- The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers played to a 21-21 tie to open the 2018 NFL season.
- The Steelers turned the ball over six times, including one fumble with just seconds left in overtime that put the Browns in position for a potential game-winning field goal attempt.
- The Browns’ attempt was blocked, resulting in the first Week 1 tie since 1971.
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers played to a 21-21 tie on the first Sunday of the NFL season.
After mounting a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback to force overtime, the Browns had the chance to win their first game since 2016. Both sides would trade possession in the extra period, but the Browns seemed to have caught a break after forcing a fumble from Ben Roethlisberger in Steelers territory with just seconds left.
JOE. SCHOBERT. #PITvsCLE https://t.co/QwZu2iSuhy
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 9, 2018
It was the Steelers’ sixth turnover of the day, and looked like it might finally prove decisive. A few plays later, the Browns lined up for the potential game-winning field goal, only to see it blocked in the pouring rain.
THIS ENDING!
Browns gonna Browns. pic.twitter.com/uq5MXBDwXb
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 9, 2018
The outcome felt almost predestined - an oddity only the Browns could have been capable of bringing into existence. Naturally, Twitter had a field day.
The most #Browns thing ever is breaking one of the longest losing streaks of all time without winning.
— TheMachine (@MachinesPicks) September 9, 2018
The Browns-Steelers game has ended in a tie, meaning the Browns have snapped their 17-game losing streak while simultaneously upholding their record of not winning a game since December 2016. pic.twitter.com/tj7Xy9KxPF
— manny (@mannyfidel) September 9, 2018
according to the NFL rulebook a tie counts as half a win and half a loss so guess what
THE CLEVELAND BROWNS HAVE WON (one half) OF A GAME!
(but their losing streak is technically still alive) pic.twitter.com/Expg4VbnUD— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 9, 2018
Browns 1-0 Steelers 0-2 as far as I'm concerned
— Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) September 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/netw3rk/status/1038895060908093440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
While it's a disappointing result for Cleveland, the tie still represents an improvement for the team - the Browns will not go 0-16 in 2018.