Week 8 gave the Cleveland Browns a big opportunity to move to 6-2 and 3-0 in AFC North play for the first time since they joined the division in 2002, but it was just that, an opportunity. 

The Browns’ struggles in Pittsburgh continued with a 27-6 loss to the Steelers, dropping Cleveland to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the division.

There’s a lot to go over coming out of this one. Here are the winners and losers from the Week 8 loss to the Steelers.

Winner: TE Harold Fannin Jr.

It was a career day for tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who finished with 10 catches for 154 yards. He did have one fumble, but he made up for it in a big way. His long play of the day went for 37 yards, and he moved the chains multiple times. Every time Fannin got the ball in his hands, he was tough to bring down like he always is.

Fannin has hit 400 receiving yards on the season. He continues to show he’s going to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL very soon, if he isn’t already.

Winner: CB Denzel Ward

Ward had the only takeaway for the Browns in this game. He now has three interceptions and is well on his way to potentially his first All-Pro season if he keeps playing at this level.

Ward looks like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL this season. Throwing at him continues to be a real choice by opposing offenses.

Loser: EDGE Jared Verse

Verse did some talking heading into this game, and he was unable to back it up. You won’t find his name on the stat sheet because he didn’t record a tackle or a sack. He created a pressure, but other than that, he was a non-factor for the most part.

That’s been the story all season since Cleveland acquired Verse from the Los Angeles Rams in the Myles Garrett trade. He’s yet to record his first sack, and the Browns continue to need more from him.

Loser: LB Carson Schwesinger

Schwesinger finished with 10 tackles, but opposing receivers picked him apart in coverage multiple times. Overall, it was a tough day where he got to his spots late. It also looked like he was favoring some sort of injury. There will be plenty of better days ahead for the Browns’ young star linebacker.

Loser: DT Mason Graham

For the second straight game, defensive tackle Mason Graham was pretty much a non-factor since returning from the injury he suffered the last time the Browns played the Steelers in Week 4. Graham needs to be a lot better against the run than he has been, especially in this one.

Pittsburgh ran for over 200 yards, with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle doing a lot of the damage. Graham has to be a better run stopper in the middle of the Browns’ defense, and he wasn’t that on Sunday.

Loser: RB Quinshon Judkins

Running back Quinshon Judkins had 10 carries for 25 yards. His biggest play of the day was a negative one, a 15-yard taunting penalty in the fourth quarter with Cleveland down three scores. Judkins had his best game of the season last week and potentially his worst this week against the Steelers.

The Browns need more from both their offensive line and running backs to get the ground game going. It didn’t happen once again in Week 8.

Loser: LT Spencer Fano

This was the worst game for left tackle Spencer Fano as a member of the Browns. He gave up multiple pressures, as well as at least one sack. Pittsburgh sacked quarterback Deshaun Watson seven times. Not every one of those will be charged to the offensive line, but this was more of a welcome-to-the-NFL game for Fano, and his toughest one yet on the road in AFC North play.