NFL Week 6: Steelers @ Browns (1:00 P.M. CBS)

[Soda]

AT

1:00 P.M.

(Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Evan Washburn)

Injuries:
Browns: Paul Kruger (Q), Joe Haden (Q), Ahytba Rubin (Q), Billy Winn (Out), Phil Taylor (Out)

Steelers: Ryan Shazier (Out), Ike Taylor (Out), Shamarko Thomas (Out)

My Prediction:

Browns - 21
Steelers - 17


Steelers Nation

Preview

​

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense looks improved since nearly squandering a huge lead in its opener against the Cleveland Browns, though the unit has taken advantage of matchups against lackluster offenses.

Sunday should provide a much better barometer of Pittsburgh's progress as it visits Cleveland and the league's fourth-ranked rushing attack.

The Steelers (3-2) claimed a 30-27 home win over Cleveland in Week 1, their fourth straight and 20th in 22 meetings between the teams. They raced to a 27-3 halftime lead but surrendered 288 total yards in the second half -- including 129 rushing on 20 carries -- and needed a Shaun Suisham 41-yard field goal as time expired to secure the victory.

Pittsburgh was gashed again for 157 rushing yards in a loss at Baltimore the next week. The Steelers have since held three opponents to 161 yards on 45 carries, most recently limiting Jacksonville to 56 in Sunday's 17-9 win.

However, the Panthers, Buccaneers and Jaguars rank 30th, 24th and 31st, respectively, in the league in rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, the Browns (2-2) are averaging 143.3 yards -- their most since 1978.

Cleveland's 191 rushing yards in the first meeting marked its most in the series since it had 217 in a 26-24 home loss on Nov. 19, 1972. Terrance West was the first Brown to run for 100 yards against the Steelers since William Green in 2003.

Ben Tate, who left the Week 1 matchup with a knee injury, returned Sunday to run for a career-high 123 yards on 22 carries in a 29-28 win at Tennessee.

"They have a running game now," said linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who leads Pittsburgh with 29 tackles. "That's the change for us. As we played them before they never really got a 100 yards rushing on us. So now that they did that, that's the game changer so we have to really be on our Ps and Qs."

The Browns (2-2) overcame a 25-point deficit against the Titans for the largest road comeback in NFL history.

"We showed the mental toughness we've been talking about," coach Mike Pettine said.

Cleveland could easily be 4-0 -- its two losses are by a combined five points -- but it could also be 0-4 since its two victories are by three points.

"We prefer not to have that much heaped on us and dig that back of a hole," Pettine said regarding his team's slow starts. "But at the same time I really think it did speak to the character of the men that were in the room, coaches and players."

The Browns are 5-2 when starting Brian Hoyer, who has thrown for six TDs with only one interception. The sixth-year pro's 103.8 second-half passer rating ranks seventh in the NFL.

"Maybe you get a feeling for it throughout your career," said Hoyer, "But things seem to slow down a little bit in that situation when for some other people they speed up."

Pittsburgh owns an impressive ground game of its own with Le'Veon Bell's 460 yards leading the AFC. Bell has averaged 130.3 scrimmage yards in three meetings versus the Browns.

Ben Roethlisberger's 18-1 record against Cleveland is the best by any quarterback against one opponent in at least 15 starts since 1970. He owns a 101.5 passer rating while winning the last eight.

While Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to 404.0 yards per game -- fourth in the NFL -- they need to improve near the end zone. Pittsburgh is 18th with 22.4 points per game and has scored a touchdown on seven of its 16 red-zone possessions.

The Steelers came away with one touchdown on four chances inside the 20 against Jacksonville.

"We just need to continue to work, correct and rectify it and make sure it's a strength for us," coach Mike Tomlin said. "I know when we are playing well we are putting points on the board with seven."

Antonio Brown leads the conference with 511 receiving yards and could be primed for a big day with Pettine "cautiously optimistic" top cornerback Joe Haden can play. Haden, who was third in the NFL last season with 20 passes defensed, suffered a hip injury against the Titans -- though he didn't miss a snap.

Brown's streak of 21 games with at least five receptions and 50-plus yards is the longest in league history.

Go Browns
​

 

[Ohio]

Whats the latest on Haden?

 

[Soda]

Whats the latest on Haden?

Haden was actually on the radio this morning and stated that he was getting treatment on his hip today. He didn't say anything else and went as far as to say that he can't comment on it. I don't expect him to miss the game, but I guess we'll see.

 

[Deezus]

This is the game we finally put it all together.

Browns - 34
Squealers - 20

 

[Phills14]

Why does CBS have 3 guys in the booth now? I noticed it Sunday with the PBP guy, Tasker and Beuerlein. Now Gumble has Trent Green and another dude in the booth. Do we really need that many announcers?

 

[davedugan43]

I knew those Steeler "fans" photos were coming.

 

[Chris]

I seriously think the Browns are just as good as the Steelers but they will beat us, again, and again, as long as they have Roethlisberger. The guy absolutely OWNS the Browns and Cleveland. Unless we knock him out of the game which I am in full support of, I hate him that much, I do not see us beating the Steelers.

My prediction:

Steelers 34
Browns 27

We will lose the game late in the 4th, in similar fashion to the Ravens/Steelers games earlier in the season.

Only way to win is if the defense finally plays the way their talent dictates they should play. Vs a quality Pittsburgh offense that owns the Browns, I'm not holding my breath...but that's what needs to happen. Hoyer and the offense will score.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Two areas I find interesting about this matchup:

1. Pittsburgh's defense doesn't force turnovers. Some teams play for interceptions and causing fumbles, this one hasn't so far. They are also tied with the Browns in sacks with 8, eventhough they have played one more game than the Browns. So, this should be a defense the Browns can establish their offense against.

2. Pittsburgh's offense has been brilliant so far this year. They are among the most dynamic running teams behind a couple of guys who have done exactly what Flash Gordon did... they just did it after the Ray Rice fiasco changed everything. The passing offense has also surpassed what most people think about the boring, stodgy old Steelers of the past. They don't trot out tough old veterans anymore, they have serious speed at receiver. This is one area of great concern with our cornerbacks struggling.

 

[MoFlo]

Few notes:

-Browns put up 27 points @ Pittsburgh in Week 1. Their previous 3 games @ Pittsburgh, they combined for 20 points.
-The last time they put up 20+ points in Pitt was in '07.
-Between those 2 games, they played Pittsburgh 12 times. They averaged 9 points per game.
-The Browns rank 4th in the NFL in rushing yards & 11th in PPG
-Pitt has 10 TD (7 in the air) on the year, 5 have gone to Antonio Brown. Le'Veon Bell has just 1.
-Pitt has allowed 15 sacks, 3rd most in the NFL.

 

[davedugan43]

The gap between the Browns and Steelers has closed. That's for sure. It may even be nonexistent. The Steelers offense is awesome this season, but the defense is suspect. The Browns D looks great at times. Steelers D NEEDS Shazier back. Browns O needs Gordon back.

Close one:

Steelers 28
Browns 26

 

[Huber.]

Beat the Steelers for this kid and his haircut:

 

[col63onel]

Run the no huddle and sack Cantkeepitinhispantlessberger 4+ times.

edit - Also, I am terrified of what Leveon Bell might do. I know a good chunk of rushing yards in the Tennessee game were from WRs or QBs, but the rush D is still ass. I had hoped they were lining up out of position alot during the 1st 3 games and the bye week would cure some of that. It seems not yet.

 

[Soda]

Make no mistake about it. Quietly, the Steelers work hard in prep weeks for Browns games. They clearly don't talk about it outside closed doors, but they don't want to take their "foot" off the Browns' "throats".

 

[AZ_]

Make no mistake about it. Quietly, the Steelers work hard in prep weeks for Browns games. They clearly don't talk about it outside closed doors, but they don't want to take their "foot" off the Browns' "throats".

This is the sort of unsubstantiated inside info that keeps me coming back to the board after all these years.

 

[Huber.]

Make no mistake about it. Quietly, the Steelers work hard in prep weeks for Browns games. They clearly don't talk about it outside closed doors, but they don't want to take their "foot" off the Browns' "throats".

Soda and mentos bomb