PITTSBURGH — Maybe the most deflating aspect of the Steelers' last-minute loss in Cleveland was the second-stingiest defense in the NFL failing to protect another lead against one of the worst offenses in the league.

And it wasn't the first time.

Not only did the Steelers allow the Browns, the lowest-scoring team in the AFC, to top 18 points for only the second time this season in a 24-19 defeat, but they failed to stop them after the Steelers battled back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 19-18 lead with 6:15 remaining.

The Steelers allowed Browns quarterback Jameis Winston to complete three consecutive passes after tight end Jordan Akins dropped what appeared to be an easy walk-in touchdown to set up Nick Chubb's winning score with 57 seconds remaining.

"It is very deflating," outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. "We need to close out games and we were not able to do that. It sucks that we could not hold on, but a loss is a loss."

The Steelers have not been very good at closing out games.

They did the same thing in the home loss to Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 6, giving up a touchdown to receiver Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds remaining in a 20-17 defeat.

Even against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers let Lamar Jackson complete 6 of 8 passes for 74 yards on a nine-play, 69-yard drive, including a 16-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining, to come within a failed two-point conversion of forcing overtime.

Just as disturbing was the Steelers lack of pressure on Winston, who was sacked only once — by outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who forced a fumble that DeShon Elliott recovered and led to the go-ahead touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III.

The Browns had allowed a league-high 46 sacks and were using their fourth different starter at left tackle, Germain Ifedi, against the Steelers. But it didn't lead to any extra pressure by the Steelers, who are on pace to have 39 sacks — their fewest since the 2016 season (38).

That was especially evident on the third-and-6 play with 1:55 remaining, when Winston had plenty of time to throw against a four-man rush and completed a 15-yard pass to receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Steelers' 9 to set up Chubb's winning touchdown.

"They were able to convert when they were able to and make plays in big time moments and we were not able to," Watt said.

Well received?

Wide receiver Mike Williams played 19 snaps against the Browns and, for the second game in a row, did not even get a target.

That means Williams has played 44 snaps since his winning touchdown catch in his Steelers debut in Washington without getting a pass thrown in his direction.

The good news: The Steelers got their other receivers involved in the offense for a change.

Receiver Calvin Austin had catches of 45 and 23, the latter for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:15 remaining; Van Jefferson had a 35-yard catch that led to a field goal; and tight end Pat Freiermuth re-emerged to have his most receptions (four for 57 yards) since Week 4 in Indianapolis.

"We had some really good explosive plays down the field, throwing the ball to Van," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "He made some great catches.... Calvin, too. I thought the guys, the receivers, did a really good job of making plays tonight in tough weather conditions. We were able to put the ball down the field and make plays in key moments, and that was really good."

Wilson had his highest completion percentage of the season (21 of 28, 75%) and second-highest yardage total (270) despite the snowy conditions. It was his third game in five starts with a 100-plus passer rating.

But after cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted Winston with 4:22 remaining, the Steelers went three-and-out from their own 24 with Justin Fields, not Wilson, taking two of the final three snaps. Fields did not run the ball on either of his two plays.

What's more, it seemed like a dubious decision to have Fields throw on third-and-4, especially a deep incompletion to George Pickens. That failed series led to a chunked 15-yard punt by Corliss Waitman to the Steelers 45, leading to the Browns' winning touchdown.

Fields played seven snaps against the Browns, which, in the end, was one too many.

"I think that we all as a team, we're trying to make plays," Wilson said. "We're trying to do different things. Obviously, we have trust in Justin, too, and what he can do and what he's capable of. Listen, I always want to be in there. That's just the competitor in me. But at the same time, we have great trust in Justin, and our team, our coaches, and everything we're doing."

(c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.