Browns vs. Steelers: Breaking Down Cleveland's Game Plan

The last time the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers did battle was literally a tale of two halves. The Steelers dominated the first half and the Browns dominated the second, but in the end it was a field goal for the black and gold that won the game. Round two promises to be just as intriguing.

The game plan for the Browns should be very simple: Do not start slow. They once again got off to an awful start against Tennessee last week but were able to scrape their way back to victory. As they found out in Week 1, that does not work against Pittsburgh.

In that matchup, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell ran wild on the Browns. He rushed 21 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. It sounds like a broken record, but the Browns' key to victory again this week is finding a way to limit the Steelers ground game.

Simply put, the Browns just are not going to be a very good run defense this year. It is a quarter of the way through their season and they are among the worst in the league. That probably isn’t going to change drastically. So now they need to adjust their goals.

Instead of trying to shut down the run game, they need to simply limit the big runs. Bell had a 38-yard rush in Week 1 that was the first of many this season.

The Browns did sack Ben Roethlisberger three times in that game and need to apply the same amount of pressure this week. Containing Big Ben is obviously much easier said than done, but it is necessary in beating the Steelers.

An extended play by Roethlisberger won the Week 1 game in the final seconds for the Steelers to start the season. That cannot happen again this week.

The Competitive Edge

Quarterback

Roethlisberger is having another great year. He started the season with 365 passing yards against the Browns and now ranks seventh in the league with 1,365 passing yards. The gap in this category has become significantly smaller over the last three weeks because of Brian Hoyer’s stellar play, but he is still not on Big Ben’s level.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Running Back

The Browns now have three backs who can do serious damage to their opponent. Last week, Ben Tate returned with a vengeance. He carried the ball 22 times for 124 yards. The Steelers, however, have the second leading rusher in the league. Le’Veon Bell has 462 rushing yards and is averaging 92 yards per game. He has only gotten in the end zone once on the ground, though.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Receivers

Antonio Brown is making a case to be considered the best receiver in the NFL. He really does it all. He has 511 receiving yards with 159 yards coming after the catch. The most amazing stat for Brown is that he has 21 straight games of five or more catches. He is the model of consistency.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Tight End

It is unfortunate that Jordan Cameron will be playing with a shoulder injury the entire season, because he is a shell of the player he was just one season ago. Cameron has just six catches for 103 yards, and about half of those came on one reception. Heath Miller has 24 catches for 243 yards and a touchdown already. It is looking to be anther very productive season for the veteran tight end.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Offensive Line

The big guys in Cleveland have quickly become one of the best offensive line units in the NFL. The new zone-blocking scheme seems to fit the group like a dream, and they are playing at a very high level. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has a very good run-blocking line but struggles in pass protection. They have allowed the third most sacks in the NFL this year.

Edge: Cleveland

Defensive Line

This one goes to the Steelers in a landslide. The Browns have struggled against the run and have developed almost no pass rush from the line. The Steelers have the 11th-ranked run defense, and that starts up front. They, too, struggle to create pressure against the pass but are still more consistent than the Browns.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Linebackers

This too goes to the Steelers by a mile. The Browns linebackers have really been baffling this season. While Paul Kruger and Karlos Dansby have played extremely well, and Jabaal Sheard has created some pressure, the group is too inconsistent overall. A lot of the run defense woes come from this group failing to set the edge as well. It’s been a rough year for them so far.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Defensive Backs

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

I know Joe Haden and Buster Skrine have both struggled this year, but the Browns still have one of the most talented defensive secondaries in the league. Most of their issues are small, fixable things, but that does not change the fact that they have to play better. Tashaun Gipson has had a nice year so far, but Donte Whitner has been a no-show. They need him to start making some plays.

Edge: Cleveland

Special Teams

The Browns' special teams woes continued again last week. Sure, Tank Carder had a huge blocked punt that turned into a safety, and he also won special teams player of the week in the AFC. They were still shaky in all other aspects, and now Travis Benjamin lost his punt returner job.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Browns Offense vs. Steelers Defense

The Browns offense has scored the 11th-most points so far and has racked up the ninth-most yards per game. They should be able to move the ball against just about anyone they come up against.

Week 1 was a shootout where the Browns and Steelers combined for 57 points, and this week should be no different. The Browns offense is at its best when the run game is clicking on all cylinders. The Browns need to establish the run early and often against Pittsburgh.

If Tate can play near the level he did last week, then the Browns will be able to break the passing game wide open. Brian Hoyer has played as efficiently as any quarterback in the league by throwing just one interception to six touchdowns.

He can test the boundaries of the Steelers defense, which has some age at the safety position. Troy Polamalu is still a good player but has definitely lost a step or two. Hoyer found receivers for gains of 47, 25 and 20 yards in Week 1, and there should be plenty more opportunities for those type of gains this week.

Browns Defense vs. Steelers Offense

The key for the Browns defense is simple: create turnovers. They have been fairly good at doing that this season, and the Steelers are prone to giving away the football.

The Steelers have already thrown two interceptions and lost four fumbles. If the Browns can force a turnover, then they will have a great shot at winning on Sunday. Hoyer and the offense take very good care of the football, so it makes any turnover the defense forces that much more valuable.

Obviously the Steelers set up the pass with a heavy run game, and that will also be a huge emphasis for the Browns. If they can limit what Le’Veon Bell can do on the ground, it will force the game onto Roethlisberger’s shoulder.

While he is still great, the offensive line in front of Roethlisberger is not. If Big Ben is forced to throw more than 35 times, then the Browns can take advantage of his tendency to take chances. That allows the Steelers a shot at huge passing numbers, but that is the fire you play with when you face one of the best quarterbacks of our generation.

Special Teams

At least the Browns did not have a bad snap on special teams last week. At this point, the best they can hope for is to not turn the ball over. Some personnel changes have been made, and Travis Benjamin will not be returning punts or kicks anytime soon.

The Browns also have to worry about the speed and return skills of Dri Archer and Antonio Brown on the other side. Both of those guys can break a touchdown return anytime they touch the ball.

Spencer Lanning needs to continue his solid play, which has really limited the amount of punt returns the Browns have been forced to face.

What They’re Saying

“I’m not into those rankings. I don’t give them a lot of credence whether it’s positive or negative. Those rankings, where they’re generated from – bloggers and whatnot – it’s humorous to me.”

—Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin on the Browns having the top-ranked O-line.

“You have to win games in your division. Regardless if it’s Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, these are huge games for us.”

—Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer on the importance of this game.

Browns’ Wednesday Injury Report

Did not participate: Cornerback Joe Haden (hip) linebacker Eric Martin (personal) defensive lineman Phil Taylor (knee) offensive lineman Joe Thomas (rest) defensive lineman Billy Winn (quad)

Limited: none

Full Participation: Running back Ben Tate (finger) cornerback Buster Skrine (thumb) linebacker Barkevious Mingo (shoulder) offensive lineman John Greco (knee) Tashaun Gipson (shoulder) tight end Jordan Cameron (ankle/shoulder)

This Week’s Game Stats and Facts

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The Browns' 25-point comeback last week was the largest by a road team in NFL history and tied for the third largest all-time.

The Browns are outscoring their opponents 67-30 in the second half this season.

The Browns have scored at least 21 points in each game this year. The last time the team scored at least 21 points in the first four games of a season was 1969.

Steelers DC Dick LeBeau played collegiately at Ohio State and was selected by the Browns in the fifth round (58th overall) of the 1959 NFL Draft.

All quotes and observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Game stats and facts are courtesy of the Browns communications department.