This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
Myles Garrett Has to Get it
The final home game of the season is this week for the Browns, and there are a lot of variables at play heading into the game:
1. Will the game matter for Pittsburgh? On Saturday, the Ravens play the Green Bay Packers, and will be without Lamar Jackson. If the Ravens lose, they are eliminated from
playoff contention, which means Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North. So, we will know Saturday night whether the Steelers will have motivation to win this game.
2. Mike Tomlin previously said that the outcome of that game might impact whether players rest for these final two weeks. If Baltimore wins, what incentive is there for Aaron Rodgers to play meaningless reps, especially when much of their success this season should be attributed to him? If the Steelers rest players, that figures to shift the advantage to Cleveland.
3. The Giants and Raiders are currently the No. 1 and No. 2 teams for the 2026 NFL Draft, and they play each other this week. Assuming they don’t tie each other, that means Cleveland would move up to No. 2 in the draft for a loss. So, are we rooting for Baltimore to win, so that Pittsburgh doesn’t give the Browns a pity win that impacts their draft position? I know some may see that as a loser’s mentality, but I don’t: the season has already been long lost, and I think you can have a game like last week where you see a few nice things, but ultimately still see an addition to the loss column.
4. Cleveland is getting at least one reinforcement back defensively this week in CB Denzel Ward, and that also coincides with WR DK Metcalf being suspended. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any other go-to wide receivers really, but Rodgers still loves throwing to his running backs and tight ends.
5. The forecast is currently calling for rain during the game, which impacts things as well. That might assist Myles Garrett in getting a sack on a type of play that is aborted due to someone slipping. On top of that, other factors — like it Pittsburgh rests players — figures to increase his odds. Either way, this is the Browns’ final home game of the season, and it feels like the most important thing we need to see this week is Garrett making history.
Quick Hitters
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was asked about the tale of two halves against Buffalo, and he talked at length about it:
“Yeah, I don’t think it was limited to the run game. I mean, those first three series were just awful, awful football. We sucked in about every facet, not just run game. Missed tackles, dropped coverage, lost contain on the quarterback. And I think originally, particularly the first drive, we had a difficult time adjusting to the speed of the game, particularly James Cook and then also Josh Allen with the scrambles. And when we made that adjustment, guys started getting a little bit more comfortable. We started making some of those plays. No excuse for the way we started the game, though. But I look at it more in that regard after that first series, and I’ll give you an example. The play they scored the touchdown on 44 yards, Mohamoud (Diabate) misses a tackle on that, and then we don’t get him down after that, but he’s unblocked in the hole. Tough angle, Cook cuts back and makes that play. Later in the game, the exact same play, almost the exact same defense, same thing – Mohamoud comes across and just lays a big hit on him and makes the tackle in the hole. So, we did adjust, but it was just too late. I don’t think I’ve ever been around a turnaround as drastic as that. Like, we gave up 200 yards on three drives. The only third down we got him to was the third and two quarterback run, we just couldn’t get anything right and had to make some adjustments and things. And the last drive of the first half and then the second half, I think it was like 50 yards total, and they couldn’t get a first down. Guys were covering, guys were playing the run and things like that. But reminded me a little bit, early in the season, (New England) Patriots were playing the Bills, and somebody asked Vrabes (Mike Vrabel), ‘hey, who do you have giving a look for James Cook on the scout team?’ And he sort of deadpans like, ‘hey look, I can assure you, if we had somebody that was capable of giving a look for James Cook, he’d be playing’. And that was sort of what happened. I mean, the guy’s a great back, Josh Allen’s a great quarterback. And I think another thing, I’m on the soapbox here, but if that game flips around and you say…I mean, we gave up three touchdowns, and then the other field goal we gave up, it was two yards on the drive to give up the field goal. But if you said we had given up 90 yards rushing and 160 passing, that might have been all, ‘oh wow, great job.’ But rushing yards are different. I talked about this the other week, where rushing yards have a psychological effect on your defense, and I was proud of the guys, the way they turned it around. They kept fighting, coaches were battling on the sideline, make some adjustments, things that were taken advantage of, took those away – and it was a little bit too little, too late. But we made some stops late, couple of fourth down stops, played good on third down, not enough. We got to come out faster this week. Just like I said, the opening drive, it wasn’t just run defense. We dropped coverage on man, lost containment on the quarterback – things that you can’t do in a game like that, particularly with a player like Josh Allen. And we paid the price for it.”
