David Njoku caught three touchdown passes for the first time in his career, leading the Cleveland Browns to a decisive 27-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday.
The 27-year-old tight end hauled in scoring passes of 12, 8, and 22 yards from quarterback Deshaun Watson, finishing with seven catches for 149 yards in the AFC North showdown. Njoku’s breakout performance helped Cleveland snap a three-game losing streak against their division rivals.
Njoku Finds End Zone Early and Often
Cleveland struck first when Watson found Njoku on a perfectly executed seam route for a 12-yard touchdown with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter. The former Miami Hurricane beat linebacker T.J. Watt in coverage, catching the ball at the goal line before diving into the end zone.
“We’ve been working on that route combination all week in practice,” Njoku said after the game. “Deshaun put it right where it needed to be, and I just had to make the catch.”
The Browns extended their lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter when Njoku scored his second touchdown on an 8-yard fade route in the corner of the end zone. Watson rolled right under pressure and delivered a strike to Njoku, who outmuscled safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for the reception.
Third Quarter Surge Seals Victory
Pittsburgh cut the deficit to 17-7 at halftime after a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Najee Harris, but Cleveland answered emphatically in the third quarter. With the Browns facing third-and-goal from the Pittsburgh 22-yard line, Watson found Njoku running a crossing pattern behind the linebackers for his third score of the afternoon.
The three-touchdown performance marked just the second time in Njoku’s seven-year career that he’s reached the end zone multiple times in a single game. His previous multi-touchdown effort came during his rookie season in 2017 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“David’s been putting in the work all season,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Today everything came together for him. He ran great routes, made tough catches in traffic, and finished plays in the red zone.”
Watson Finds Rhythm with Star Tight End
Watson completed 24 of 35 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. The connection between Watson and Njoku has steadily improved throughout the season, as evidenced by Sunday’s explosive output.
Njoku entered the game with 28 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns through the first eight weeks of the season. His 149 receiving yards against Pittsburgh nearly matched his previous season high of 89 yards set against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4.
The Steelers defense, ranked fifth in the NFL against tight ends entering Sunday’s contest, had no answer for Njoku’s size and athleticism. At 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, he consistently won contested catches and created separation on intermediate routes.
Division Implications Loom Large
The victory improved Cleveland’s record to 5-4 and kept them within striking distance of the AFC North lead. The Browns now trail the Baltimore Ravens by just one game in the division standings, with seven weeks remaining in the regular season.
Pittsburgh dropped to 4-5 with the loss, their third defeat in four games. The Steelers managed just 287 total yards of offense and struggled to establish any rhythm in the passing game.
Browns running back Nick Chubb added 94 rushing yards on 18 carries, helping Cleveland control the clock and maintain their lead throughout the second half. The ground game kept Pittsburgh’s pass rush honest and created manageable third-down situations for Watson.
Cleveland’s defense recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers, including a crucial interception by cornerback Denzel Ward that set up the Browns’ final touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Browns return to action next Sunday when they visit the Denver Broncos, while Pittsburgh hosts the Cincinnati Bengals in another division matchup.
