CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns gave the Steelers two extra downs at the end of the first half.

Their starting quarterback was knocked out of the game because of injury for the third time in eight games.

Their backup QB fumbled near the goal line, handing Pittsburgh a touchdown.

And their place-kicker missed an extra point.

If that sounds like a winless team making the mistakes winless teams make, it was. The Browns fell to 0-11 by being dominated in the first half and with their quarterbacks getting sacked eight times.

Starter Cody Kessler left with a concussion. Backup Josh McCown had a touchdown pass but also lost a fumble that Pittsburgh recovered in the end zone to reach the final score of 24-9. The Browns have now lost 14 in a row overall, and 29 of their past 32 games. It is also the first time since the team joined the NFL in 1950 that its overall record has fallen below .500 (461-462-10).

And as the Browns prepare to face the New York Giants next Sunday, they again will not be sure who will start at quarterback.

Kessler was largely ineffective before leaving the game on the second-to-last play of the third quarter. Kessler tried to throw on the run, but was slammed hard to the ground by Ryan Shazier, with Lawrence Timmons diving over Kessler as he fell.

Kessler went to the locker room, where he was diagnosed with his second concussion of the season. In three quarters, he was 7-of-14 for 128 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also was sacked four times.

In three quarters, Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell ran for more yards (139 yards) than Kessler had passing.

McCown took over and guided the Browns on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to pull within 17-9 on a pass to Gary Barnidge, but Cody Parkey's missed extra point -- the ninth missed extra point of the day across the NFL at that point -- kept the Browns' deficit at eight.

Rewind to the end of the first half and consecutive penalties on the Browns gave Pittsburgh two extra downs with no time on the clock.

The Steelers scored on the second one, then got a two-point conversion. This means the Steelers scored eight points and ran two plays and the conversion with the clock showing all zeroes.

So the team that started the game against Baltimore by calling a timeout before the first snap ended the first half against Pittsburgh by giving the Steelers two extra plays.

The Browns get five more tries to avoid an 0-16 season.