The Browns are going into their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers undermanned and banged up but they can still win if they do these three things.
The Cleveland Browns have a huge task this week; defeat the AFC North boogeymen. At least the boogeymen of the Browns faithful, aka, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have dominated the AFC North and the rivalry with the Browns to the point that many younger fans aren’t aware of how dastardly those Steelers really are and why this was once the best feud in sports. Celtics and Lakers can sit down.
Now with both teams at four wins through the first five weeks of the season, the rivalry is about to be reignited for real. Sparks flew last year when Myles Garrett clubbed Mason Rudolph with Rudolph’s own helmet in a moment that has stained Garrett’s career forever. That moment just generated controversy, however. It did not reignite the rivalry.
No, instead that moment may come as early Sunday as two of the best teams in the AFC square off for standing in the AFC North. The Browns will go into the game a bit undermanned, however. With injuries galore all over the team, the Browns are going to have to figure out ways to circumventing some of their biggest lost players and getting clever with moving the offense. The injuries aren’t just on the offensive end either, as a bad defense was made worse with several key figures being out for some time.
So what are the three keys to victory against the Steelers? Let’s find out.
Get tight ends involved early
With the news that Odell Beckham Jr. is ill and could possibly miss the Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the tight ends will be crucial for the passing game. Beyond Beckham, Jarvis Landry is dealing with hip issues and has been restricted in practice recently. If both receivers are unable to go, then that means Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins will start for the team, as KhaDarel Hodge is still out for another week while he’s on IR.
The Browns still have playmakers, but they’re not wideouts. Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, and David Njoku have shown to be able to make plays but one or two of them will end up having to line up off the line of scrimmage. They’re going to be crucial to Baker Mayfield’s success, especially with the team already dealing with Nick Chubb’s injury.
Even if Beckham and Landry are healthy enough to go, the Browns need to utilize them to get quick passes off. T.J. Watt is going to be a force to be reckoned with, and Jedrick Wills showed last week against Justin Houston that good pass rushers will give him trouble. Watt is much better than a “good” pass rusher, so things are going to be interesting.
Let D’Ernest Johnson get more touches
The Browns made a baffling move to not get D’Ernest Johnson truly involved until the fourth quarter of the Week 5 game against the Colts. When he did finally get his chances, he helped put the Colts away with a big run against a defensive unit that hadn’t given up many against the Browns. Kareem Hunt isn’t doing too well up the middle on rushing plays and the Browns would be wise to utilize Hunt more in draws, screens, and overall passing plays instead.
If Hunt is used more in the passing game, that helps the previous problem with finding targets other than the receivers as well.
Johnson has shown some great quickness getting through holes and up the middle of a defense. The Steelers have some good linebackers still, but nothing like they’ve had in years past. Even if Wyatt Teller is hurt, the Browns offensive line has been absolutely unstoppable in the rushing game and should be able to get Johnson the space needed to make plays.
Getting a solid running game going is imperative for Baker Mayfield’s performance. The play-action pass is one of the Browns best offensive plays, and if the Steelers aren’t biting on the fakes, then it’s largely useless. Hunt should be reserved for non-up-the-middle plays, meaning Johnson will need to be given a bulk of the between the tackles action.
Get to Ben Roethlisberger
This is pretty obvious but it should be stated anyway; Ben Roethlisberger is the key to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. He’s the only real playmaker they have and the team goes as far as he does. If the Browns have any chance of slowing down the Steelers massacre of their secondary, the only play is to go after Roethlisberger with every inch of effort they have.
Myles Garrett should be able to get some disruption going, that’s a given. Where else is the pressure going to come from? Not the linebacking corp, they can barely tie their shoes let alone actually blitz. Olivier Vernon has gotten depth at times but hasn’t actually disrupted anything just yet. Still, he’s playing as well as Jadeveon Clowney is, so at least there’s that. Sheldon Richardson has done some great work from time to time but hasn’t been anywhere near Garrett’s level of productivity.
Despite averaging nearly 40% of defensive snaps across three games, Jordan Elliot has yet to do anything worth of value. Larry Ogunjobi might be efficient if he were healthy. The Browns really could use another great pass rusher but until that day comes, the Browns are going to have to manufacture some type of pressure besides Garrett, especially with so many players on defense being banged up and their status for Sunday not being sure.