The Browns walk into Pittsburgh with a chance to reinforce their grip on the AFC North, and the pressure point is obvious: a roster full of young players who have to answer the bell in a hostile setting. ESPN may have the Browns sitting last in the division in its power rankings, but Cleveland has already shown enough early to make people wonder whether the league is underestimating what this team can become.
That starts with the defense, where Graham has to look more like the disruptive force he was in the opening month. He opened the season with four sacks in four games before getting hurt in the first meeting with the Steelers and missing a couple of weeks.
He came back last week and didn’t record a sack, but Cleveland needs him to help shut down the run first and force Aaron Rodgers into obvious passing downs. If Graham can do that, he can then attack the pocket the way he did earlier in the year.
Concepcion is another player the Browns need to feature again. The offense came alive when they forced the ball to him last week, and he finished with over 150 yards of total offense.
Todd Monken and Deshaun Watson need to keep getting him the ball in space, where his speed and elusiveness can turn a short touch into something much bigger. With Pittsburgh’s pass rush coming after Watson, Concepcion gives him the kind of quick outlet that can keep the offense on schedule.
Watson himself has to handle the moment cleanly. He finally posted his first 300-yard passing game last week by playing decisively, taking downfield shots when they were there, and letting his receivers create yards after the catch.
The Steelers are going to try to rattle him, and he can’t let the environment swallow him up. He needs a plan at the line of scrimmage and can’t lean only on his legs when pressure shows up.
Protection will be a major test, especially for Fano. The rookie left tackle has been solid this season, but now he gets TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Cleveland has to keep Watson upright and give him time to read the secondary. The Browns handled that matchup well in the first half of the Week 4 game, but the second half went sideways and the offense stalled after turnovers.
Howard is also in the spotlight after getting cleared to start despite not practicing all week because of a concussion. The edges are going to challenge these tackles, and they need to be ready from the jump.
On the other side of the ball, Verse has to make his presence felt even without a sack this season. He has been close to game-changing plays and has helped the line in general, but he can’t get swallowed up at the line of scrimmage.
His job is to hold up against the run and make Warren work inside. If he can control the perimeter, it gives Grand Delpit and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren more freedom to hunt in the secondary.
Delpit picked off Rodgers in the first meeting.
Judkins is another piece Cleveland needs to keep rolling. Last week was his best game of the season, and the Browns looked much more balanced with Watson under center and bigger running lanes for him to attack. Cleveland has to avoid third-and-long, and Judkins has to carry over that performance instead of carrying the early-season struggles with him.
Fannin rounds out the group because the Browns simply look better when he’s involved. They’ve gone away from him in some games and the offense has sputtered. Last week, they made a point to get him touches, and he rewarded them by breaking tackles and helping set up the chip-shot field goal on the final drive.
The Browns have not acted like a team burdened by the moment so far this season. If these players deliver again, Cleveland can leave Pittsburgh with its mark on the division and force the rest of the league to pay attention.
In Other News...
Browns Just Got More Fuel To Finish What They Started Vs Steelers
The Browns head into Sunday with a chance to do something they have not done since 1998: sweep the Steelers. Cleveland already handled Pittsburgh in Week 4, and the formula looked familiar for this rivalry, with the Browns defense doing the heavy lifting and limiting the Steelers chances to build any real rhythm on offense.
Kurt Warner added another layer to the matchup this week by casting doubt on Pittsburghs postseason ceiling, pointing to the offenses lack of explosiveness. For Cleveland, that kind of outside skepticism only sharpens the focus on a game that carries both bragging rights and a chance to finish a season series the Browns have been chasing for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Bring Back A Familiar Look For Huge Steelers Showdown
The Browns are leaning into a look that has already delivered in Pittsburgh, unveiling orange helmets, white jerseys and orange pants for their upcoming showdown with the Steelers. It is a throwback combination with some real meaning behind it, since Cleveland has worn it in both of its wins at Acrisure Stadium, including the 2021 playoff victory and a 2003 regular-season result.
For a team trying to climb in the AFC North, the uniform choice adds a little extra edge to a game that already carries plenty of weight. Cleveland does not get many chances to change the feel of this rivalry on the road, so bringing back a familiar look for a huge divisional test is a subtle nod to history and a reminder of what is at stake. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Suddenly Have A New Reason To Watch Myles Garrett
Myles Garretts move to injured reserve has created a new wrinkle for Browns fans who still keep one eye on the pass-rushers next chapter. The Rams are already juggling a long list of injuries, and with Garrett coming off surgery, there is no clear timetable for when he might be back on the field. For Cleveland followers, it is another reminder that the NFL calendar can turn quickly, especially when a familiar star is suddenly stuck on the sideline.
The uncertainty also adds intrigue to the Rams upcoming schedule, including a Week 8 game that now carries even more questions about availability. Beyond that, there is already a bigger-picture buzz around a possible Thanksgiving Eve matchup with Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers, a game that could become one of the seasons most compelling pass-rushing showdowns if both sides are at full strength. For now, though, the only sure thing is that Garretts status remains one of the more unpredictable storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]