Jaylen Warren didn’t spend much time entertaining Jared Verse’s pregame chatter.
After the Steelers rolled past the Browns 27-6 in Week 8, Warren said Pittsburgh knew what Verse had said but wasn’t exactly hanging on every word.
“Yea, but we didn't really pay attention to it," Warren said. "Some walk, some talk."
Verse, Cleveland’s EDGE rusher, had made headlines before the matchup by calling the Steelers “dirty” and saying he wasn’t “worried about nobody they got on their team.”
The talk didn’t change much once the game kicked off. Pittsburgh controlled the AFC North battle from start to finish, and Warren was a big reason why.
On his birthday, the 28-year-old turned in another strong performance, even if he was unusually quiet as a receiver. He finished with zero receiving yards, the first time in 2026 he’s been held without any production in that part of the game.
On the ground, though, Warren was a problem. He ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries as the Steelers piled up 200 rushing yards overall.
Verse, by contrast, had a quiet afternoon of his own, finishing with one tackle and no sacks.
The Steelers’ defense matched the tone of the game, too. Pittsburgh came away with eight sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and two fumble recoveries while holding Cleveland to 34 yards on 15 carries.
The intensity carried into the locker room afterward, where Jaquan Brisker said Cleveland’s decision to receive after winning the opening coin toss rubbed the Steelers the wrong way.
“I think them taking the ball was kinda disrespectful," Brisker said. "Especially being at home.
So it kinda turned us up, and obviously you seen how the first series went and things like that... I wouldn't say a particular player really amped us up, because I wouldn't say he motivated us.
I think we were just motivated overall. Basically we didn't like how the first game went, how the first meeting went.
Of course we heard the noise, so that added a little bit to it, but I wouldn't say it was just Verse. We were just hungry to win, and obviously hungry to get a win before the bye week.”
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