It would be easy for a team, down 28-0 in the first quarter, to give up. But not the Pittsburgh Steelers. They outscored the Cleveland Browns in each of the final three quarters of the game; it just wasn’t enough for the comeback.
“What more can happen to us? We’re down 21, we’re down 28,” said JuJu Smith-Schuster reflecting after the game. “And it’s just like, all right, well, we got to make a play. Ben was calling the plays, calling stuff to make it happen. We got touchdowns here and there, but we just couldn’t finish it off. But I will say this: I will say our guys did not quit. We fought to the end of the whistle, and we played our a– off.”
Smith-Schuster, who may have played his final game in a Steelers uniform, logged 157 yards on 13 receptions and a touchdown. He’ll become one of 27 free agents in March.
Asked if the loss was made more emotional since many will not be returning next season, Smith-Schuster said, “Yeah, it’s tough. I sat on the field, just taking it all in. You see Ben, and you see guys who I’ve been with for
the last four years, tremendous guys, not just players but guys off the field. I’ve learned so much and so thankful to be part of them, and it means so much.”