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was asked about why they didn’t push the ball more downfield last week against Buffalo:
“Buffalo was, I think, first or second in the league in early down passing, like for a second down pass defense. They were first or second in the league and they put a lot of emphasis on their pass defense. They play a lot of two high coverage. They keep things top down by design. So, you’re going to have to pick your spots to get the ball down the field. And you know, you call plays that the intent is to go down the field and they play coverage like we about talked about a week ago, where they dictate where the ball goes. And I thought his decision making in those moments was really good and what you want. You know, we had the one at Q that got us down to the four-yard line, I think it was a gain of 16, we check it down. We had another one on second and eight that got us nine and got us first down. Like, those are plays that keep you on schedule. You know, we’ve talked about that all year, getting out of third and long. Those are plays that keep you on schedule and allow us to have success on third down. So, you know, then there’s times throughout the game there might be a couple reps here or there where, ‘hey, they’re giving us a coverage where we can’t attack it. Now let’s go attack it.’ So pleased with how he made his decisions. Pleased with kind of the way they were defending and finding ways to continue to move the sticks that way.”
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone talked about the aborted field goal at the end of the first half against Buffalo:
“Yeah. Kind of short on the ball, but I do think that obviously both of those guys own it. We need to be able to execute that. I think Corey (Bojorquez) can still get the ball down. He would tell you the same thing. So just gotta eliminate bad football like that.”
Some other notes to look forward to:
- Dillon Gabriel had the first crack at the Steelers earlier this season, and now it’s Shedeur Sanders’ turn. T.J. Watt remains out, but Pittsburgh’s defense is a tough team to crack. They don’t rank too well defensively, but the defense has been solid the last three weeks in wins over the Ravens, Dolphins, and Lions.
- Harold Fannin landed on the injury report on Friday, and is listed as questionable.
- We might get to see Wyatt Teller back in action, but if he plays, he’s supposed to rotate series with Teven Jenkins.
Predictions
Here are predictions from multiple staff members at DBN:
Chris Pokorny: “With all the variables mentioned, if a few of them align the way I mentioned, then Cleveland should be the ones favored in the game. My prediction is being made prior to the Ravens/Packers result. I don’t see Baltimore winning, but I just can’t bank on that at this precise point when predicting this game. The rain could also impact scoring, though. I’ll go with a lower-scoring affair, but let’s still give Pittsburgh the edge because of all of the Browns’ special teams woes.” Steelers 17, Browns 10
Barry Shuck: “Funny thing about Browns vs. Steelers. No matter how many losses Cleveland has, they have the ability to split with the Steelers. Hard to explain. So, the Browns got taken to the woodshed in their first matchup. Can Cleveland take this one? Browns have the second-fewest passing yards in the league and instability at QB. Steelers are ranked #30 in pass defense, so that’s a match for either team. Cleveland is second in passing defense while Pittsburgh are bottom third in their passing attack. Huge advantage for the Browns. Neither club can run the ball and both are middle of the pack in run defense. Let’s pick the Browns to combat the pass because Pittsburgh can’t throw it.” Browns 27, Steelers 20
Thomas Moore: “This is going to be a weird one on Sunday. The Browns have the cars packed up and ready to head into the offseason, while the Steelers are about to clinch the AFC North Division, much to everyone’s annoyance. Normally, that would equate to one of those late-December 31-0 losses for the Browns. But Cleveland has won five of the last six meetings at home against Pittsburgh, and there is a small chance the Steelers may sit some of their key players if they have the division wrapped up thanks to a loss by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. That may still not be enough, however, as Cleveland’s offense is still woefully limited, even with Shedeur Sanders running things at quarterback after what is now six weeks of reps with the first-team offense.” Steelers 17, Browns 10
Who do you think will win, Browns fans? Let us know in the comments section below.
