Browns vs. Steelers: Full Pittsburgh Game Preview
Are you ready for another chapter in the long history of Browns vs. Steelers on Sunday?
In a series that started in 1950, the Pittsburgh Steelers hold a 66-58 advantage against the Browns, including a dominating 41-21 edge at home in Pittsburgh.
Although the Steelers are banged up heading into this Week 10 matchup with Cleveland, Pittsburgh holds an edge in talent across the board.
Ben Roethlisberger is still dealing with a left foot injury suffered against Oakland, while Le'Veon Bell, Maurkice Pouncey and Kelvin Beachum are on the long-term injured reserve.
This could be a bit of a revenge game for the Steelers, as the last time Pittsburgh faced Cleveland, the Browns blew out the Steelers 31-10 behind Brian Hoyer and Jordan Cameron in October 2014.
Thankfully, those two have moved on to the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
However, the Browns still have a potent passing attack, averaging more than 250 yards per game through the air with Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel splitting time under center.
McCown is dealing with a rib injury, which could put his status in doubt for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh. Should McCown have to sit out, Manziel will make his third start of the year. The second-year quarterback out of Texas A&M has thrown for 561 yards and four scores while turning the ball over just once all season.
Cleveland's offensive is much better under the direction of McCown, who has thrown for 1,897 yards and 11 scores. When healthy, he averages the 12th-most yards passing per game in the NFL with 271.
However, Cleveland's offensive line has done a terrible job of protecting both quarterbacks, allowing the second-most sacks in the NFL with 30 takedowns through 10 weeks.
That bodes well for a Steelers defense that has done a good job of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, recording 22 sacks on the season.
Pittsburgh should be able to get ample pressure against the Browns, forcing McCown or Manziel into mistakes.
On offense, regardless of who is under center for the Steelers, DeAngelo Williams is primed for another monster day out of the backfield. Cleveland's run defense is the worst in the league, allowing 147.6 yards per game on the ground, including 11 runs of 20-plus yards and four of 40-plus.
If Roethlisberger can't go in this one, Williams will have to be the workhorse for a Steelers offense that has struggled to reach its potential in a year riddled with injuries.
Regardless of injuries, Cleveland can't get out of its own way this year, which should allow the Steelers to beat the Browns at Heinz Field for the 12th straight time.
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn)
Week 9 Pittsburgh Recap
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Landry Jones came on in relief once again for an injured Steelers quarterback to lead Pittsburgh to a last-minute win, this time marching the Steelers into field-goal range to beat the Oakland Raiders in a shootout, 38-35, thanks to an 18-yard field goal from Chris Boswell.
Jones hooked up with Antonio Brown for a 57-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter, which was reminiscent of Jones' 88-yard touchdown to Martavis Bryant against Arizona to seal the win.
Prior to Jones entering the game, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 334 yards and two scores but was injured on a sack by Aldon Smith in the third quarter. The Steelers quarterback was unable to put weight on his left foot as he left the field.
In place of the injured Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams rushed for 170 yards and two scores and added 55 yards receiving through the air, teaming with Brown (17 catches for 284) to rack up 531 of the 597 total yards for Pittsburgh.
Defensively, the Steelers had a tough time slowing down Derek Carr and the high-powered Raiders offense.
Carr threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns—two to Michael Crabtree and one apiece to Amari Cooper and Clive Walford. But much like the Steelers secondary has done all year, it came up with a big play late to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.
Ross Cockrell was the one to come up big when the defense needed it the most, picking off Carr in the end zone to preserve the Steelers' lead.
Latest Steelers News and Notes
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Jacoby Jones is willing to do anything for the Steelers
Despite being a member of the Steelers for just six days, Jacoby Jones says he's willing to do whatever it takes for Pittsburgh moving forward, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Chris Adamski.
“Whatever they got for me, I'm willing to do whatever," Jones said.
Just don't expect Jones to get work in as a gunner on punts, as he's made it clear that he can't tackle to save his life, per Adamski.
Williams looks for back-to-back 100-yard games
DeAngelo Williams has had a productive career as a member of the Carolina Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it's been nearly six years since he recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.
