A Cleveland native and Nordonia High School graduate, Denzel Ward applied clutch coverage on Aaron Rodgers' final three passes in Browns vs. Steelers.
CLEVELAND — Browns cornerback Denzel Ward wore sunglasses and a bright smile in the home team’s locker room on Dec. 28 at Huntington Bank Field.
Ward’s A-list look and jovial mood were justified.
A Cleveland native and Nordonia High School graduate, Ward had just lived up to his shutdown-corner billing with the game on the line and future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers targeting him on three consecutive passes.
“I was just surprised that they decided to come at me the last three plays of the game,” Ward said. “I didn't think that that was a bright idea. But, hey, I was happy about it.”
Here's how the sequence unfolded:
- Second-and-goal: Incomplete pass with a chance for Ward to make a diving interception with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter
- Third-and-goal: Incomplete and not even close to connecting with 21 seconds remaining
- Fourth-and-goal: Incomplete as Ward jumped in the back right corner of the end zone with 17 seconds left
- Final score: Browns 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
“I'm always just prepared and ready for moments like that,” said Ward, the fourth overall draft pick out of Ohio State in 2018.
Pittsburgh Steelers didn't target Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward until the end of the game
Rodgers didn’t target Ward until the Steelers faced second-and-goal at the 7-yard line in crunch time. With Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf suspended for a physical confrontation with a fan last week in Detroit, Rodgers went to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three throws into the end zone. However, Ward denied each attempt, sealing an upset win for the Browns (4-12) and preventing the Steelers (9-7) from clinching the AFC North title.
“Hey, that was their decision. I'm not throwing it at Denzel,” Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris said. “But if that's what they thought their best matchups was, good for them. It didn't work out. So that's why we have him. If you're going to try him and you don't think he's gonna be up for the challenge, he's gonna prove you wrong every time.”
On second-and-goal, Ward dived for the ball in the end zone and tried to grab it with his right hand before it fell incomplete. After the play, he rose and held his right arm.
“When I was diving for the ball for the interception, I had fell on my shoulder,” Ward said. “So, shoulder [is] a little sore, but I'll be all right.
“I'd been through so much worse stuff in my career and life that something like that it's easy for me to click back and get locked in for the next play. But, yeah, it was hurting a little bit.”
Denzel Ward and Aaron Rodgers disagree on whether Rodgers' final throw should have resulted in a pass interference penalty
On third-and-goal, Rodgers threw to the inside, but Valdes-Scantling never broke toward the center of the end zone for the ball.
On fourth-and-goal, Valdes-Scantling ran a fade route to the back right corner of the end zone, but Ward applied tight coverage and jumped to keep the receiver from getting a clear view of the pass. The ball zipped between Valdes-Scantling’s outstretched arms, and the Browns celebrated.
“You see why he doesn't get targeted [often],” Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell said of Ward. “Him being able to make plays in the clutch for us, man, it's the reason why he's a five-time Pro Bowler and one of the most respected corners in the league.”
Ward, 28, insisted he wasn't concerned he had made too much contact with Valdes-Scantling on Rodgers' final pass, adding, "I thought I was in a great position." As expected, Rodgers had a contrasting opinion and said, "That was definitely interference." The officials did not call a penalty.
Ward played a pivotal role in the Browns limiting the Steelers to two Chris Boswell field goals (44 and 40 yards in the second quarter). The Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will play for the AFC North crown — and a playoff berth — in Week 18 in Pittsburgh.
“We’re not making [the playoffs],” Ward said. “But anytime that we could spoil a division opponent's dreams of getting into the playoffs, we’re going to try to do that.”
Meanwhile, Ward experienced a cornerback’s dream scenario in the waning moments of a rare Browns win.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Denzel Ward gives Browns clutch defense vs. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
Category: General Sports
