Browns vs. Steelers: What's the Game Plan for Pittsburgh?

If there were ever a game where strengths of the Pittsburgh Steelers played directly into the weaknesses of one of their opponents, it's Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh has done a tremendous job of running the ball in 2015, thanks to Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams and a developing offensive line that has taken off under offensive line coach Mike Munchak, despite losing two starters—Maurkice Pouncey and Kelvin Beachum—to long-term injuries.

Luckily for the Steelers, Cleveland owns the worst run defense in all of football, allowing just under 150 yards per game on the ground. Pittsburgh averages just over 130 yards per game in that category, so it should be another very productive day for Steelers running backs.

On the other side of the ball, the Browns allow the second-most sacks in the NFL—just one behind the Seattle Seahawks—while the Steelers are in the top 10 in the NFL in sacks in 2015. That doesn't bode well for Johnny Manziel, who will reportedly start in place of the injured Josh McCown, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.

This is a game that the Steelers should win handily despite dealing with injuries to Ben Roethlisberger, Bell, Beachum and Pouncey on offense. Although injuries are aplenty, this has the makings of an old-school Steelers game plan:  three yards and a cloud of dust, coupled with a swarming, turnover-hungry defense.

Offensive Game Plan

This is no time for the Steelers offense to get cute, especially with Landry Jones likely starting in place of the injured Roethlisberger, whose status has been up in the air all week.

With Jones, the Steelers know what they're getting: a game-manager who is capable of making a few big throws a game to keep opposing defenses honest. That's just what they'll need against Cleveland.

DeAngelo Williams is on pace for more than 1,300 yards this season despite starting just three games as a 32-year-old running back. Should he reach that mark, he'd be the second 32-year-old or older to rush for 1,300 yards in the Super Bowl era.

According to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler, only John Riggins in 1983 rushed for 1,300 yards (specifically 1,347 yards). Ricky Williams is the last 32-year-old running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season in 2009.

Franco Harris was the lone Steelers running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards past the age of 32, rushing for 1,007 yards as a 33-year-old in 1983.

Should Williams rush for more than 125 yards in each game from now to the end of the season, he'll eclipse the mark with ease, as he sits at 480 yards rushing in just three starts.

Against Cleveland, Williams should surpass 125 yards rushing, especially with Jones under center. The lack of Roethlisberger will most likely force the Steelers to lean heavily on the former Carolina Panthers running back.

Outside of Danny Shelton in the middle of Cleveland's 3-4 defense, no Browns defender in the front seven presents much of a challenge for the Steelers in the running game. Veteran defensive end Randy Starks is a hit-or-miss player and has recorded just three "stuffs," according to ESPN.

Once the Steelers are able to get into the second level of the Browns defense, there isn't much resistance in the running game.

Craig Robertson looks overwhelmed at times for the Browns, which has allowed Christian Kirksey to take over inside next to a very productive Karlos Dansby, who appears to be ageless.

There's not one thing the Browns do consistently well against the run, which should lead to a very productive day for the Steelers on the ground.

Expect a lot of counters, draws and tosses to get Williams into space where he can let his vision and shiftiness play.

In the passing game, Cleveland could be in major trouble if Joe Haden and Donte Whitner are unable to go in this one. Haden is by far the team's best corner and one of the better ones in the AFC when healthy, while Whitner provides a physical presence in the middle of the field.

Should neither of those two be able to go, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Heath Miller should have productive days through the air, as the Browns would be forced to start Ibraheim Campbell and Pierre Desir in place of Whitner and Haden.

Campbell is a relatively unknown player, while Desir has come on strong this year, but Brown and Bryant are very difficult to cover.

It might not be an aesthetically pleasing game to watch, but what game has been this year for Pittsburgh?

Defensive Game Plan

Johnny Manziel is a serious dual-threat as the signal caller for the Browns, so there should be a major emphasis on staying in rush lanes and spying the former Texas A&M Aggie. 

Last week against Cincinnati, Manziel was pretty good despite large drop numbers. He was able to get out of the pocket in the first half and make plays with his feet, but in the second half, the Bengals did a great job of keeping him in the pocket, leading to sacks and ill-advised passes.

When teams are able to hem Manziel into the pocket, he has a tough time of finding open receivers and using his legs.

With Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt teaming up as a disruptive duo off the edge and Steve McLendon getting a good push up the middle, the Steelers should be able to keep Manziel in the pocket, taking away his most dangerous weapon: his legs.

Although the Steelers secondary struggles against the pass, the Browns don't have many game-breaking receiving options, unless you want to count tight end Gary Barnidge and receiver Travis Benjamin as game-breaking threats.

Barnidge struggles with Manziel under center, hauling in just six catches for 90 yards, which is well below what he usually does with McCown leading the offense. However, Pittsburgh struggles to cover tight ends, so this could be the game that Barnidge and Manziel get on the same page.

Outside of Barnidge, Benjamin is the Browns weapon to keep an eye on. The fourth-year receiver out of Miami has flourished with Manziel, catching three of his four touchdowns when Manziel is leading the Browns offense.

The duo specializes in the deep ball, so that is the main concern with Benjamin, who has blazing speed to get behind a defense.

But if the Steelers can put pressure on Manziel and force him to get rid of the ball quickly, it will negate the potential deep balls from Manziel to Benjamin.

Key Matchups

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.

Tramon Williams/Pierre Desir vs. Antonio Brown

Unless Joe Haden is able to go in this one, Antonio Brown will draw a favorable matchup with the likes of Tramon Williams and Pierre Desir.

Regardless of who lines up across from him, Brown tends to put up big numbers week after week. However, he could come back down to earth with Landry Jones likely under center for Pittsburgh.

It's tough to project Brown's numbers, but with the chemistry he was able to build with Jones when Roethlisberger was out, No. 84 could be in for another productive day against Williams and Desir.

Matchup X-Factor 

Roosevelt Nix

What a find Nix has been for Pittsburgh.

The former defensive end at Kent State has made the transition to fullback in the NFL and has played a large role in the Steelers' physical running game.

Nix has surpassed Will Johnson as the No. 1 fullback on the Steelers depth chart, and he brings a serious edge of physicality in between the tackles as a lead blocker.

Plus, he's an absolute terror on special teams, forcing a huge fumble last week against the Raiders, which led to a quick Steelers touchdown.

He's come on strong as the season has progressed, which has made head coach Mike Tomlin look like a genius for keeping him on the 53-man roster.

Prediction

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