The underdog Cleveland Browns were barking and will continue to do so late into the Cleveland night.
They took down the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-19, giving them something to smile about in what’s been a disappointing season. Cleveland earned their third win of the season on “Thursday Night Football,” and their second against a bitter rival. As expected, the AFC North delivered a close, physical game on a snowy night by the lake.  
It started with another dramatic pregame speech from Jameis Winston and finished with an unanswered prayer from Russell Wilson. In between, snow blanketed the field, producing near white-out conditions at times.
The Browns appeared in control following a slow start, but managed to blow a 12-point lead in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter. However, Winston stepped up down the stretch, marching his team down the field for the go-ahead touchdown and they’d never look back.
While Cleveland’s draft stock took a hit, the Browns also delivered a hit to the Steelers’ chances of winning the AFC North, keeping the Baltimore Ravens in the hunt with six more games to go. Here’s a look at how things unfolded in the snow globe on Thursday night.
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The Steelers and Browns put on a show, but couldn’t deliver one final highlight as Russell Wilson’s prayer is batted down in the end zone. No one on the Steelers’ roster ever had a chance of collecting that ball, which sends the Browns home as winners, their third of the season.
Following some hectic minutes after the Steelers took the lead, the Browns find some magic of their own to take a five-point lead with 57 seconds left. Nick Chubb scores his second touchdown of the night, but the two-point conversion fails. Russell Wilson and the Steelers have one last shot to win it. Pittsburgh has one timeout to work with.
Two plays after George Pickens lost a touchdown in the snow, Calvin Austin III picks up his fellow receiver by hauling in a 23-yard touchdown from Russell Wilson. The Steelers fail to convert the two-point conversion, but have scored 13 points in less than two minutes to take a one-point lead.
It has quickly slipped away from the Browns in less than a minute of game action. On the second play of the Cleveland drive, Nick Herbig drops Jameis Winston for the sack, knocking the ball loose. Pittsburgh pounces on it and gets a red zone opportunity minutes after cutting the deficit to five.
It seemed as if the Browns could coast to a win after Jameis Winston’s touchdown, but the Steelers aren’t going quietly into the night. Pittsburgh marches 69 yards with just seven plays before Jaylen Warren finds pay dirt. Leading by just five, Cleveland has some work to do with just under eight minutes to go.
On a fourth down play, Jameis Winston scampers into the end zone for the touchdown to put the Browns up by two scores. The quarterback is having the time of his life in the snow as the Browns try to get their third win of the season. They then decide to go for two, which they convert too. It’s Jameis’ world and we’re all living in it tonight.
Cedric Tillman was crushed at the end of the third quarter and was seen going into the blue medical tent at the start of the fourth. It would appear that he is likely being evaluated for a concussion, considering the nature of the hit.
Only one quarter remains in tonight’s game, but the snow is easily the best part of the action. The game has been entertaining, but navigating Mother Nature is arguably more fun.
Cleveland has turned into a winter wonderland, except it’s still fall. Regardless, Mike Tomlin’s beard has turned to white and the situation in Cleveland resembles a snow globe shaken by an overly excited kid in the store. There is still a football game going on, however. For those interested, Chris Boswell put three more points on the board to inch the Steelers closer.
Pittsburgh can’t take advantage of the turnover, handing the ball back to the Browns after getting stuffed on fourth-and-1, once again. This time it’s Jaylen Warren that can’t get the job done and Cleveland takes over at the Pittsburgh 45.
After a slow start, Cleveland has done everything right. That was until Cedric Tillman coughed up the ball just over a minute into the half, following a hit from DeShon Elliott. Pittsburgh takes over at their own 34.
George Pickens gets tangled up with Martin Emerson Jr., but the flag doesn’t come out. Pittsburgh could’ve had a shot at a field goal, but instead watch as Russell Wilson is sacked by Myles Garrett to put an end to the half. Garrett closes the half with four tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and maybe a partridge in a pear tree.
Cleveland turns the Russell Wilson fumble into three, as Dustin Hopkins has no issues kicking through the snow. He’s good from 34 yards out and leaves just 40 seconds on the clock for the Steelers to operate.
Looking to answer the Browns’ touchdown drive, Russell Wilson ends the Pittsburgh drive quickly as Myles Garrett forces a fumble on second down. Cleveland is set up nicely with another scoring opportunity, taking over at the Steelers’ 31.
