The Cleveland Browns’ 24-19 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday wasn’t all dramatic. It was beautiful too.
The half-foot of lake-effect precipitation that pummeled Cleveland for much of the game helped create the NFL’s first real snow game of the season. One photo in particular, showing Steelers kicker Chris Boswell making a difficult 28-yard field goal, caught the attention of fans.
“This is the most football photo of football ever,” read one post on X. “Hang this in a museum.”
Many others agreed.
“Hang it in the Louvre,” another added.
In this photo by Jason Miller of Getty Images, Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell meets on the 28th
Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) celebrate after the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks celebrates a sack with linebacker Elerson G. Smith
“Boswell making that in the snow was wild,” one fan wrote on X. “I immediately lost sight of the ball (sic).”
One fan had a rather creative idea for the photo, which was photographed by Getty Images’ Jason Miller: “It should be made into a puzzle.”
Other brilliant shots from the game include the Browns players making snow angels, some epic receiver-defensive back battles in the end zone, and the image of Browns tight end Jordan Akins walking off the field alone after the win.
Nick Chubb ran for a 2-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left as the Browns stunned one of their division rivals.
Chubb’s score came in his first game against the AFC North-leading Steelers (8-3) since the running back suffered a season-ending left knee injury in a Monday night game against the Steelers in Week 2 last September.
Chubb, who injured the same knee at Georgia in 2015, had to endure grueling rehab sessions to get back on the field, and the sight of him scoring against the feared Steelers was almost poetic.
‘It meant a lot to me. I know it means a lot to him,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks. ‘He won’t say it, but it’s true. I say it because this time last year we were having stomach problems. There was just so much in the air, so for him to come back and play a crucial role in this game just speaks to the kind of resilience and the man he is.
“We absolutely adore him.”
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) catches a two-point conversion as Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (25) defends during the second half at Huntington Bank Field
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) stands up after catching a pass during the win
Chubb also scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
The Browns (3-8) had built a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and trailed 19-18 before getting the ball back with 3:22 left after Pittsburgh punter Corliss Waitman knocked down a 16-yarder.
As the snow piled up and covered the yard lines on the field, Cleveland’s Jameis Winston completed a third-down pass to Jerry Jeudy at the Pittsburgh 9. Two plays later, Chubb burst into the end zone.
Chubb didn’t speak to the media again after that, but his teammates were overjoyed and couldn’t wait to share his story.
“I’m his biggest fan when he’s there,” Browns running back Jerome Ford said. “If I could, I’d do the ‘Chubb’ chant every time he stepped on the field.”
The Steelers had one last chance, but Russell Wilson’s Hail Mary on the final play was knocked down by Browns safety Grant Delpit in the end zone, sparking a wild celebration at Huntington Bank Field.
Grant Delpit #9 of the Cleveland Browns deflects a pass intended for Cordarrelle Patterson
Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins (88) walks back to the locker room after the win
In the midst of a disastrous season, beating the Steelers eased the pressure on coach Kevin Stefanski and gave Cleveland fans something to enjoy.
“Our guys love playing under the lights,” Stefanski said. “They love playing in front of these fans. Add the snow element to that, it was pretty cool.”
With early snow showers giving way to blizzard-like conditions in the fourth quarter that blanketed the field in white — Amazon Prime Video used graphics on its broadcast to show the otherwise invisible numbers and hashmarks — the Steelers quickly erased an 18-6 deficit , scored two touchdowns in just over a minute.
Wilson’s 23-yard TD pass to Calvin Austin III with 6:15 to go put Pittsburgh ahead by one. Nick Herbig’s sack of Winston kicked things off and put the Steelers in position to win their sixth straight game and open a two-game lead in the AFC North over Baltimore.
However, the Browns responded and earned their second division victory after beating the Ravens last month.
“We should have won that game,” Wilson said. “We felt like we were fighting in a tough environment. The way we reacted in the fourth quarter was quite special and we still had a chance at the end.’
Jaylen Warren scored on a three-yard run midway through the fourth to pull the Steelers to 18-13. Then, as always seems to be the case, Pittsburgh’s defense came up with the big play as Herbig got to Winston and safety DeShon Elliott recovered the fumble.
Cleveland Browns tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) smiles as he walks back to the locker room after the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field Stadium
Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) then makes a snow angel on the field
Garrett defeated Steelers star TJ Watt – as he planned.
Garrett dominated the first half, sacking Wilson and putting constant pressure on the Steelers QB. The appearance came during a week in which the Browns star commented on Watt’s apparent weakness when Garrett was named Defensive Player of the Year over him last season.
“I wanted to let it be known that I’m the guy, that I’m No. 1 as an edge defender. That was a statement I wanted to make and I think I did it.”
Garrett set up Cleveland’s second score with a sack of Wilson. While being blocked, Garrett knocked the ball out of Wilson’s grasp and linebacker Winston Reid recovered.
The Browns drove to the 16 and settled for a 34-yard field from Dustin Hopkins, who missed two kicks in a loss at New Orleans weeks ago.
Chubb’s TD dive in the second quarter capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive by the Browns, who gained just 19 yards and had two three-and-outs in the first quarter.
The Steelers drove into Brown territory on their first three possessions, but came away with just three points.