A breakdown of two Steelers defenders who defined the win vs. the Browns in Week 8

The Pittsburgh Steelers were victorious in Week 8 when they went on the road to win a tough divisional game over the Cleveland Browns 15-10. Based on the score, you can imagine the Steelers put a tough defensive performance together to win their first AFC North game of the 2021 regular season.

After the game, NFL Network Analyst Brian “Baldy” Baldinger took to his verified Twitter account to show how there were really two defenders who showed up in a big way for the Pittsburgh defense.

First was a player who has been playing unbelievable football all season, and that would be none other than Cameron Heyward. Baldinger highlights two consecutive plays on third and short, and how Heyward was able to impose his will on the stout Browns’ offensive line to disrupt everything about these specific plays.

Check it out:

The next player Baldinger highlighted has been one Steelers fans have been very critical of throughout the 2021 season. That player would be Minkah Fitzpatrick, and it isn’t as if the All-Pro safety isn’t playing well, but isn’t making the splash plays many fans have grown accustomed to seeing.

Nonetheless, as Baldinger highlights in the clip below, Fitzpatrick is the quarterback of the defense and has been making big-time plays.

Check out how he impacted the Week 8 Browns game, mainly on the Browns’ last offensive play of the game:

At this point in the season, it should be glaringly obvious what the Steelers need to do to win football games. The team needs to run the ball on offense, controlling the clock, and they need to continue to get huge contributions from their defense. If they can do these two things there isn’t a team in the NFL they can’t compete with.

Then again, doing this is easier said than done.

Baldinger added another video later which showcased a small change in the game-winning touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Pat Freiermuth which had Najee Harris lend a much-needed helping hand to rookie tackle Dan Moore when trying to keep Myles Garrett from wrecking the play.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the upcoming Week 9 game vs. the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.