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Myles Garrett impacts Steelers' game plan in Week 17 | Players of the Game
The Browns closed out the home slate of the 2025 season with a 13-6 win over the Steelers, a win that was chalked full of standout performances from the Browns.
"Really proud of those guys in that football game, to be in that fight for 60 minutes and come out on top," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Some really, really great efforts in that game."
After the Browns' victory over the Steelers, let's look at some players who made a difference against Pittsburgh.
Myles Garrett
DE Myles Garrett's presence on the field greatly impacted the Steelers' offensive approach, forcing QB Aaron Rodgers to throw quick checkdown passes to avoid pressure from Garrett or other members of the Browns' defensive line.
"I think Myles affects every single game," Stefanski said following the game. "Obviously he shows up in the stat sheet in a bunch of different areas, but even the things you don't see – how they have to play the game, I mean, they have to play an empty the entire game and chip both sides. Those are two eligibles that aren't getting out on the route immediately. So, it affects how teams play us."
Garrett finished the game with one tackle and one quarterback hit against the Steelers. However, his presence on the field and the attention focused on Garrett created opportunities for his teammates, including S Grant Delpit and DE Alex Wright to each sack Rodgers. Wright's sack forced a long field goal attempt from Chris Boswell at the start the fourth quarter that went wide right and allowed the Browns to keep their 10-6 lead.
Harold Fannin Jr.
TE Harold Fannin Jr. added a critical score for the Browns in the first quarter, one which gave the Browns a 10-0 lead and would be the only touchdown scored throughout the game.
As QB Shedeur Sanders looked downfield for an open man, he saw Fannin around the 10-yard line with some space between him and two Steelers' defenders. He launched the ball 27 yards into the air, which Fannin adjusted to where the ball was falling and caught the pass, rolling into the end zone for the 28-yard touchdown reception.
"That was an incredible job adjusting to that football," Stefanski said. "It was a good read by Shedeur, then to get in the end zone was great."
He sustained a groin injury on the touchdown reception, which ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the game. Fannin finished the game with two receptions for 30 yards and the touchdown.
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Browns vs. Bengals game time for Week 18 officially announced
The Browns' Week 18 matchup against the Bengals is officially set.
The NFL announced on Sunday night that the Browns' final regular season game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium. The game will be shown on CBS.
It will be the second matchup of the season between the Browns and the Bengals, after they opened the regular season against Cincinnati at Huntington Bank Field in Week 1. The Bengals won 17-16.
The Browns are 4-12 heading into Week 18 after beating the Steelers 13-6 in Week 17 for the final home game of the regular season. The Bengals are 6-10 heading into Week 18.
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As Kieauntee Newell and her three kids walked into the fieldhouse at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, three Big Fig mattresses sat in front of them.
They could only choose one type of mattress, so how would they pick? Simple – by giving each mattress the jump test and consulting NFL All-Pro DE Myles Garrett for his opinion.
On Dec. 23, Garrett, the Browns and Big Fig partnered to give the Newell family six new mattresses ahead of the holidays, one for each member of the family. As Newell weighed her decision, her two girls jumped on each mattress and tested them out while Garrett and Newell's son watched. Her son then joined in with his sisters and Garrett came over to play with the three kids, as well as helping them decide which type of mattress they liked the best.
"It's definitely very meaningful because it's hard for a lot of families so when people think of us, it is very important and it is very helpful no matter if it's big or small. We need it," Newell said.
The Browns, Garrett and Big Fig began their partnership in August 2025. Big Fig is a Cleveland-based mattress company that proudly manufactures its products locally and employs Cleveland residents. Big Fig stepped in along with the Browns to give back to the Cleveland community during the holiday season.
"It feels really good this time of year to give back to the community and be able to take our product that provides such a core need of just better sleep to a family that really needs that and be able to sleep comfortably through the holiday season," Big Fig marketing director Lindsy Argenti said. "Myles is a great guy. I think he has been a personality and a media guy for a long time and that's really cool, but he is also very human, and you can tell he loves kids and loves this community and is very dedicated to it."
The Newell family was chosen through Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Project ACT initiative. Project ACT provides direct instructional and support services to children and youth residing in temporary emergency shelters, transitional housing and doubled-up students staying with other families due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar situations.
The Browns and Project ACT have partnered for five years to support students academically and for four years on holiday initiatives.
"They'll remember this probably to the day they leave this earth," Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Project ACT life skill coach Samona Johnson said. "They don't understand exactly who he is magnitude-wise, but I have support and wraparound services of the Browns and Myles Garrett in particular to come down and personally meet them."
For Newell and her children, the mattress provided additional support for their family during a challenging time. For the Browns and Garrett along with Big Fig and Project ACT, it was an opportunity to directly meet one of the families they aim to support and see the impact of those efforts firsthand.
"It's a luxury that we should all have being able to sleep in our own beds, sleep on a comfortable bed," Garrett said. "The holiday season is all about giving. I'm just glad Big Fig is a part of that, thinking of people who are less fortunate and don't always have that privilege. I want to be able to work with brands who are willing to do that and think about people, big or small, who are more or less fortunate. And so just having that eye, having that sense of awareness, that's something I can appreciate and something I hope we can continue to work on."
The mattress donation was a part of the Browns' "Month of Giving," an annual tradition dedicated to uplifting spirits across Northeast Ohio during the holiday season. Browns players, alumni, coaches, staff members, partners and fans participate in the "Month of Giving" presented by Goodwill, which is an organizational tradition that allows individuals to make impactful contributions to deserving individuals and organizations as part of the Browns' commitment to advancing education, youth football and equitable opportunities.
Follow @BrownsGiveBack and clevelandbrowns.com/community/month-of-giving for updates on "Month of Giving."
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