Browns at Steelers: Highlights, score and recap

Highlights, key players and recap of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-24 win over the Cleveland Browns in overtime in Week 17.

A weakened Pittsburgh Steelers team was pushed all the way to overtime by the 1-15 Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field in Week 17. It took Landry Jones’ third touchdown pass, a 26-yarder to Cobi Hamilton, to give the Steelers a 10th win.

The Browns will now own the top pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

Jones, Ben Roethlisberger’s backup, threw for 277 yards and a hat-trick of touchdowns. The Steelers needed Jones on form to keep pace with Robert Griffin III and the Browns.

RG3 put up 232 yards and a pair of scoring throws. Griffin was helped by a big day from running back Isaiah Crowell, who rushed for 152 yards on just 19 carries.

Griffin and Jones were each sacked four times as even the defenses produced big plays at a prolific rate.

It was the Browns who were 14-0 up early on after Griffin connected with tight ends Seth DeValve and Gary Barnidge for touchdowns. But DeAngelo Williams, subbing for Le’Veon Bell, responded with a receiving and rushing touchdown.

Jones then hit DeMarcus Ayers for a score, before George Atkinson III sent the game into overtime after rushing in from five yards out.

Cody Parkey might have won it for the Browns with a 34-yard field goal, had it not been for Jones and Hamilton’s connection.

Three Stars

1. Landry Jones

Few teams have a backup who can produce three touchdowns in a rare start. But Jones affords the Steelers that luxury.

He missed on 13 of 37 passes, yet still amassed 277 yards. Jones also spread his passes between eight different receivers.

With Antonio Brown left out, it was Eli Rogers’ turn to be the leading man. He responded with 61 yards from six catches, but the day belonged to Hamilton after he reeled in a perfectly lofted strike from Jones.

The league’s official Twitter provided highlights of the decisive throw:

2. DeAngelo Williams

While Jones was doing his best Roethlisberger impression, Williams faced the tall order of replicating Bell’s impact. An effort of 94 total yards and two scores was commendable stuff from the 33-year-old running back.

Williams proved he still has the desire when he refused to be tackled on the 11-yard scoring catch and run that kicked off the Steelers comeback:

With Williams back healthy and on form, playoff opponents won’t be able to take away the Pittsburgh running game just by shutting down Bell.

3. Sean Davis

Sean Davis has quietly become a rookie star. He capped his debut regular season with eight solo tackles, an assist and a sack.

Davis has emerged as something of a field general in the secondary. But he’s also steadily developing a niche as a destructive force at the line of scrimmage.

His blitz instincts led to the sack on Griffin, after his timing left him unblocked on a well-designed overload pressure RG3 couldn’t read pre-snap.

The Steelers will need big plays from their defense to ensure progress in the playoffs. Davis is sure to make a few.

Next: NFL Week 17: Picks and predictions

Kirksey leads the team in tackles with 136 combined stops to his credit. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton must let this gifted, second-level player attack downhill more often.

Kirksey can wreck Williams’ attempts to control the clock. He can also put Roethlisberger’s backup, Landry Jones, under pressure.