Browns-Steelers: How the Browns Can Win

Ready or not, it’s time to play the Steelers.

The Cleveland/Pittsburgh rivalry used to be one of the best rivalries in sports. For anyone who lived in the Northeastern part of the country, it was a game that promised a lot of drama and a lot of entertainment.

If you’re a fan of either team, this rivalry ranks up there with Ohio State/Michigan and Packers/Vikings.

But right now, any Browns fan still passionate about their team is dreading Sunday. While the Steelers have their faults, the Browns just aren’t any good—again.

When looking at faults to exploit with the Steelers, you see they have a very suspect offensive line, but make up for it with a quarterback who somehow manages to scramble all over the field and make plays.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers lost defensive end Aaron Smith, which should weaken the Steelers attack. However, the return of Troy Polamalu is disheartening for the Browns, and a huge obstacle to overcome.

Polamalu injured his MCL in week one, but don’t expect him to show any rust or, weakness on the field. Expect Derek Anderson’s interception numbers to go up this week should Polamalu be on the field the entire game.

Back to the offense, the Steelers have done little over the past few years to rebuild a very suspect offensive line. While the Steelers are the defending Super Bowl champions, it isn’t because they protect the quarterback well.

The Browns need to capitalize on the one aspect of the game the Steelers have gotten away with ignoring over the last few years. Ben Roethlisburger has somehow survived behind a pretty weak offensive line. He’s done it by being an effective scrambler and making plays out of nothing.

However, Roethlisburger’s luck can’t hold. Roethlisburger can not continue to play as reckless as he has been and expect to be playing pro football at the age of 39. He’s had a few injury scares, but nothing that has affected his arm or his play.

The Steelers have already given up 13 sacks this year, not a low number, but that’s only one fewer sack than the Browns have given up, and the Browns are ranked 29th in defense.

Lineman D’Qwell Jackson’s storyline this week is “closing the deal.” He’s become known for getting very close to sacking Roethlisburger, but Roethlisburger always manages to elude him.

If the Browns are to emerge victorious from this contest, Jackson must sack Roethlisburger early and often. Roethlisburger must be contained, because otherwise he will light the Browns defense up.

On offense, Derek Anderson has to keep one eye on the blitz, and one eye on Polamalu. The Steelers have said No. 43 will be on the field, and that is something I'm not sure rookie offensive coordinator Brian Daboll can handle yet.

Daboll's lack of vision, and ultra-conservative offensive schemes, have turned the Brown's offense into something a high school coach could tear apart. That's not a promising observation going into Pittsburgh.

Anderson will fling the ball down the field. That's part of Anderson's DNA and I'm sure it's part of Daboll's game plan. The key is to make sure none of Anderson's passes are being returned for a touchdown by Polamalu.

The Browns offensive line will face a good test this weekend. They looked good against Buffalo, but Buffalo is actually worse than Cleveland, and their defensive line had two bad injuries during last week’s game.

I’m not sold on the right side of the line yet, but center Alex Mack has shown a lot of growth and left tackle Joe Thomas and left guard Eric Steinbach are up for the challenge.

Hank Fraley has looked a lot better than Floyd Womack did on the right side of the line not arguing that, but I won’t be completely sold until I see how they handle the Pittsburgh blitz on Sunday.

Other than that, the receivers need to catch balls, the running backs need to find holes, and our defensive secondary has to keep up with the deep ball.

But ,the key is getting to No. 7. If Roethlisburger is contained, the Browns can win. Otherwise, it’ll be another long Sunday for the Brown and Orange.