Overview
- The hit came on third-and-8 during Cleveland’s opening possession on Sunday and officials threw a roughing-the-passer flag that granted the Browns a fresh set of downs.
- Watson was taken to the blue medical tent for a concussion evaluation, was cleared minutes later and returned to play on the next drive.
- Pittsburgh’s defense dominated after the opening sequence, finishing with eight sacks and a 27-6 victory that shut the Browns out of the end zone.
- Jaquan Brisker defended the tackle in his postgame remarks, said he hit with his chest, mocked Watson as being “babyed” and expressed confidence he would not be fined while no league discipline has been announced.
- The play and Brisker’s comments have amplified AFC North tensions and kept focus on how officials apply the NFL’s roughing-the-passer rules in fast collisions involving quarterbacks.