Four days after their implosion against the New York Jets at home, the Cleveland Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. They'll have to have a short memory, and focus on the task at hand: Beating the archrival Steelers. Or it could be another long game, another uncomfortable week of meetings and film sessions, and another week where the coaching staff is left wondering what might've been.
This is definitely an intriguing matchup. Not only is it one of the NFL's most storied rivalries, this game seems like it could swing the season for either team, even though it's only Week 3. The Browns are desperate for a win, as well as to fix their defensive issues. Pittsburgh on the other hand, is dying for a spark on offense. Unless it's a sloppy game, one of these two teams will have many of their questions answered tonight about where they're headed, and what they still need to do to improve.
The Browns come in as 4.5-point favorites at home, while also getting a pair of Pro Bowl offensive tackles back in Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio, along with their perennial All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett. All three were questionable to play as of late Wednesday afternoon, but the latest word from Berea is that they're all good to go for tonight's game.
This is also Conklin's first game back since having season-ending knee surgery last year. He could have played last week, but the Browns didn't want to rush him back into action too fast. Having Conklin and Bitonio healthy definitely is good news for the Browns, as the Steelers' main strength still is the pass rush. Even without TJ Watt for the first few weeks, the Steelers can still generate considerable pressure if given the opportunity. Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett should have good pass protection with Conklin and Bitonio at full strength.
On the defensive side of the ball, it'll be interesting to see what kind of pressure the Browns dial up against Mitch Trubisky. Yes, Myles Garrett is going to play. But Jadeveon Clowney is still out with an ankle injury. This hurts the Browns a little bit, as the ideal situation calls for both Garrett and Clowney to play. That way Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods can use them both in several different looks and schemes. But Garrett is still a load to deal with. Pittsburgh surrendered three sacks to the Patriots last week, and the Browns probably have a stronger pass rush than New England. If Cleveland gets after Trubisky, look out!
With the stage set for one of the most interesting games of this young season, let's take a look at the Keys to Victory:
Get the running game going early and often
It probably sounds like a broken record by this point, but the Browns live and die with the running game. It's the heart of not just the offense, but I would argue the entire team. Cleveland has the strongest running game in the league and it's not even close. As Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt go, so go the Browns.
Interesting stat from CBS Sports: Nick Chubb has played in eight career games against the Steelers, and his numbers are not what I expected. I know what you're probably thinking. He's torn them to pieces just like he's done to everyone else. Right? Wrong. In those eight games, Chubb has only scored one (yes, one) touchdown against Pittsburgh, and only gone over 100 yards once. In that game, Pittsburgh rested their starters, and the Browns punched their ticket to the Playoffs for the first time in 18 years. For as strong as Nick Chubb is, the Steelers seem to have his number.
This makes it all the more important for the Browns to continue to feed him the ball, even if things aren't rolling early. I know Kevin Stefanski sometimes likes to spread things out and take shots, or get "cute" with playcalling every once in a while. But sometimes there's nothing more effective than going back to basics, and running the ball down your opponent's throat. They can't afford to let the Steelers take them out of what they're the best at doing. This game is too important. They need to keep running the football. I expect Chubb to get at least 20-25 carries, and for the Browns to run the ball at least 40 times overall. Might be boring to people who love high scoring offenses. Might be vanilla. But it works!
Get home on defense and finish plays
Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky only threw for 168 yards, one touchdown, and one interception last week against New England. Sure, he's probably not the best quarterback. But it also probably didn't help getting sacked three times either! It can't be fun getting slammed on your back several times in one afternoon, or picking dirt out of your helmet. But the Browns are going to have to take their cue from the Patriots.
Even with Jadeveon Clowney out with an ankle injury, Myles Garrett still leads a Browns pass rush that can be scary if they get going. Cleveland will probably need to get at least three sacks like the Patriots did, if not more. They REALLY need to make Trubisky uncomfortable or downright miserable. And this probably has something to do with my last Key to Victory, since I have zero faith in the Browns secondary right now. The last Key to Victory is...
Tighten up in the secondary
I still have no clue how the Browns secondary has blown not one, but TWO late game plays in the way that they did in back-to-back weeks. They are talented players. But something is not working. I don't know if it's a lack of communication. I don't know if the scheme doesn't fit the Browns defensive backs. It's probably a bit of both. But something has to change. And fast!
The Browns' corners and safeties don't just need to communicate with each other and the rest of the defensive coaching staff, they also need to play tighter. This zone coverage scheme is not working, and hasn't worked since Joe Woods took over as the Browns' defensive coordinator in 2020. Even for the times it has "worked", the Browns routinely have been gashed for big pass plays, just barely holding on to a victory when they don't blow it. Great teams don't win that way. Great teams have attacking defenses on both the front and back end. A nasty pass rush leads to an opportunistic secondary making plays on the football.
If the secondary can't make plays on the football? They smack the receivers with clean, hard hits if they try to catch it. They make their presence known. An elite defense intimidates opposing offenses at every level. That's how great defenses are supposed to work. The pass rush plays aggressively and feeds off the secondary and vice versa. They go hand in hand.
Matchup to Watch: Browns DC Joe Woods vs. Steelers OC Matt Canada
This may be the most intriguing matchup of the game. Two men who are sitting on very hot seats, are tasked with outsmarting each other. Matt Canada is in his second season as the offensive coordinator of the Steelers, while Joe Woods is in his third year in Cleveland as the Browns defensive coordinator. Things haven't gone well at all for both men. The Steelers have scored only 37 points total in two games, while the Browns have given up an average of 28 points, including four touchdowns to 37-year-old Joe Flacco last week. Depending on how tonight goes, Woods or Canada could possibly get their walking papers on Friday morning if they lose this game. Especially if their respective unit looks horrible.
Winning this game is huge for both of them. If they win, they not only get a win over their hated rival, but their team also takes over first place in an early AFC North race, and they live to coach at least another week. If they lose? They're left in limbo, as well as at the mercy of a very angry fanbase!
It's a Thursday Night Football showdown. A classic AFC North rivalry game with an early division lead up for grabs. Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh. The Dawg Pound vs. the Steel Curtain. Browns vs. Steelers. And it's all going down tonight at 8:15 PM on Amazon Prime.
GO BROWNS!
Picture Credit: nitrobetting.eu
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