Kenny Pickett's struggles doom Steelers as Browns grind out 13-10 win without Deshaun Watson

The Pittsburgh Steelers have leaned on a ball-hawking defense to overcome poor quarterback play from Kenny Pickett en route to playoff contention.

On Sunday, it wasn't enough. The Browns defense swarmed Pickett as Cleveland ground out a 13-10 win over the Steelers despite playing with rookie backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. The win was critical for the AFC playoff race as they Browns improved to 7-3 while dropping their AFC North rivals to 6-4.

Both teams struggled to move the ball on a day where defense dominated. But Thompson-Robinson was able to generate a late drive for a game-winning field goal from Dustin Hopkins, as Pittsburgh came up empty on its final three drives that generated 22 yards.

Pickett finished the day completing 14 of 27 passes for 93 yards. He took three sacks and failed to find the end zone. The Steelers offense largely consisted of a single 74-yard touchdown run from Jaylen Warren that kept them competitive. It wasn't enough to overcome a stagnant attack through the rest of the game.