The Browns have got to focus on a lot of things on Sunday to defeat the Steelers but none more so than these three things.
The Cleveland Browns are limping into the end of the season like John Mcclane in the first Die Hard. They’re beaten up, they’re missing key pieces and they’re the media’s favorite dog to kick. Yet, the gods of football have convinced Steeler head coach Mike Tomlin to sit his stars in this pivotal game for the Browns. Because of that, not only is there a silver lining but there’s still hope. Hope for the Browns to make the playoffs and maybe go into their expected opening-round game against a full-strength Steelers as healthy as possible.
To do that though, they’re going to need to do these three things to beat the dastardly Steelers.
No turnovers
The Cleveland Browns have to play mistake-free football against the Steelers. Even though most of the backups will be in for the Steelers, that doesn’t mean that a turnover or two couldn’t turn the tide of the game. With the current COVID-19 situation happening in the Browns facility at the moment, no one has any idea who will be out for the game. If the Browns have any hope in the world of surviving the COVID situation and then the Steelers, they need to be perfect.
Let’s not harp on Baker Mayfield’s play last week, it was a near-impossible mountain to climb. Normally one or two turnovers aren’t going to sink a team, but for the Browns, that’s exactly what happened. With the roster in flux and the NFL refusing to move the game for the Browns last week, and probably won’t this week, the team needs to be perfect if they hope to win.
Win the match up at the line of scrimmage
The Browns, or any football team in the history of ever, will never win a game if their offensive line gets their teeth kicked in. Kendall Lamm and Nick Harris are two of the absolute worst players on this team and they’re not looking like reliable options as backups, let alone starters. If the Browns have any hope of winning on Sunday, they have to win the battle in the trenches. Even if guys like Wyatt Teller aren’t able to start.
The Steelers are sitting Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt, two of the more imposing presences on the Steelers defense. With them out for the game, the Browns have a chance to do some damage with both running the ball and passing the ball. If the gaps can be opened up, and Mayfield isn’t constantly running for his life, the Browns have proven against as good, if not better defenses than the Steelers, that they can score.
They’re going to need to deliver, however. If the line can’t do their job and hold a block on a pass play or move a Steeler on a running play, then the Browns are going to lose. The team has proven that they are not good enough defensively to actually win a game for the team. Out-scoring a team’s offense is the only real way the Browns win this game.
Blitz all night
With Ben Roethlisberger resting against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the black and gold will start back up Mason Rudolph in his stead. Rudolph has a history with the Browns, and we don’t need to go into that here. We all are familiar with the Rudolph/Myles Garrett attack from last year. While it’s a great thing that both Garrett and Rudolph are willing to put it to rest, it should be noted that the Browns are going to have to hit him a lot on Sunday, so maybe the peace summit will have to wait until February.
Getting after Rudolph is going to be a must and that means someone other than Garrett is going to have to step up to defeat the Steelers. Whether it’s Joe Wood’s infamous corner blitz or if the team actually blitzes a linebacker, someone is going to have to get depth on the Steelers defensive line. Relying on Olivier Vernon isn’t going to be possible, as he’s as inconsistent as they come. Seven of his eight sacks came in just three games. From week to week he’s an unknowable factor.
No one besides Garrett has shown any real consistency getting pressure and even he at times is a non-factor. Plus now that he’s dealing with lung damage from battling COVID-19, his play has fallen off even more. While there’s no one behind him that can replace his skills, you still have to think that resting him may help him heal faster.
Either way, someone not named Garrett needs to get to Rudolph.