Steelers 27, Browns 14
Q. What did you do so well to keep a lid on things, even at times they were moving it is ball in little bites.
CAM HEYWARD: We got turnovers. I thought Keeanu's interception was big. Obviously J.P.'s interception. Surrendering only 14 points is always huge. I know they got some yards there in the second half, but I thought it was a good job of just early on the touchdown they had, Jameis went up the middle, got a big completion. Other than that, I thought we did a pretty good job of bottling up, not letting the extended plays beat us.
Q. What did you have to do to make the escape lanes closed out?
CAM HEYWARD: I think it was a coordinator rush, outsides not getting too far afield, inside pressure. Understanding you might have two gaps instead of one. That's all got to be talked about. You got to run coordinated games along with it.
I thought we did a pretty good job of that today.
Q. Is Keeanu showing up with a game ball today?
CAM HEYWARD: Game ball? It's just an interception (laughter). If that's the case, I'm waiting on mine. I've never gotten one for that.
Heck of a play. Great awareness just to track it down line. It's not like it was popped in the air or anything. Can't say enough about the kid. He works his tail off. I know he wants big plays all the time.
It was a big play for us in this game. Lucky to have that kid on our sidelines.
Q. How did you balance knowing the way they threw the ball last week but knowing you have to stop Nick Chubb?
CAM HEYWARD: It starts with Mr. Chubb. We have a lot of respect for what he's done. Going into the game, you have to constantly think about him. We've seen him the past couple weeks, Jameis has been on fire having, what, 500 yards passing last week.
For us, you got to stop the run early, then make sure it's tougher long down and distance so they can't throw it quickly to Njoku. He's been a great key for them on quick passes.
Q. How much pride do you take in the fact that you guys were 5-1 last year, 3-1 so far this year?
CAM HEYWARD: I don't take pride in it. I just think it's AFC North football. You have to win these games. There's a sense of urgency in our locker room. We don't overlook anybody. We understand we got to play up to it.
They got the job done last time. But it wasn't about getting revenge or anything. It was about we need to get back to playing our football. We need to get singularly focused and execute better.
Q. What does it do for the defense when you are at full strength having Alex back?
CAM HEYWARD: I think having Alex back, besides the depth factor, it's another guy who can go for 10 sacks and he sees them. You have to prepare for T.J., Alex, Nick Herbig and Preston as well. Their résumés speak for themselves.
I know those tackles... Their heads are spinning trying to keep up with all those guys.
Q. Eight sacks for the season, 88 for your career. Do you have a goal?
CAM HEYWARD: More (smiling).
Q. Cam, your thoughts on you, and Highsmith as well, to keep that pressure on Winston throughout the game.
CAM HEYWARD: I think it might not have been the first move, I think it's just being active. I thought a lot of times it might be extended. We were able to bottle up the rush, he couldn't find the escape line.
I was beating my head after the first one he got. We really cleaned it up after that.
Q. Do you feel like there's something different about this team, how it's carried itself throughout the ups and downs of the season?
CAM HEYWARD: I think we just have a complete team. We have a team that is complementary of everybody. I'm not saying that against the teams we've had in the past. You can look at the time of possession on the offensive side of the ball, the big special teams plays, the defensive big plays as well. All three facets there's play-makers, there's guys that can take over a game.
We need them week in and week out, but we have the guys to do it.
Q. Any extra juice playing in front of your old defensive coordinator? Reminding yourself of anything he used to teach you?
CAM HEYWARD: I got to see them Saturday. Coach LeBeau, he was texting me last year during the season just trying to keep my head up. I still talk to him to this day. I'm thankful of that relationship.
I'm thankful that I got to have a DC who was at Ohio State, as well. I was just thankful to be in the room when he was around. Also watching a guy like Casey Hampton, a leader, a glue guy. Watching those guys go into the Hall of Honor, you have to play good in front of that crowd.
We relished that moment. I'm just thankful to have known those guys and been a part of something special.
Q. Did you talk to Casey Hampton at all?
CAM HEYWARD: I ran after him before the game, surprised him. He's a little bit more smaller now. It's harder to find him (smiling).
It's always good to see Hamp. It was very surprising to see that new jacket he got. I'm trying to figure out what size he got 'cause if they got it from the one when he was still playing, it would be four times bigger (laughter).
Q. Any coverage tips?
CAM HEYWARD: No. They didn't drop Hamp a lot (smiling).
Q. Why do you think you've been able to be to be successful for so long?
CAM HEYWARD: I think for me there's more to improve on, more to keep going after. There's a hunger for me that I'm not satisfied with what I've done in the past. I expect a lot more of myself.
Q. You mentioned complementary football. Is there a feeling right now, even if there's a slow start, eventually Russ and this offense is going to find a way to get stuff done?
CAM HEYWARD: I think so. Then with that, what can the defense do. Can we provide short fields, get turnovers? That all comes together. We're just asking for seven each time. If we can get seven every drive, that's a match made in heaven. But we'll keep striving for that.
Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports