Browns Playoffs: 3 keys to victory against the Steelers

Run heavy sets to the right

Whoever gets the call for Joel Bitonio on Sunday night is going to have a huge mountain to climb. Much like early in the year when Jedrick Wills was having a hard time dealing with the run blocking, the team almost exclusively ran to the right. That’s exactly what the Browns need to do again but don’t just do it from the shotgun formation. No, the Browns have a good fullback and several good blocking tight ends.

Use them.

Load up the right (or send them to the left for a diversion) and run between your All-Pro guard and tackle. Nick Chubb has shown time and time again that a stacked box doesn’t affect him. What does is offensive linemen who can’t open up the proper holes. If Teller and Conklin can do again what they’ve been known for doing all year prior, then the Steelers are going to see a lot of Chubb five, six, even 10 yards downfield.

Also, use Chubb more than 11 or 14 times. He’s the best pure runner in the game and without Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley on the field to say otherwise, he’s the best running back for 2020. There’s no good reason for Chubb not to pass his season-high of 22 carries in this game.

Kareem Hunt has been a disappointment for the most part. He’s no longer the agile, dynamic, open-field player he was. Chubb is clearly and by a large margin, the better player. Don’t have him sit out entire offensive series anymore. It’s absurd to think that Hunt will do what Chubb can. He can’t. He’s a nice backup, absolutely, but he’s not a top-five or even a top-15 running back anymore.

Let. Chubb. Run.