CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns will wrap up their 24th season since returning to the NFL in Pittsburgh Sunday looking to boot another opponent from the playoff picture.
Here’s what is on the line between the Browns and Steelers:
Pittsburgh must win to keep their Wild Card hopes alive, keep Mike Tomlin from his first losing season as head coach of the Steelers and avoid being swept in the regular season by Cleveland for the first time since 1988.
For the Browns: a win matches their 8-9 finish from a year ago and keeps Kevin Stefanski from joining every other full-time head coach in the 1999 expansion era with a double-digit loss season. A loss would mark Cleveland’s 17th 10-plus loss season since returning to the NFL.
The loser Sunday also will finish in last place within the AFC North.
What to watch for – Deshaun Watson was spectacular in the second half against Washington in a 24-10 win over the Commanders that saw him throw three touchdown passes. The hope is Watson will put four quarters together after struggling in his first three and a half games since joining the Browns on the field after his 11-game suspension.
Receiver Amari Cooper is 81 yards shy of surpassing his career high of 1,189 yards set in 2019 with the Dallas Cowboys. Cooper also looks to add to his career-high touchdown reception total and become the first Browns receiver to catch 10 touchdowns in a season since Braylon Edwards hauled in 16 during the 2007 season with a single TD grab.
Running back Nick Chubb is just 52 yards shy of 1,500 yards which would allow him to join Hall of Famer Jim Brown as the only running backs in franchise history to achieve the feat.
Myles Garrett has 14.5 sacks and is 1.5 shy of tying his single-season franchise sack record set a year ago.
James Hudson III replaces Jack Conklin, out due to an ankle injury suffered last week, at right tackle. He’ll look to do what he was unable to do last time out against Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt – slow Watt down. Watt abused Hudson and sacked Baker Mayfield four times in a 26-14 Steelers win on January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh.
The Browns get their first look at quarterback Kenny Pickett Sunday. Mitchel Trubisky started in September and lost at FirstEnergy Stadium. Pickett, who is completing 64.4% of his passes for 2,209 yards with six touchdowns, nine interceptions and a rating of 76.5, led a dramatic game-winning touchdown drive in the final minute last week to beat the Ravens in Baltimore.
Cleveland’s embattled run defense that has allowed at least 130 yards rushing in nine of the last 13 games could be in for another long afternoon against Najee Harris. Harris caught the game-winner last week against the Ravens and racked up 111 yards and averaged 5.0 per carry. The Steelers rushed for 198 yards in Baltimore, the most allowed by the raves in nearly five years. Harris is 46 yards shy of the coveted 1,000 for the season. He was held to 56 yards and a touchdown by Cleveland in Week 3.
Last week – Browns beat the Commanders 24-10; Steelers beat the Ravens 16-13
Last Time – September 22, 2022: Browns 29, Steelers 17
Series – Steelers lead the all-time series 77-61-1 and 9-37-1 since 1999
Rankings – Points: Browns 16 (21.7), Steelers 29 (17.5)
Yards: Browns 13 (351.7), Steelers 23 (321.9)
Rushing: Browns 6 (147.3), Steelers 17 (120.6)
Passing: Browns 22 (204.4), Steelers 24 (201.4)
Points allowed: Browns T-21 (22.9), Steelers 12 (20.9)
Yards allowed: Browns 11 (331.1), Steelers 13 (331.9)
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 25 (134.4), Steelers 7 (106.5)
Passing yards allowed: Browns 7 (196.7), Steelers 20 (225.4)
Turnover ratio: Browns 0 (T-16), Steelers +3 (T-10)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT James Hudson III, TE Harrison Bryant, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Deshaun Watson, RB Nick Chubb, TE David Njoku
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Taven Bryan, DE Alex Wright, SAM Tony Fields II, MIKE Deion Jones, WILL Reggie Ragland, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Denzel Ward, SS Grant Delpit, FS John Johnson III
Injury report – OUT: DE Jadeveon Clowney (disciplinary), RT Jack Conklin (ankle), DE Isaiah Thomas (foot); QUESTIONABLE: CB Denzel Ward (shoulder)
Uniforms – White jerseys and orange pants.
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WJW TV-8 (FOX)
Kickoff – 1:03 p.m. Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Prediction – Steelers 23, Browns 22
Our record – 9-7
