Steelers could be in for another shootout as Jameis Winston, red-hot Browns offense come to town

After the way the offense performed in Cincinnati, the Steelers showed they are capable of competing and winning games that evolve into an O.K. Corral shootout.

And after the way the Cleveland Browns performed Monday night in Denver, the Steelers might have another game like that Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.

That doesn’t mean Mike Tomlin is all of a sudden comfortable playing in those types of games, even after he saw his team score their most points in six years against the Bengals.

“I don’t know that I’m ever comfortable playing in a shootout,” Tomlin said. “It’s just my background and expertise. I have certain expectations because of my professional journey on defense that I expect us to slow those things down and minimize some of that.”

Nonetheless, it could become another track meet when the Steelers (9-3) and Browns (3-9) play for the second time in three weeks at 1 p.m. Sunday. The only thing piling up more than the snow this time could be the points.

The Browns had 28 first downs and 552 yards of offense, including 497 yards and four touchdowns from quarterback Jameis Winston, against the league’s No. 2-ranked defense in their 41-32 loss in Denver on Monday night.

It was the most points the Browns scored this season and came on the heels of scoring 24 points against the Steelers, who had the league’s No. 2 scoring defense.

“If you watched that game [Monday] night, you saw what they’re capable of,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “It was some explosive playmaking. They went up and down the field.

“That’s what I meant when I described [Winston] as a gunslinger a couple weeks ago. He’s got unbelievable arm talent. You’re not the first pick in the draft for no reason.”

It will be another test for the Steelers defense, which has not been so stingy lately, especially when it mattered most.

They are allowing an average of 26 points in their past three games, but 34 of the 78 points they have allowed — or 42.6% — have come in the fourth quarter.

It hurt them in the snowstorm two weeks ago in Cleveland when they let the Browns score the winning touchdown with 56 seconds remaining after the Steelers came back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to take the lead.

And it almost cost them when the Baltimore Ravens drove 66 yards in nine plays to score a touchdown with 66 seconds remaining, only to fail on a two-point conversion that would have forced overtime.

Even after the Steelers built a 41-24 lead in Cincinnati, the Bengals scored 14 points in the fourth quarter with a pair of Joe Burrow touchdown passes to make it a one-possession game.

In those instances, Tomlin said, “I’m thankful we have an offense capable of matching it.”

Porter’s penalties

Meantime, it was not a good day in Cincinnati for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who was called for six penalties in coverage, including two on the same play. All but one came while defending Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, who is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Four of those penalties were accepted for 47 yards.

“A component of that is competing against the likes of Tee Higgins and his style of play,” Tomlin said. “You have to match physicality of these big people and sometimes you do so at risk. And that’s just a tightrope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive.

“One thing we’re not going to do is turn it down and allow him to catch the ball. When we play Shaq, we’re going to use our fouls.”