CLEVELAND -- For all the conversation about Brian Hoyer emerging as more than a backup -- and he has -- he's not the only offensive catalyst to the Cleveland Browns' season right now.
Ben Tate and Jordan Cameron need touches in bulk over the next few weeks, with some Isaiah Crowell explosions and wide receiver help sprinkled in.
Until Josh Gordon returns, Tate and Cameron have proven to be the Browns' two steadiest playmakers. Good things are happening when they touch the ball. The two combined for 180 yards and three touchdowns in a that-really-happened 31-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The receiving core has overachieved in Gordon's absence, but the fact no receiver caught more than two passes or gained more than 31 yards Sunday amplifies Cameron's importance.
The Browns ran play-action to perfection on two long Cameron gains, including his 51-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The Browns ran the ball out of three-tight-end formations on first and second downs. When they lined up the same way on third-and-1 ,the Steelers overcommitted to a shift to the right. Hoyer faked the handoff and connected with Cameron, who torched Cortez Allen on his way to the end zone.
Cameron called the play a "gutsy call" by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He liked it.
After 56 receiving yards and no touchdowns the last two games, Cameron has shrugged off ankle and shoulder injuries and knows what he can do when healthy.
"I feel like I can't be stopped man-to-man," Cameron said. "You have to have that confidence."
Hoyer tried to get Cameron the ball last week at Tennessee with seven targets but the timing wasn't right. It is now.
"It's huge -- confidence wise, I'm in a system where I know I can put up numbers like that and we can continue to win," Cameron said.
Tate has been steady since returning from injury, compiling 202 yards on 47 carries with two scores. Undrafted rookie Crowell (11 carries, 77 yards, one touchdown) is an explosive runner but he needs to clean up his play after three drops Sunday (two dropped pitches that he recovered, one lost fumble that Pittsburgh converted to points). Crowell seems a bit quicker than Tate, while Tate is built for 20-plus carries, which makes life easier on everyone.
Tate's presence grew late, rushing for 55 second-half yards after 23 in the first.
"I feel I should have performed better today," Tate said.
If a two-touchdown day is a bad one, that's good news for the Browns.
