NFL: Cleveland Browns run all over Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers committed eight turnovers as they slumped to a shock 20-14 defeat to the Cleveland Browns.

With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sidelined for a second straight game, Pittsburgh struggled to get into an offensive rhythm with third-stringer Charlie Batch under centre.

Batch threw three interceptions in Cleveland, while the Browns recovered five fumbles on the way to recording their third victory of the season.

The result means the Steelers slip to 6-5 and are in danger of losing control of the second AFC wildcard in the race for the play-offs.

It was Steelers who took the lead thanks to a turnover, however, as Lawrence Timmons took an interception from Brandon Weeden 53 yards to the house in the opening quarter, but Pittsburgh soon started coughing up the ball themselves as a Rashard Mendenhall fumble allowed Phil Dawson to reduce the deficit with a field goal.

Isaac Redman fumbled inside his own 10-yard line in the second quarter, allowing Weeden to find Jordan Cameron for a touchdown before Dawson hit his second field goal to make it 13-7 to the hosts.

However, the Steelers were ahead again by half-time as Chris Rainey scored on a mazy one-yard run after the Browns had been unable to capitalise on a Jonathan Dwyer fumble.

But the Steelers’ offensive woes moved to a new level in the second half as Batch’s first interception set up Trent Richardson, who in total carried the ball 29 times for just 85 yards, to run in a 15-yard score.

Batch threw two more picks while attempting a comeback in the fourth quarter as two more fumbles, including one on the final play, also played their part in scuppering Pittsburgh’s hopes.