Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Cleveland Browns: Keys to Winning the AFC North
13-6.
That is what the scoreboard read in Cleveland last December when the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Browns, all but eliminating their playoff chances.
Flash forward one year, the Steelers do not need to defeat the Browns to earn a playoff spot but need to earn a first round bye and at least one home game at Heinz Field.
It is particularly important that Pittsburgh earns the first round bye, given injuries to key players including Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith on defense and Ben Roethlisberger on offense.
Polamalu, after playing at a MVP level at the tail end of the season, has missed two games in a row and could miss Sunday’s action.
Pittsburgh has been without Smith for much of the season and is anxiously awaiting a potential return in the playoffs, where he will greatly benefit their run defense and open up lanes for the pass rush.
Roethlisberger has been able to play through his injuries, but an extra week of healing for his broken nose and injured foot would be very helpful.
To achieve the bye, Pittsburgh will have to avoid another let down in Cleveland. Instead, they will look to regain their dominance over the Browns, in which they have won 19 of the last 22 meetings.
Toy with McCoy
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In Colt McCoy’s first career game he was sacked six times by the Steelers defense and threw two interceptions.
Typically, these are the types of numbers that you expect a rookie to put up against Pittsburgh’s defense. This was only part of the story in the first meeting this year.
McCoy also threw for 281 yards and his first career touchdown, while completing 69.7 percent of his passes in a 28-10 loss to the Steelers.
The yardage total put up by McCoy remains his best of the season, and he will look to have the same success the second time around. This time, it could be without staring down Troy Polamalu.
Dick LeBeau will not be surprised by McCoy the second time around, will look to build upon the six sack performance and will pressure the Browns’ quarterback into forcing mistakes.
Pittsburgh’s big three linebackers: James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons combined for five-and-a-half sacks and will need to duplicate that total Sunday.
Getting defenders in McCoy’s face up the middle will be important, so he cannot use his legs to pickup yards on the ground against an aggressive Steelers defense. Forcing McCoy to roll the pocket could exploit his relatively weak arm into bad passes and possible turnovers.
Crib Up Cribbs
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Josh Cribbs had his way with Pittsburgh last season rushing for 132 yards on only 14 carries and had a kick return for a touchdown.
This season, Cribbs was limited after being knocked out of the game by James Harrison, a hit in which Harrison was fined for, despite not being penalized.
The five-win Browns will look to get a spark from Cribbs on both special teams and on offense.
Cribbs has been fairly limited in the ground game this year but that does not mean that Cleveland will not try to use Cribbs out of the Wildcat formation.
Historically, the Steelers have done quite well in shutting teams down trying to run the Wildcat, and their aggressive run defense should be no different come Sunday.
The bigger problem will be Cribbs in the return game where the Steelers coverage units have struggled lately, including giving an opening kick return to New York two weeks ago.
Pittsburgh’s special teams will need to maintain their lanes and make the tackle on first contact against Cribbs to prevent a long return.
Against poor teams, a big play on special teams can mean the difference between a win and a loss, and the Steelers cannot have a breakdown that could cost them the game.
Let Ben Be Big
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Cleveland held Rashard Mendenhall to 84 yards and only 3.1 yards per carry earlier this season and will likely go all out to shut him down again. That puts the game in the hands of Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger has been the model of efficiency this year, completing 61.3 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions. With only 11 games played, he already has 2,920 passing yards.
Earlier this year, Roethlisberger returned to action against the Browns and threw three touchdown passes as Mendenhall was held to only 3.1 yards per carry. This is the type of effort that Pittsburgh needs from its quarterback to lock up the division.
Mike Wallace will be the top target for Roethlisberger. He had over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown last week. Things should continue to open up for Wallace as the Steelers integrate Heath Miller back into their offense.
After a relatively quiet 2010 season, Miller came up big last week as Roethlisberger was able to find him five times.
Both receivers, along with Hines Ward, will be integral in the Steelers moving the ball through the air, as they will need Roethlisberger to put up touchdowns in their effort to secure the AFC’s second seed.
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Spotlight Player: Offense
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Ben Roethlisberger does not lose in Ohio too often, but did lose there twice last season. He will look to avenge last year’s defeats and carry the Steelers to an AFC North crown.
When a team needs a win, they must look to their best players, and Roethlisberger is the best player on the Steelers. Though cold weather games usually call for a strong running game, Roethlisberger has proven to be more than capable of slinging the ball around in less than ideal conditions.
Pittsburgh will need at least two touchdown passes from their quarterback if they want to defeat the Browns who will be looking to spoil the Steelers chance at a first round bye.
Spotlight Player: Defense
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With Troy Polamalu questionable Sunday, the Steelers will have to look to their next best defensive player and that is James Harrison.
Earlier this season, Harrison sacked McCoy twice. He will want to finish the regular season out strong and have a similar type of day against the Browns rookie quarterback.
Harrison needs to be a disruptive force so that McCoy does not even have a chance to make plays with his arm. Pittsburgh needs to make it so that Cleveland does not even stiff a victory, and Harrison will be a big part of that.
Game Notes
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With a win, Pittsburgh clinches a first round bye and the second seed in the AFC.
Pittsburgh has won 19 of the past 22 games against Cleveland.
Ben Roethlisberger needs 80 passing yards to surpass 3,000 for the season.
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