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Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 matchups that will decide Week 1

By Nick Dudukovich

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after running for a first down during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers defeated the Browns 21-18. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after running for a first down during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers defeated the Browns 21-18. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs up field after a catch in the second half during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs up field after a catch in the second half during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Antonio Brown vs. Denzel Ward

Welcome to the NFL, Denzel Ward.

All you’ve got to do is stop arguably the best wide receiver in the game.

But this is why Cleveland made the local product the fourth overall pick in last spring’s draft.

Ward doesn’t have to shut out Brown, because with all of the league’s rule favoring quarterbacks, receivers and the offense in general, it’s not fair to expect the former Buckeye to keep Brown quiet.

Perhaps he can limit Brown’s production though.

What do I mean by this?

Think back to Week 1 last year. The Steelers kind of lulled their way through the game and the Browns hung around.

Then the second-half started and with 8:07 remaining in the third quarter, Big Ben targeted Brown with the Steelers up just 14-10.

The pass went incomplete, but Jason McCourty was flagged for a 41-yard pass interference penalty. The foul moved the ball from the Steelers 41 to the Browns 18. Moments later, Pittsburgh scored. taking a two-possession lead.

In the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger found Brown five times for 80 yards as the Steelers extended drives and crushing the hopes of the defense in the process.

Can Ward knock one of those passes away, or not force the refs to leave their yellow laundry on the field? Can he cover Brown well enough to give Myles Garrett that extra second to sack Big Ben?

It really can be the difference between winning and losing.

Pass interference penalties of 41 yards

It appears now that the Steelers aren’t going to have Le’Veon Bell, so Brown becomes Ben Roethlisberger‘s No. 1 option.

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