The last time he accomplished that feat was Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals (158 yards rushing) and New Orleans Saints (149 yards rushing).
Luckily for Williams and the Steelers, Cleveland allows the most rushing yards in the NFL per game at 147.6 yards. The veteran running back should be able to reach 100 yards in this one.
Brown is moving up the charts
With just 36 yards from scrimmage, Antonio Brown will move past Louis Lipps into fifth place all-time in yards from scrimmage for the Steelers.
If Brown hauls in six more catches against Cleveland, he'll record his third straight 75-catch season as a member of the Steelers.
Sunday should be a historical day for No. 84.
Latest Steelers Injury News
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Although the injury to his left foot looked bad at first glance, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was walking around with just a slight hitch Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Mark Kaboly.
However, he was a limited participant on Tuesday and Wednesday, which has led to speculation that he will miss the Cleveland game.
Along with Roethlisberger, receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring) and linebacker Terence Garvin (knee) were limited participants in practice Thursday, according to the team website.
Tight end Matt Spaeth (knee), linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee), linebacker James Harrison (knee) and safety Shamarko Thomas (knee) all missed practice Thursday.
Shazier and Harrison are the two main concerns, especially against a Browns passing attack that has done well all year, for the most part. If Shazier and Harrison aren't able to go, the Steelers linebacking corps will be significantly depleted.
DeAngelo Williams returned to practice Thursday as a full participant after missing Wednesday's practice with a foot injury.
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Key Matchups
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Cody Wallace vs. Danny Shelton
Shelton, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, is a mammoth body in the middle of the Browns defensive line. Cleveland drafted him to help shore up a porous Browns run defense, but that hasn't quite worked out so far in 2015.
However, Shelton (6'2" 339 lbs) holds a huge size advantage on Wallace (6'4", 296 lbs), who is a good run-blocker. If the Steelers want to run it up the gut against the Browns, Wallace will have to move the Browns nose tackle.
That's no easy task, but Wallace is more than up to the challenge.
Joe Haden vs. Antonio Brown
Haden is much better than D.J. Hayden and David Amerson of the Oakland Raiders, but Antonio Brown routinely gives top cornerbacks fits.
With Roethlisberger's status up in the air for Sunday's game, it's tough to project Brown's numbers, but with the chemistry he was able to build with Landry Jones when Roethlisberger was out, No. 84 could be in for another productive day against the Browns' No. 1 corner.
Matchup X-Factor
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Markus Wheaton
Can the Steelers finally get this guy going?
Wheaton has just 27 yards receiving in his last four games and looks completely lost in the offense in year three. That's not a good sign for the young receiver, who could find himself out of Pittsburgh at the end of his rookie contract unless he starts picking up his play.
Based on what Antonio Brown did to the Raiders last week, expect the Browns to roll coverage toward the All-Pro receiver, leaving single coverage for Wheaton and Martavis Bryant with lesser corners in the Browns system.
Although Roethlisberger's status is unknown, getting Wheaton going soon has to be a priority for coordinator Todd Haley and the rest of the Steelers offense.
When the former Oregon State receiver is near the top of his game, he brings another explosive element to the offense. With so many injuries across the board on offense, the Steelers could use all the explosion they can get.
Prediction: Steelers 27, Browns 7
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Led by DeAngelo Williams, the Steelers should run all over the Cleveland Browns in this one.
Regardless of who is under center for the Steelers, the game plan has to be to pound the rock against the worst run defense in football.
With Williams picking up chunks of yardage against the Browns, Cleveland will be forced to put eight or nine guys in the box, which will allow Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant to torch the Browns secondary with yards after the catch.
Defensively, the Steelers pass-rushers will get back on track after being held without a sack last week against Oakland. Expect Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt to dominate the line of scrimmage, while the secondary continues to come up with big play after big play.
Staying healthy in this one is key as the Steelers will go on bye next week, which will allow key players to rest up and recover.
A record of 6-4 has never looked so ugly, but it feels so good at this point for Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Steelers 27, Browns 7
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