On the shores of Lake Erie on Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns (2-2) get a second chance. When the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) invade the turf at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland has a chance to avenge a 30-27 defeat in Pittsburgh in the Week 1 opener. They have a chance to jump ahead of their hated rivals in the standings. And, perhaps most importantly, they have a chance to prove that they should have been the favorites against the Steelers, something that does not happen very often when these two teams meet.
For Pittsburgh, it’s business as usual. The opportunities to be two games over .500 about a third of the way through the season, to keep pace with Cincinnati and Baltimore, and to be 2-1 against AFC North opponents are on the table. They were ahead 27-3 at halftime in the previous meeting, only to let Cleveland storm back to tie the game. Ben Roethlisberger and the offense, however, had the ball last and Shaun Suisham kicked a game-winning field goal as the last seconds ticked off the clock.
Much has happened in the month and five days since that wild kickoff weekend and both sides have had ups and downs. Pittsburgh has alternated wins and losses, upsetting Carolina on the road but following that with an enigmatic home loss to Tampa Bay the next week. Cleveland, too, has alternated wins and losses, knocking off New Orleans in their Week 2 home opener, but losing to Baltimore and then beating Tennessee last week. Both teams come off a win in Week 5, so something has to give in that coincidental pattern.
As always, Antonio Brown ought to be a key factor for the visitors. Browns top cover cornerback Joe Haden is questionable with a hip ailment, so if he is unable to start or at least play at 100 percent, Brown could have a very favorable matchup. Haden did practice on Friday, so he is expected to at least suit up for the Browns, though no official word can be expected until a couple hours before kickoff. Brown has 511 receiving yards and five touchdowns on the season, nearly twice as many yards as any other player who will be on the field in Cleveland on Sunday. Andrew Hawkins leads Cleveland with 24 catches for 270 yards, though Taylor Gabriel emerged last week as a favorable target of QB and Cleveland-area native Brian Hoyer.
Both Hoyer and Roethlisberger have been efficient, completing over 60 percent of their passes and each throwing five more touchdowns than interceptions. The ground games have been statistically solid, as well. Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount lead the way for Pittsburgh’s eighth-ranked rushing attack. Cleveland’s ranks fourth, though there is no major leader in that category. Now that Ben Tate is healthy, he should get the bulk of the handoffs from Hoyer, but Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell are among those who cannot be forgotten about either. With solid offensive numbers for both teams, defense will almost surely be the determining factor. Imagine that, in an AFC North matchup.
The Pittsburgh defense looks solid on paper, ranking 12th against the pass and 11th against the run. Anyone who has watched the games, though, knows there is a certain vulnerability on that side of the football. Holding the Browns out of the end zone and to field goal attempts by Billy Cundiff could go a long way in coming out ahead on the scoreboard after four quarters. Just the same, Cleveland’s defense gives up a lot of yardage (ranking 27th against the pass and 30th against the rush), so there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for Pittsburgh. If they punch it in the end zone and keep constant pressure on Hoyer and the Browns to light up the scoreboard, it will be a recipe for disaster as the Browns try to get past the massive obstacle that has been the Pittsburgh Steelers.
When: Sunday, October 12, 2014 – 1:00 pm EST
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, OH
Watch: CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green)
Spread: Browns -1 (via Bovada)
Last Meeting: Steelers defeated Browns 30-27 at Pittsburgh in Week 1
Keys for Pittsburgh:
1) Force turnovers. Force turnovers. Force turnovers. Hoyer has only thrown one interception (last week at Tennessee) and the Browns have not lost a fumble, tying them with Seattle at just one giveaway so far in the 2014 campaign. An interception returned for a touchdown by Brice McCain last week at Jacksonville was an impact play the Steelers needed. More of that will be required to win at Cleveland on Sunday. Pittsburgh has turned the ball over six times this season and has a minus-1 margin, so getting back to even or in the positive would be nice.
2) Continue to limit penalties. This will be an emotional game and Mike Tomlin’s guys have had trouble keeping their cool, nearly leading the league in penalties. Last week was a step in the right direction, but one game does not establish a good habit. Advantage Pittsburgh, IF they play a smart game and turn it around on Cleveland, frustrating the Browns instead.
3) Forget about history. Pittsburgh is 27-5 against Cleveland since 1999 and 17-2 in the past decade. In Cleveland, at this stadium, they have made it their home, going 12-3 there since it opened as Cleveland Browns Stadium when the franchise was reborn. None of that matters this weekend and this is hardly the same bumbling Browns team that has been so easy to dominate.
Keys for Cleveland:
1) Continue to protect the rock and avoid allowing Pittsburgh any extra possessions, good field position or free points. Accomplish that and, at the very least, be in the game late in the fourth quarter. Only one giveaway through four games is very impressive and should be a concern for Dick LeBeau’s defense.
2) Feed off of the leadership of Hoyer, who has rather quickly quieted any calls for Johnny Manziel to be Mike Pettine’s starter. He has limited mistakes, a far cry from the mess that Brandon Weeden or virtually anyone who came before him. This is a new-look team and, judging by an NFL-record 25-point road comeback victory last week, they can never be buried. See Week 1 for a reminder of that.
3) Get Jordan Cameron involved. Cleveland’s tight end had a magnificent 2013 season, but he has missed some time due to injury so far this year. And, when he has been on the field, he has not been as productive. If he heats up, look out.
Prediction: For the first time in a long time, Cleveland is demanding respect. Perhaps this is the week they get it, because I think the Browns will win, 24-23. It will be the kind of loss that has Pittsburgh fans up in arms and panicking, and probably rightfully so. I hope I’m wrong…I certainly have been before.
