Steelers

Lolley’s 10 thoughts: Smith-Schuster’s gem completes rare 13-win regular season

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JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a pass against Cleveland's Brien Boddy-Calhoun. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

The Steelers' 2017 regular season ended pretty much how it began on a warm September day in Cleveland -- with a narrow victory over the feisty Browns, only this came by a 28-24 count amid temperatures at Heinz Field that hoveredĀ around 10 degrees.

As for the Browns, well, they had just as many wins in that first game as this one, matching the 2008 Lions as the only teams in NFL history to finish a season winless in 16 games.

The Steelers rested starters but didn't rest on their laurels, as rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster had yet another career game, catching nine passes for 143 yards and a touchdown and scoring on a 96-yard kickoff return. The day brought the team's regular-season record to 13-3, matching the 2001 team for third-most in team history, as well as providing a clearer picture of the upcoming playoffs: The Patriots will be the No. 1 seed after their 26-6 win over the Jets, and the No. 2 Steelers will face the highest remaining seed from the two first-round games next week that pit the No. 3 Jaguars vs the No. 6 Bills, and the No. 4 Chiefs against the No. 5 Titans.

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