The Pittsburgh Steelers took sole possession of first place in the AFC North with a 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, 1 November 2026, a result that also tied an NFL record.
Both teams entered the game at 5-2. Pittsburgh improved to 6-2, while Cleveland fell to 5-3 after a defeat that extended its regular-season losing run in Pittsburgh to 23 games.
Warren stars on his birthday
Jaylen Warren led the way on the ground on his 28th birthday, rushing for 143 yards on 17 carries with one touchdown. The total tied his career high. His 51-yard run in the first quarter was the game’s most explosive play and helped set the tone for a dominant rushing performance.
Pittsburgh finished with 200 rushing yards as a team, including 160 in the first half. Rico Dowdle added 56 yards, and all three of Pittsburgh’s touchdowns came on the ground. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of 25 passes for 172 yards with one interception, but the Steelers did not need a big passing day.
A 58-yard catch by tight end Darnell Washington set up Warren’s one-yard touchdown run, which made the score 27-6. Pittsburgh’s defence also sacked Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson eight times, according to Associated Press reporting.
A record-tying home streak
The win was Pittsburgh’s 23rd consecutive regular-season home victory over Cleveland, tying the NFL record for consecutive home wins over one opponent. The Green Bay Packers previously won 23 straight regular-season home games against the Detroit Lions, from 1992 to 2014.
Cleveland has not won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh since 5 October 2003. The Browns did win a playoff game there after the 2020 season, beating Pittsburgh 48-37 in an AFC wild-card game, but playoff results do not count towards the regular-season streak.
The Steelers also avenged a road loss to the Browns from about a month earlier, turning a meeting between two 5-2 teams into a one-sided afternoon.
What it means for the AFC North
Pittsburgh now leads the division outright at 6-2 and heads into its bye week on a four-game winning streak. Cleveland, which had been chasing its best start in more than three decades, drops to 5-3 and must regroup after a game in which it was beaten at the line of scrimmage.
For Pittsburgh, the formula was clear: run the ball, control the early stages, and let the defence pressure Watson. For Cleveland, the wait for a regular-season win in Pittsburgh now stretches into another year.
What is still to come
Pittsburgh will use the bye week to rest before returning to divisional play. Cleveland remains in the playoff race at 5-3, but its path now runs through a division rival that has reasserted control of the AFC North.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score? Pittsburgh beat Cleveland 27-6 at Acrisure Stadium on 1 November 2026.
Who starred for Pittsburgh? Jaylen Warren, with 143 rushing yards and a touchdown on his 28th birthday.
What record did Pittsburgh tie? Its 23rd straight regular-season home win over Cleveland tied the NFL record for consecutive home victories over one opponent, previously held by Green Bay against Detroit.
Sources:
- Associated Press via theScore: https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/3641753/steelers-bulldoze-browns-27-6-to-take-afc-north-lead-extend-home-streak-over-rivals-to-23-straight
- NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jaylen-warren-rushes-for-143-on-his-birthday-steelers-beat-browns-27-6
- Pittsburgh Steelers official site: https://www.steelers.com/news/from-the-press-room-steelers-vs-browns-x8385
- USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2026/11/01/steelers-report-card-t-j-watt-defense-pound-browns-deshaun-watson-in-big-win/92552833007/
