PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN, AP) – The Cleveland Browns are bottom feeders no more. Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and the Browns collected their first playoff victory in 26 years with a 48-37 romp over Pittsburgh.
Kareem Hunt added two touchdown runs for the Browns.
Cleveland was playing without several high-profile players and head coach Kevin Stefanski due to COVID-19. It hardly mattered as the Browns raced to a quick 28-0 lead then turned aside a Pittsburgh second-half rally.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger passed for 501 yards and four touchdowns but also threw four interceptions.
The win ends a 17-game losing streak for Cleveland in Pittsburgh and is the first playoff win for the franchise since 1994.
The Browns took advantage of four Pittsburgh turnovers in the first half, jumping out to a 35-10 halftime lead.
Cleveland is the first team to score 28 points in the first quarter of a playoff game since the Raiders against the Oilers in 1969.
The Browns will now travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round.