Five things we learned about Steelers 38, Browns 7:

1. Challenge accepted

The Browns didn’t have Nick Chubb, who was on injured reserve, but they still brought Kareem Hunt and a running game that rated as the best in the NFL to Heinz Field.

It was the biggest test for a Steelers defense that ranked second in the NFL at stopping the run. And it was one the Steelers aced.

Led by the defensive line duo of Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers kept the Browns from finding consistent running room. The Browns rushed for 75 yards — 113 below their average — and averaged just 3.4 yards per carry.

True, the Browns had to change the game plan after falling behind 24-0 in the second quarter and 31-7 in the third. But the way the Steelers were shutting down the rush lanes, it wouldn’t have mattered. Heyward led the Steelers with eight tackles, including one for a loss. Tuitt had his best game, collecting five tackles, a half sack, two quarterback hits and a forced fumble that he nearly recovered in the shadow of the Browns end zone.

Hunt was held to 40 yards on 13 carries, and Heyward was part of the group that stuffed the former NFL rushing champion for a 1-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 call in the third quarter.

It doesn’t get any easier this week when the Steelers will face Derrick Henry, whose 588 yards lead the AFC and were tops in the NFL heading into Monday night.

2. Inside man

The season-ending knee injury to inside linebacker Devin Bush puts the spotlight on unheralded Robert Spillane, a former undrafted free agent from Western Michigan who is playing his first full NFL season.

Spillane finished the 2019 season on the active roster and showed enough dynamic on special teams that his roster spot never was seriously threatened this year.

Spillane took over for Bush when the former first-round pick was injured with 2 minutes, 28 seconds left in the first half. Bush had five tackles before his departure, and Spillane had five the rest of the way, including one for a 6-yard loss on a pass to tight end Austin Hooper.

The Steelers also have safety-turned-linebacker Marcus Allen and Ulysees Gilbert, who has been inactive for most game days, on the roster. It will take a collective effort to replace Bush on a weekly basis since no other linebacker on the roster possesses his speed and sideline-to-sideline tackling ability.

Spillane filled in capably Sunday. The Steelers may have to get creative about scheming around Bush’s absence for the rest of the season.

3. Change of targets

Coach Mike Tomlin emphasized that rookie Chase Claypool’s four-touchdown game against the Eagles was a credit to the offensive depth and the chance for Claypool to exploit a mismatch in the secondary.

In the early stages against the Browns, it looked like James Washington would fill that weekly role. With Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster drawing extra attention, Washington was left in single coverage.

Ben Roethlisberger targeted Washington three times on the opening drive, and the receiver had a nice 27-yard catch along the sideline on third down.

Overall, Washington was targeted a team-high seven times, and he caught four passes for 68 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown in which he got behind the secondary and was never contested.

4. Heady thinking

The play call for the 28-yard touchdown pass to Washington did not come from offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, quarterbacks coach Matt Canada or even Roethlisberger.

It was provided by No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs. At least that is what Roethlisberger told the media in his postgame interview.

After Minkah Fitzpatrick’s 33-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Steelers a 10-0 lead, the offense stagnated on its next two drives — a pair of three-and-outs.

The Steelers started picking up the tempo in the second quarter and scored a touchdown on James Conner’s 3-yard run after Claypool had a 36-yard reception.

When the Steelers got the ball back courtesy of Cam Sutton’s interception at midfield, it took only four plays for Roethlisberger to hit Washington with the 28-yard score.

“I have to credit Josh Dobbs on the sideline,” Roethlisberger said about the former aerospace engineering major. “We were talking about plays, and he had mentioned calling a play that we basically scored a touchdown on. So I have to give Dobbs credit for that.”

5. Punting on the punter

Dustin Colquitt continues to show he hasn’t upgraded the punter position in the wake of Jordan Berry’s release prior to the season opener.

Colquitt had a 36.6 net average on five punts against the Browns. On his second attempt, with the Steelers facing fourth down at their 19, Colquitt’s punt had a net average of 35 yards, and the Browns took over at their 46.

In the third quarter, the Steelers punted from the Cleveland 40. Colquitt’s punt bounced into the end zone after landing inside the 10. On his fifth attempt, he got one inside the 20, hitting a 44-yard punt that resulted in a fair catch at the Cleveland 12.

Five games into the season and Colquitt’s net average of 37.1 yards per punt ranks No. 29 in the NFL.

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