Aaron Rodgers knows the Pittsburgh Steelers are hardly a finished product five games into the season.
Yet the parts are starting to come together, and they were on full display over four bruising quarters in a 23-9 victory over Cleveland that made up for in thoroughness what it lacked in aesthetics.
Rodgers threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns without being sacked by Myles Garrett or anyone else. The defense pummeled Cleveland rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, and the Steelers asserted themselves as the class of the injury-ravaged — well, injury-ravaged everywhere but Pittsburgh — AFC North by beating the Browns at home for the 22nd straight time in the regular season.
A lot already has. Just not to the Steelers. Pittsburgh, at full strength on defense for the first time since the opener, overwhelmed the Browns while producing six sacks and hitting Gabriel 16 times.
Cleveland, with the exception of a playoff stunner in 2020, remained winless in Pittsburgh since 2003.
Gabriel, a third-round pick who took over for since-traded Joe Flacco last week, didn’t turn the ball over but failed to ignite an offense that failed to reach 17 points for the 11th straight time.
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