FINAL: Steelers 30, Browns 27The Browns offense continued to roll in the second half, adding a Billy Cundiff 25-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter and pull the Browns to within a touchdown at 27-20.
The Browns second-half comeback continued when they tied the game, 27-27, on a seven-play, 51 yard drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer to Travis Benjamin.
With 4:26 to go and at their own 20-yard line the Steelers went to work. Ben Roethlisberger it Le'Veon Bell for a 19-yard gain, and Bell battled for an 11-yard gain to midfield. Bell went for one-yard, and then Roethlisberger hit Justin Brown for eight yards. On third-and-one, LeGarrette Blount was knocked for a four-yard loss at the two minute warning forcing the Steelers to punt.
The defense held the Browns, forcing a punt.
With five seconds on the clock, Shaun Suisham hit a 41-yard field goal for the 30-27 Steelers win.
Third Quarter: Steelers 27, Browns 17
The Browns came out in the second half, moving the ball down the field on six plays, for 80 yards in 1:33, capping it with a three-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Crowell.After a three-and-out by the Steelers, the Browns got the ball back and made it count. Brian Hoyer took them on another six play drive, this one going for 59 yards and ending with a 15-yard touchdown run by Crowell to cut the lead to 27-17.
Second Quarter: Steelers 27, Browns 3
Defense came up big for the Browns in the second quarter when Karlos Dansby intercepted Ben Roethlisberger at the 34-yard line. The Steelers defense, though, tightened the reins when Jarvis Jones sacked Brian Hoyer for a 10-yard loss and Hoyer couldn't connect with Jordan Cameron, forcing a punt.
With the ball back in their hands, the Steelers offense went to work. Le'Veon Bell broke free on a 30-yard reception, and Markus Wheaton pulled in an eight-yard grab. Ben Roethlisberger avoided the pressure, and on the run made an amazing throw to Antonio Brown, who pulled it in for a 35-yard touchdown for a 17-3 lead.
After a defensive stop by the Steelers, Brown took the ensuing punt 36 yards, but was called for a personal foul after he kicked punter Spencer Lanning tryng to jump over him. Roethlisberger hit Justin Brown for 12-yards and Bell broke a 38-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 24-3.
The Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Cleveland Browns in their 2014 regular season opener at Heinz Field.
The Steelers got the ball back at the 20-yard line with 1:44 to play in the half and all three timeouts remaining. Roethlisberger hit Brown for 18 yards, and Wheaton for 11 yards. Heath Miller pulled in consecutive nine-yard receptions, and a defensive holding call gave the Steelers the ball at the 23-yard line. Roethlisberger scrambled for a seven-yard gain, bringing on Shaun Suisham for a 34-yard field goal and 27-3 halftime lead.
First Quarter: Steelers 10, Browns 3
The Steelers offense got in gear right out of the blocks with a five-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Le'Veon Bell, followed by a 41-yard catch and run by Antonio Brown. Roethlisberger hit Bell for 23 yards, followed by an 11-yard run by Bell to the four-yard line. A holding penalty negated a four-yard touchdown run by Bell, pushing the Steelers back the 14-yard line. On third down Roethlisberger was sacked for a four-yard loss, bringing on Shaun Suisham for a 36-yard field goal and 3-0 lead.
The Browns came right courtesy of a 47-yard pass from Brian Hoyer to Jordan Cameron to the Steelers 17-yard line. A 10-yard completion was negated by an illegal shift on the Browns, and Hoyer was pressured by Brett Keisel forcing an incompletion. On third down Hoyer hit Cameron, but Lawrence Timmons hit him for no gain. Billy Cundiff tied the game, 3-3, with a 39-yard field goal.
Antonio Brown gave the Steelers a boost on their next drive with a 16-yard reception on third down. Markus Wheaton pulled in a 40-yard pass reception along the right sideline, and added a seven-yard sideline grab along the left sideline. LeGarrette Blount took it right up the middle for a seven-yard touchdown to put the Steelers back on top, 10-3.
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Honoring Chuck Noll**
Prior to kickoff the Steelers held a tribute to honor the late Chuck Noll, the team's former Hall of Fame coach. Steelers President Art Rooney II and Chairman Dan Rooney presented a commemorative helmet displaying the "CHN" decal to Noll's wife, Marianne, and son, Chris. The team will wear the decal on their helmets for the entire 2014 season to honor Noll.
Happening at Heinz Field today:
--Season ticket holders helped kick things off pregame when they unfurled a 60-yard Terrible Towel. Season ticket holders also started the Terrible Towel Twirl.
--Sergeant Alan Weston of the U.S. Marine Corp will be honored as the ATI Hometown Hero.
--The Dick's Sporting Goods co-captains for today's game are Aden Almashy and Domenic Chiocca.
--The Steelers 50/50 Raffle on Sunday will benefit the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund, established in 1990 in memory of Steelers founder, Arthur J. Rooney Sr. In partnership with the Pittsburgh Promise, the fund annually provides college scholarships for three graduating seniors at high schools located on Pittsburgh's North Side, where Art Rooney lived most of his life.
-- Country music superstars Gloriana sang the National Anthem.