Steelers vs. Browns: What they're saying in Cleveland after the win

As if the Steelers-Browns rivalry under the lights wasn’t enough — add some snow and sub-freezing temperatures.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said it all made for a fun, unique “Thursday Night Football” atmosphere during which his team topped Pittsburgh, 24-19, at home.

“Our fans were unbelievable,” Stefanski told reporters after the game. “Maybe believable just how incredible they were from the jump. And then the snow globe, it’s a special night for our fans, and I think they deserve it.”

Snow covered the playing surface at Huntingdon Bank Field as the Steelers didn’t score a touchdown until the fourth quarter. It was then that the Steelers took the lead with 6 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the game, but a Browns touchdown in the final minute sealed their win.

Kevin Stefanski: "I told the team last night, 'be ready to win the game on the last play of the game.' That's just how the AFC North is."

— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) November 22, 2024

“This team, we talk about being resilient and sometimes you have to show it, and I thought they showed it tonight,” Stefanski said. “Fought like crazy against a good football team leading in the fourth quarter. … So just complementary football when we need it the most and just proud of these guys.”

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• 5 things we learned in Steelers' loss to Browns: Jameis Winston weathered the snowstorm

Fans leaving the game were absolutely pumped after winning the AFC North matchup, according to a video posted by Cleveland.com. They raved about the snow, night atmosphere and rivalry game.

“Can you feel it, hey! We won the lotto, that’s how I feel, we won the lotto, baby!” one woman yelled.

“This is what we are meant to do, we’re going to play football in this type of climate because this is Cleveland, and we’re going to bring it home, and we did,” one man said.

“We hate to see the Steelers in here, they come in under the snow, and we sent them home, and it’s a lovely thing to see,” another man said.

It’s amazing what that one win — the Browns now have a 3-8 record on the season — can do for a city, wrote Jimmy Watkins for Cleveland.com.

“The Cleveland Browns aren’t going to the playoffs this season, but their fans are parading down West 3rd Street, anyways,” he wrote.

Browns quarterback Jameis Winston was celebrating too — by singing “Jingle Bells” after the game.

#Browns Jameis Winston walking around the halls singing jingle bells ????

— Leah Doherty (@LeahDohertyTV) November 22, 2024

After the game, Winston told reporters: “Well the only reason I’m singing ‘Jingle Bells’ is because I FaceTimed my wife this morning and my boys were singing in the car on the way to school, so they had it stuck in my head.”

It was Winston’s first game in the snow. He was all smiles at the start of the post-game interview. But Winston knows the Browns are going to see the Steelers again soon — Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh.

“We have to stack it one day at a time,” he said. “Today, yes, we’re going to celebrate. You know, I’m grateful that fans came out and showed out, but we have to see this team again in two weeks.”

Brownie covered up by a blanket of snow pic.twitter.com/ETxO3sd89U

— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) November 22, 2024

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had three sacks and Winston played a quality game, completing 18 of 27 passes for 219 yards, to lead the team in a gritty effort, according to ESPN writers Brooke Pryor and Daniel Oyefusi.

”Come on, a hapless 2-8 Browns team hosting a 8-2 Steelers team days removed from a monster win against the Ravens? We should’ve known better,” they wrote. “The Browns were amped up. And hampered most severely by recurring offensive errors, the Steelers started flat before rallying late.”

Some action between quarters. pic.twitter.com/YPTxd6hudk

— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) November 22, 2024