The Steelers have a long history of memorable moments throughout the years, and during the 2025 season we are going to highlight those moments against each week's opponent.
This week, we feature the Cleveland Browns on the road.
Steelers 24, Cleveland Browns 10
November 14, 2004
Pregame should have been a good indication of how this game would play out, when linebacker Joey Porter and Browns running back William Green got into a fight before the game even began, and both were ejected before kickoff.
Linebacker James Harrison got the start in Porter's place and led the Steelers with six solo tackles and a sack.
"I thought he played really solid," said Coach Bill Cowher. "I know he was in the right place at the right time a lot of times. I didn't find myself talking to him too often. He is a pretty bright kid. He understood his role. He did a good job."
Running back Jerome Bettis took charge on the ground, carrying the ball 29 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns, one from five yards out and a one-yarder.
"That is my job. That is what I'm here for, to be a relief pitcher, so to speak," said Bettis. "I am just doing my part. This team is special. We have interchangeable parts, where if someone is not able to go, then the guy behind him steps up. That was never more evident than today. Joey Porter could not go, and James Harrison came in and played a terrific football game."
Safety Russell Stuvaints had a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter, returning it 24 yards for a touchdown and 24-3 lead. The Browns scored late, but couldn't fight back, with the Steelers winning, 24-10.
Steelers 41, Cleveland Browns 0
December 24, 2005
With visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, the Steelers got an early Christmas gift when they defeated the Browns handily, with a 41-0 shutout.
The win put the Steelers in a good spot for the postseason, with just one game remaining against the Detroit Lions at home.
"We'll take some time, enjoy Christmas, come back and understand what we have in front of us," said Coach Bill Cowher after the game. "We control our destiny. That's the only thing that counts."
It was the Steelers first shutout since they shut out the Browns, 22-0, on October 22, 2000. It was also a win that set them up to clinch the final playoff spot with a win the following week over the Lions.
"It's big, man," said defensive lineman Casey Hampton said. "It's a one-game season. We control our own destiny, you can't ask for anything else. That's what you play for."
The Steelers came out of the gate like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer leading the way for Santa's sleigh, not letting anything get in their way. Running back Jerome Bettis had a two-yard touchdown run, and receiver Hines Ward pulled in a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to put them up 14-0 before the Browns knew what hit them.
"This was one of those games where we clicked really well on offense," said Roethlisberger. "Our defense was out there having fun flying around. It was fun watching them."
Kicker Jeff Reed hit two second quarter field goals to send the Steelers into the locker room at halftime with a 20-0 lead.
Receiver Quincy Morgan, who played for the Browns from 2001-04, caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Charlie Batch, which gave the Steelers the 41-0 lead. Morgan was thrilled to deliver against his former team.
"My Christmas is good now," said Morgan. "I don't need anything else for Christmas."
The defense stuffed the Browns, allowing just 63 yards rushing, 183 yards passing, and sacking quarterback Charlie Frye eight times, linebacker Joey Porter accounting for three of them.
"It's real big," said linebacker James Harrison. "That's what you want to do as a defense, shut out a team."
Harrison had the hit of the day, and it didn't even show up in the stats. A Browns fan ran out on the field during the game and toward Steelers running back Verron Haynes, who was in the backfield, and then toward the Steelers' sideline. Harrison saw it happening and went into action. Harrison grabbed the fan and slammed him to the ground until security took over.
"When he first came out, he took off after 'V,'" said Harrison. "He started toward our sideline, he turned around and started backing up toward our sideline, so I don't know if the guy had anything on him or whatever. With his back to me, I thought I could take him down safely without risking injury to myself or my teammates and hold him there until the proper authorities came."
Steelers 24, Cleveland Browns 9
November 20, 2016
The Steelers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead against the Browns and never looked back, easily sailing to a 24-9 win that was topped off with a defensive touchdown.
Linebacker James Harrison became the Steelers' all-time sack leader when he took down Browns quarterback Cody Kessler for a five-yard loss in the game, a record that linebacker T.J. Watt would eventually break and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward tie.
Harrison was emotional after the game talking about the record, especially since his late father, James Harrison Sr. wasn't able to see it.
"Tip of the cap to old James Harrison, the Steelers all-time leading sack man," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "Happy for him; proud of him. Guys got a little emotional in there because they have so much respect for him and how he goes about his business."
Tomlin said he isn't amazed at what Harrison does at age 38, but maybe he should be.
"I see him every day," said Tomlin. "I am less amazed by it. Maybe I should be amazed by it. We know that his production is not haphazard, it's not mystical. He works extremely hard on a daily basis."
The Steelers finished the day with eight sacks, the most since they had eight on Dec. 24, 2005, also at Cleveland. And the sacks came from every direction, including the one by Harrison that set the Steelers all-time sack record.
"I think everybody just did their job, and a great job of doing their job," said linebacker Ryan Shazier, who had a sack. "That is the biggest thing. Everybody made sure they took care of their responsibility. They weren't trying to do too much. That really put us in position to do what we needed to do. That really helped us out a lot."
Steelers 28, Cleveland Browns 24
December 31, 2017
The Steelers closed out the regular season the same way they started it, with a win over the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers defeated the Browns, 28-24, running the table in the AFC North with a perfect 6-0 record.
"It was great to go undefeated in the North," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "It was significant for us. We realize if we want to do some of the things we want to do, it starts with AFC North football."
Tomlin chose to sit some of his starters, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro and defensive end Cameron Heyward.
Those who were out there, though, played with a desire to close out the regular season on a winning note, finishing with a 13-3 regular season record and keeping it hot on a cold, blustery day.
Quarterback Landry Jones got the start for the Steelers and completed 23 of 27 passes for 239 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
"I can't say enough about Landry," said Tomlin. "We have a lot of confidence in him. He did the job."
The defense sacked DeShone Kizer six times, and in doing so set a then Steelers franchise record with 56 sacks on the season.
Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster helped to ignite the win with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, sealing the win and the perfect AFC North record as they headed into the postseason.
