Browns-Steelers: Cleveland Plans To Spoil Pittsburgh's Season

For the first time since 2002, the Cleveland Browns actually have a chance to make the rivalry with Pittsburgh mean something.

It’s not a rivalry when one team is constantly winning. The other team has to win some games to keep it interesting. With 12-straight victories against the Browns, the Steelers are firmly in control of the rivalry at the moment. If the Browns can pull out a victory tonight, things definitely will get more interesting.

The Browns matchup well against Pittsburgh right now. The Steelers have one of the worst special teams units in the league currently, giving up four scoring returns in five games. That stretch, by the way, started by giving up a 98-yard return to Joshua Cribbs.

Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Brad Seely has crafted one of the better special teams units in the league. Considering one third of the Browns' roster is special teams players, it probably made his job a little easier.

The Browns need to capitalize on this aspect of the game if they’re going to squeak out a victory, because the defense, not very good to begin with, now has been thinned out by injuries to Shaun Rogers, C.J. Mosley, Kenyon Coleman, and Brodney Pool.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is known for holding on to the ball too long, and eating sacks he shouldn’t be taking. The flip side of that is Roethlisberger tends to make plays happen with that very same stubbornness.

The Browns' secondary is so weak, it's not even worth mentioning (See Gates, Antonio on Sunday, Dec. 6). This means the Browns need to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Big Ben, and take advantage of the Steelers' porous offensive line.

On offense, Brady Quinn needs to be the Brady Quinn of four days ago, and just go out there and play. Troy Polamalu is out, so the Steelers' biggest interception threat is gone.

Polamalu also seems to be the heart and soul of the Steelers' defense, and they haven’t looked the same since his injury. Taking advantage of the Steelers' mindset is also crucial to sneaking out a win.

If the Steelers come in tonight already out of the playoffs in their heads, the Browns can make that become a reality. If the Steelers come in, as head coach Mike Tomlin said, ready to “unleash hell,” it’s going to be another long, cold night in Cleveland Browns Stadium.

This game probably will be decided in the first quarter, but the cold will be a factor. Look for either a quick Pittsburgh score, or a series of three-and-outs while the players warm up.

I feel the Browns can upset the Steelers tonight, but I also feel all the stars have to align to make that happen. Settle in, and keep warm tonight.

Steelers 31, Browns 17