviving a late Pittsburgh tore off Rudolph's helmet
rally for a 24-22 win over the and hit him with it, one of
Steelers, who rested quar- the ugliest on-field inci-
terback Ben Roethlisberger dents in recent NFL history
and several other starters. that led to a suspension for
The Browns (11-5) nearly Garrett.
blew a 15-point lead in the "I just told him, 'Good game,
fourth quarter, but stopped and see you all in a week,'"
Pittsburgh's 2-point con- Garrett said.
version attempt and then "I told him good luck," Ru-
recovered an onside kick dolph said. "A lot of respect
with 1:22 left to hold on. for him."
A week of COVID-19 dis- NICK OF TIME
ruptions concluded in cel- Chubb went over 1,000
ebration as the Browns Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) breaks a tackle from Pittsburgh Steelers free yards for the second
safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) for a 47-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game,
ended what had been the Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. straight season in style. His
NFL's longest postseason Associated Press 47-yard TD pushed the Pro
drought. Bowler into quadruple dig-
Their reward: Another its despite him missing four
game against the AFC Browns tight end Stephen en coaches ago. Stewart. games with a sprained right
North champion Steelers, in Carlson then fell on the en- Stefanski has not only navi- Cleveland capitalized on knee.
Pittsburgh next weekend. suing kick under a pile of gated the Browns through the turnover with wide re- INJURIES
"We're in the dance," said bodies. COVID-19 issues, he's got ceive Jarvis Landry taking Steelers: None reported.
first-year coach Kevin Ste- The Browns only had to run them back in the Super an inside handoff and scor- Browns: DE Olivier Vernon
fanski. "But we've got a lot out the clock and May- Bowl tournament. ing on a 3-yard run to put suffered an ankle injury in
of work to do." field, who earlier had a key The Browns barely prac- the Browns up 24-9. Landry, the fourth quarter. Vernon
Nick Chubb had a touch- 28-yard run, scampered for ticed this week because of forced to sit out the first didn't put any weight on his
down run, Baker Mayfield 3 yards on 3rd-and-2 with COVID-19 positive tests and game of his career as a leg while being assisted to
threw a TD pass — and 1:10 left. protocols and went into COVID-19 close contact, the medical tent.
had several critical runs in "It's a moment I'll never for- their most important game celebrated his score by ri- He was carted to the lock-
the second half — and the get," Mayfield said. "But in years without six players, fling the ball against the er room. ... Rookie WR/PR
Browns hung on as Mason we're not satisfied. We ex- including top cornerback padded end zone wall. Donovan Peoples-Jones
Rudolph brought back the pected to be here." Denzel Ward, and three as- Chubb's 47-yard touch- suffered a concussion late
Steelers (12-4), who had Before the scoreboard sistant coaches. down run on Cleveland's in the first half while jump-
the luxury of sitting their clock in FirstEnergy Stadium Along with Roethlisberger, first series made it look like ing to make a catch and
best players after clinching ran off its final seconds, defensive star T.J. Watt, the Browns might be on getting drilled by safety
the division last week. most of the 12,000 fans — Cam Heyward and Maur- their way to a comfortable Sean Davis.
Instead of Roethlisberger, there were some Terrible kice Pouncey didn't make win. UP NEXT
who is 23-2-1 in his career Towel wavers — cheered the trip to Cleveland. But nothing is ever easy for Browns: Back to Pittsburgh,
against the Browns, Steelers wildly and Browns players The Steelers were also miss- the Browns, and after their where they lost 38-7 in Oc-
coach Mike Tomlin started danced onto the field. ing cornerback Joe Haden, offense bogged down, the tober. Cleveland's previous
Rudolph in the regular-sea- "This is what we imagined," who tested positive for CO- Steelers got two field goals playoff game was also in
son finale. Big Ben will be said defensive star Myles VID-19 and may have to by backup Matthew Wright Pittsburgh, a heartbreaking
back for the playoffs. Garrett. miss the playoff game. to close within 10-6 at half- 36-33 loss in '02.
Rudolph's 2-yard TD pass The win completes a gru- The Browns were clinging time. Steelers: Will be back at full
to JuJu Smith-Schuster eling turnaround for the to a 10-9 lead in the third Rudolph passed for a ca- strength for their first play-
with 1:23 left pulled the Browns and their passion- quarter when Rudolph, reer-high 315 yards and two off appearance since the
Steelers within 24-22. But ate fan base. under extreme pressure, touchdowns, but found no 2017 season.q