The Cleveland Browns delivered a surprising triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers, clinching a 13-6 victory at Huntington Bank Field on December 28, 2025. This unexpected win not only lifted the Browns’ record to 4-12, but also dashed the Steelers’ hopes of securing the AFC North title with a victory that would have propelled them into the playoffs.
The Browns’ defense was the standout feature of the game, limiting the Steelers to just two field goals in the first half and holding them scoreless during the second half across five possessions. This performance left thousands of Steelers fans, armed with their iconic Terrible Towels, disappointed as they witnessed their team falter in Cleveland.
With this win, the Browns have moved up in the draft order, now positioned sixth, trailing only the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans—all with three wins or fewer. Head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed pride in his players’ relentless effort. “I love how this football team fights. I’m extremely grateful for that group in there, how hard they play for 60 minutes,” he stated post-game.
Despite the defensive success, standout player Myles Garrett was unable to register a sack against Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, finishing the game with one hit but no sacks, leaving him still at 22 for the season. Garrett, who is vying to break the single-season sack record of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001, will have one more opportunity to achieve this when the Browns face the Cincinnati Bengals in their final game.
Garrett made clear that the notion of intentionally losing games for better draft positioning was unacceptable to him and his teammates. “No one signed up to lose. Not a single one of us wants to line up and lay down to a team or a man that’s in front of us,” he asserted. His sentiments reflect a larger mindset within the locker room, where players remain committed to competing, regardless of the season’s context.
In a season that has been challenging for the Browns, the game also carried emotional weight for veteran offensive lineman Joel Bitonio, who may be playing his last game at home. “Every time you go on the field, it’s your resume. To go out there and be like ‘We’re going to lose these last couple games for a better draft pick’ — it would never cross a player’s mind,” Bitonio commented.
On the Steelers’ side, the loss was another setback in a season that had promised so much. Rodgers attempted 36 passes before finally targeting Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward in a crucial moment, only to see all three passes fall incomplete in the end zone. Following the game, Rodgers suggested that the Steelers were wronged by officiating, claiming a missed interference call on the final incompletion.
The outcome of the game not only shifted the dynamics of the playoff race but also underscored the resilience of a Browns team determined to end the season on a high note. As the Browns prepare for their final matchup against the Bengals, they carry forward the lessons of hard-fought competition, aiming to build a foundation for the future despite the challenges faced during the season.
