Denzel Ward after Browns’ win over Steelers: ‘I don’t know whose bright idea it was to try me for the game for 3 plays in a row’

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward isn’t judge who connected nan Steelers sideline made nan telephone to target him 3 consecutive times astatine nan extremity of their Week 17 showdown.

But after nan Browns came retired victorious, 13-6, he’s conscionable happy it happened.

“I don’t cognize whose agleam thought it was to effort maine for nan crippled for 3 plays successful a row,” Ward said pinch a smile, “but we was capable to travel done and get nan win.”

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The Browns not only sewage nan triumph — their 4th full successful what has mostly been a miserable twelvemonth — but they played spoiler and didn’t let nan Steelers to clinch nan section title successful Huntington Bank Field.

Now, nan AFC North will beryllium decided successful Week 18 arsenic nan Ravens and Steelers look disconnected successful Pittsburgh.

And it’s mostly because Ward locked down successful nan 4th quarter.

The Steelers had 4 chances to triumph aliases necktie nan crippled wrong nan past infinitesimal aft getting to nan Cleveland 10-yard line.

A 3-yard completion from Aaron Rodgers to Adam Thielen connected first-and-goal group up what would beryllium nan last 3 looks — and each 3 came pinch Ward matched up pinch receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

On second-and-goal Ward astir came up pinch a prime connected what seemed to beryllium a miscommunication: Valdes-Scantling looked for illustration he was expected to support breaking wrong connected his way and alternatively he improvised.

That’s based connected wherever Rodgers threw nan ball: Nearly into nan hands of Ward, who had nan wrong leverage.

Ward dove to nan crushed connected nan play and fell connected his correct enarthrosis — nan enarthrosis that gave him problems during training campy this year. He came up grabbing his arm, but wasn’t coming disconnected nan field.

“Shoulder’s a small sore, but I’ll beryllium each right,” Ward said.

On third-and-goal, Valdes-Scantling and Ward were isolated extracurricular again to Rodgers’ right, but location seemed to beryllium different miscommunication. Valdes-Scantling ran extracurricular towards nan backmost correct area of nan extremity zone, alternatively of breaking successful wherever Rodgers threw it. The shot went into nan grass.

The fourth-and-goal look betwixt nan 2 was by acold nan tightest matchup. Rodgers looked for Valdes-Scantling connected nan slice route, but Ward smothered him to unit nan incompletion.

Was Ward worried astir getting a DPI telephone arsenic they some fell to nan crushed connected nan play?

“No,” he said. “I thought I was successful a awesome position and I was capable to get nan shot out.”

Rodgers disagreed.

“It was decidedly interference,” he told reporters aft nan game. “I’ll person to look astatine nan movie connected 2nd and 3rd down.”

For what it’s worth, arsenic nan play happened, nan CBS unit of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo didn’t mobility nan no-call, pinch Romo moreover saying “It’s location each day. Ward wins nan matchup.”

For Ward, it was a invited challenge.

All season, nan five-time Pro Bowler has complained astir really fewer targets he’s gotten.

According to PFF search data, successful 7 games this twelvemonth he’s seen less than 5 targets. In 2 games, Week 10 against nan Jets and Week 7 against nan Dolphins, he had only 1 target.

While search information is not instantly disposable for Week 17, Ward said he didn’t get immoderate targets earlier nan last thrust of nan game.

“I conscionable effort to enactment locked successful nan full game,” Ward said. “I cognize teams aren’t going to travel astatine maine and effort maine excessively much, but conscionable being fresh for my infinitesimal whenever they do decide. I conscionable return a batch of pridefulness successful being that guy. To beryllium a playmaker connected nan squad and cognize I’m going to make nan play erstwhile it does come.”

His teammates had each nan assurance successful nan world that Ward would travel done successful nan clutch.

“He’s a foundational portion for a reason,” Myles Garrett said. “The guy’s special. Anytime he’s connected nan field, he’s a crippled changer. He’s a playmaker. I’m not amazed that he was nan 1 that came up pinch nan large play to triumph it for us.”

But for illustration Ward, nan Browns different defenders were amazed nan Steelers and Rodgers looked his measurement astatine all.

“I’m not throwing it astatine Denzel, but if that’s what they thought their champion matchups was, bully for them,” seasoned DT Shelby Harris said. “It didn’t activity out. So that’s why we person him. If you’re going to effort him and you don’t deliberation he’s gonna beryllium up for nan challenge, he’s gonna beryllium you incorrect each time.”

Alex Wright put it nan astir colorfully: “But nan truth that you tried (Ward), I mean, he’s sewage a batch of (expletive). So I mean, it is what it is.”

The Steelers tried Ward erstwhile it mattered most, and 3 times successful a statement he reminded them why teams usually don’t.

And successful a Browns play short connected agleam spots, nan Steelers’ “bright idea” turned retired to beryllium 1 of Cleveland’s champion moments.