Maliek Collins could pay $17,911 for his hit on Aaron Rodgers, but did it really deserve a fine?

The young Cleveland Browns continue to turn heads across the league, shocking pundits and opponents alike at the start of the 2026 NFL season . After a hard-fought 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers , the Browns have extended their impressive winning streak to 10 consecutive Thursday Night Football home victories .

Cleveland captured sole possession of first place in the AFC North standings for the first time since Week 10 of the 2014 season . This surging roster is heavily fueled by dynamic youth; rookie wideouts Denzel Boston (hauling in 4 receptions for 89 yards) and KC Concepcion (5 catches for 64 yards) proved they refuse to shrink under the bright primetime lights.

Meanwhile, second-year standouts like running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fanning Jr. each punched in crucial touchdowns, while quarterback Deshaun Watson avoided costly mistakes behind stellar protection from his offensive line.

Maliek Collins Faces Potential Fine for Hit on Aaron Rodgers

Defensively, the Browns have maintained their reputation as a ferocious unit over recent seasons, and even after parting ways with elite pass rusher Myles Garrett , the reloaded front seven continues to fly around the field.

With quartebrack Aaron Rodgers falling short of 300 yards, the Browns continue their incredible streak, dating back to 2023 and spanning over 45 games , of not allowing an opposing quarterback to surpass 300 passing yards .

However, containing the veteran Rodgers proved to be a grueling test, as the future Hall of Famer finished the night completing 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns against one interception.

The turning point of Pittsburgh's opening-drive touchdown occurred on a critical 3rd-and-16 , when Rodgers completed a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. . Right after the release, Browns defensive tackle Maliek Collins drove hard into Rodgers, drawing an official roughing the passer penalty that handed Pittsburgh a fresh set of downs.

Under standard NFL disciplinary guidelines, the league automatically reviews all roughing penalties, and standard first-time offenders face a projected fine of $17,911 .

While the officiating crew was justified in dropping the flag for late contact, a financial penalty feels somewhat severe given that the collision was more of an awkward, trailing shove than a malicious blow.

Despite the penalty hiccup, Maliek Collins quickly redeemed himself later in the contest by terrorizing the Pittsburgh backfield, highlighted by a massive 7-yard sack on Rodgers in the first quarter to cap off a stat line featuring four total tackles.

While the Steelers look to rebound at home against the Indianapolis Colts , the Browns will turn their full attention toward maintaining momentum and securing their fourth win of the campaign when they face the New York Jets .