The Browns have found their footing and cap off a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown courtesy of Nick Chubb. It’s the running back’s second of the season in his fifth game back. Jerry Jeudy did most of the work on this drive, hauling in three receptions for 39 yards. Jameis Winston looked more comfortable and Chubb also kept the series alive with a fourth down run.
A 10-play, 89-yard drive ends with Chris Boswell knocking through a 48-yard field goal to give the Steelers the lead. The weather didn’t seem to be an issue on this attempt, or the 43-yarder he made before the team committed a false start that backed them up. Pittsburgh is undoubtedly handling the conditions better than Cleveland to start this game, as Russell Wilson connected with Calvin Austin III for the big play, a 46-yard catch-and-run to set them up.
The AFC North brand is strong. After 15 minutes of action, the game remains scoreless. While many will be quick to blame it on the weather, this is just good, old-fashioned Steelers-Browns football.
The Browns knew it was coming. The fans in the stadium knew it was coming. Everyone at home knew it was coming. Regardless, the Steelers opted to try a run on fourth-and-2 with Justin Fields and he was, unsurprisingly, dropped behind the line for a turnover on downs. Arthur Smith won’t be winning many awards with that play call.
Unlike Jameis Winston’s speeches, this Browns drive lacked both excitement and imagination. A quick three-and-out saw Cleveland travel two yards in reverse, leading to our first Corey Bojorquez sighting of the night. The wind had its way with the punt, as Bojorquez shanked one that traveled just 12 yards. Pittsburgh’s Damontae Kazee must’ve felt bad for the punter, however, as he opted to block the Browns’ gunner into the bench, resulting in a 15-yard penalty. Had the bench not been there, Kazee would’ve sent the Browns’ player for a swim in the lake.
Pittsburgh was able to move the ball on the opening drive, but it ends abruptly as Myles Garrett buries Russell Wilson for a third down sack. Chris Boswell trots on for a 58-yard try and pushes it right, keeping the game scoreless as the flurries continue to fall.
The Browns and Steelers game will kick off Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season with “Thursday Night Football” at 8:15 p.m. ET. 
“Thursday Night Football” will exclusively stream on Amazon Prime Video. 
Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Prime Video, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.  
The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame shows feature Charissa Thompson as host, as well as former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.  
Taylor Rooks is the feature reporter for Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage. Albert Breer provides reports and analysis. 
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 12 “TNF” matchup between the Browns and Steelers will shape up: 
The Steelers are favorites to defeat the Browns, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code. 
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds and Monday Night Football odds. 
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. 
FEELING LUCKY? Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week 
The Browns vs. Steelers game is expected to be played in less-than-favorable conditions at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Thursday night. Temperatures will drop as low as 36 degrees Fahrenheit during the game while there is a 90% chance of precipitation during the game, per Weather.com.
There will be snow early in Thursday’s game. There is a Winter Weather Advisory for Cuyahoga County, which lists possible accumulation of 3-5 inches of snow. The current forecast suggests that the heaviest snow will be falling in the 7 and 8 p.m. ET hours, right before and during the start of the game.
The Steelers enter the Week 12 “TNF” showdown in first place in the AFC North. They sit two games ahead of the Ravens in the loss column. Meanwhile, the Browns are in last place in the division. 
With seven weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL season, the playoff contenders are coming into sharp focus. At top, nine teams have 90% chances or better of earning one of the 14 playoff slots.
Two teams on opposite ends of the playoff spectrum kick off Week 12 schedule on Thursday night.
Here are all 32 teams’ chances of making the playoffs this season and how a win or loss this weekend would raise or lower those chances. — Jim Sergent
These AFC North rival opponents have met 145 times, including three playoff matchups. Pittsburgh leads the all-time matchup with a 81-63-1 record. The Steelers have won two of the last three meetings. 
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 
Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups. 
The Steelers’ last Super Bowl triumph came during the 2008 season, when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. The Browns are among four NFL teams that have never appeared in a Super Bowl.
NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:
➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game
The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand initially reported that Michaels’ contract would be for three years and “north of $30 million,” but that number may have gone up. About one week after that first report, in March 2022, Marchand shared that the Amazon deal would be “in the Joe Buck neighborhood.” Buck signed a five-year, $75 million deal ($15 million annually) with ESPN earlier that same month. 
Here’s how the first round of the 2025 NFL draft stacks up entering Week 12: 
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➤ Best (and worst) from NFL Week 11: Bills have ’72 Dolphins popping champagne🍾
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