Coming into this week in the AFC North if you would have said the Bengals would be 0-2 you wouldn’t believe it. With that being said the Steelers and Browns will be playing for 1st place in the division. Both teams lost in Week 2 and will be looking to get back in the winning column. This will be a slugfest as both teams know each other very well. In the rivalry series, Pittsburgh leads it 79-61-1 among all the great teams. This week, they will look to add to this rivalry and put on a primetime show.
The Browns will be leaning on their running backs(Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt) to set the tone in this one. Last week against the New York Jets Nick Chubb ran 17 times for 87 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jacoby Brissett has been leaning on Nick Chubb to help carry the offense and he finally got it going. The Steelers will be without TJ Watt who injured his pectoral muscle. Since the Steelers are banged up on the defensive side look for the Browns to establish the run, even more, to open up the play action. On the season Brissett has only 376 yards passing and 2 touchdowns in the early season. If the Browns are going to make this push for a chance to win this division they will have to get Amari Cooper involved more. Cooper had 9 receptions for 101 yards and 1 touchdown against the Jets. The Steelers have a better secondary and will be trying to put the clamps on him, especially with Fitzpatrick back there. The Brown’s offense will be needing the defense to help out big time as they try to get the win.
The Cleveland Brown’s defense should be able to contain Mitchell Trubisky as they look to rebound from Week 2. The Brown’s defense will go as far as Myles Garrett takes them in this game. Look for Garrett to set the tone and get to the backfield in this one instantly. It will be a tough task as they look to slow down Harris, Claypool, and Johnson. The Browns know that if they can slow down the playmakers for the Steelers this game tonight will go their way in the win column. Cleveland will look to minimize the offense for Pittsburgh as they will look to win this game with the running game and locking them up in the trenches.
The Steelers offense will need to come out and establish the run in this game. Najee Harris will be one of the main reasons that Pittsburgh would win this game against the Browns. Last week against the Patriots Najee rushed 15 times for 49 yards. If the Steelers are going to win this game he will need to rush for at least 100 yards against this Myles Garrett led defense. Najee can get the rushing attack going then it will open up the passing game. Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are very explosive. Both of them can take the football to the endzone even on a short pass or a long pass it doesn’t matter. Diontae had only 6 catches last week for 57 yards and that’s unacceptable for someone that took that elite step in his game after last season. Diontae will need to create some space and put this team’s passing game on his back. Mitchell will need to have one of those big games to bring them to victory and he will need to show his mobility in the pocket if the Steelers will even have a chance tonight.
The Steeler’s defense has shown some good glimpses of what we could expect. It’s going to be tough watching this defense without TJ Watt. Losing him will make it tough but if they can get to Brissett they can make it a long night. The Steelers have Haywood and Fitzpatrick who can still impact a game. This game will be determined by how the Steelers can stop the runs from Chubb and Hunt. Both teams love to ground and pound but if the Steelers can force Jacoby Brissett into a turnover of two it could work out in their favor.
Prediction: The Cleveland Browns will win this game 17-10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers as they lean on Chubb. Look for Nick Chubb to run wild in this game and really put the Steelers away after he felt Cleveland lost because of him in Week 2. The Browns defense will also force Mitch into some turnovers which will give them the chance to capitalize on scoring. Both teams are rivals and this will be a slugfest and not high scoring at all.
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