NFL highlights on Sep. 18: Browns lose Nick Chubb against Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 26-22 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Monday, securing their first win of the season.

The Steelers’ defensive group made significant contributions to their home win on Monday. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith intercepted the very first pass of the Browns’ quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson nine seconds in to the first quarter and then returned 30 yards to score a touchdown, giving his side on a quick lead early in the game.

The Steelers defenders hit out again in the fourth quarter. Highsmith sacked Watson on 2nd & 9 for a fumble which was recovered by linebacker T. J. Watt for a 16-yard returned touchdown. That was the final scoring play by either side in this game and enabled the Steelers to gain the lead back 26-22 after Chris Boswell scored his second extra point.

While adding 12 points to the scoreboard, the Steelers’ defensive group did a great job of containing the Browns from scoring. They got six sacks, which cost Watson 25 yards on Monday night, limiting the three-time Pro Bowler to 22-for-40 in passing for 245 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

None of the Watson’s passes reached any receiver further away than 30 yards. The Browns began to struggle badly on the offensive end after their ace running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field in the second quarter. He was hit by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the leg when the defender came in low for a tackle. It appears to a brutal knee injury and Chubb is expected to be out for the rest of the 2023 season.

“Obviously it’s a huge loss,” the Browns’ wide receiver Amari Cooper said. “Nick is the engine of the team. Best player on the team. … I’m very sad for Nick, sad for this team losing Nick. Not only is it not ideal, it’s a tragedy.”

The Browns’ biggest offensive contributions came from another running back Jerome Ford, who scored a touchdown in the first quarter after receiving a three-yard short pass from Watson, completed a two-point conversion in the follow-up and rushed 69 yards in the third quarter to set up a good scoring opportunity for running back Pierre Strong Jr.

In the other game on Monday, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers 20-17 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. QB Derek Carr completed 21 of his 36 passes for 228 yards, not touchdown but one interception. Running back Tony Jones Jr. contributed two rushing touchdowns for the Saints to lead 20-9 with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers’ rally came late. The 2023 NFL Draft first selection, QB Bryce Young ran an 11-play, 75-yard drive in about two minutes for one touchdown and one two-point conversion, cutting their deficit to three points. Nonetheless, as the Panthers failed to recover the punt by Ihmir Smith-Marsette later, they couldn’t stop the Saints from kneeling the final 76 seconds of the game out.