Steelers, Browns face off in key battle for playoff spot
The Browns come to Heinz Field today it what is basically an elimination game when it comes to the NFL playoffs.
MEMORABLE SERIES MOMENT
Steelers 30, Browns 0
Dec. 3, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium
The two finalists for the Steelers head coaching job in 1969 were Chuck Noll and Nick Skorich. They squared off here in a landmark Steelers win. The defending division champion Browns matched 8-3 records with the upstart Steelers, who were riding hot rookie running back Franco Harris. At 2-2, Harris became the primary runner and the Steelers went on a 10-1 run to finish with its first division title in 40 years of play. The game at Cleveland two weeks earlier was the one loss, and this one, the return game, was the Pittsburgh statement. Harris scored touchdowns on runs of 1 and 11 yards, and TE John McMakin caught a 78-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw for the clincher. Harris rushed 20 times for 102 yards, his sixth consecutive 100-yard game to tie Jim Brown’s NFL record. That symbolized a passing of the torch from the 1964 world champion Browns to the Steelers, just 20 days from an Immaculate Reception that sparked a dynasty.
TALE OF THE TAPE
“Basically it boils down to stopping the run and keeping Baker Mayfield in the pocket. At times Baker will do damage extending the play by getting out on the edges. Last time they had four sacks and about 11 hits. We need to have that four-sack, 11-hit game this time. It’s going to be a noisy, boisterous crowd and that should allow T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Cam Heyward and Co. to get a jump on the snap count and get after it. They’ll need to use rush discipline, though. In the last game, T.J. ran the arc too big around Chris Hubbard. Also, I would do two other things. I would run a 3-me game, where the left end and tackle crash inward and the right tackle comes all the way around on a twist. Baker tends to flush out of the pocket to his right and that trailer would be the guy to pick him up. The other thing I would rush five, whether it be Mike Hilton or an extra D-lineman. Make things miserable for Baker.” — Steelers Radio analyst Craig Wolfley
TOP QUESTION
Can James Washington take on the No. 1 WR role?
With JuJu Smith-Schuster out, Washington must deal with Browns star CB Denzel Ward. Washington’s coming off a three-game stretch in which he’s caught 12 passes for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns. His long arms and leaping ability to make acrobatic catches is becoming commonplace at Steelers practices and there’s little doubt quarterback Devlin Hodges considers Washington a go-to receiver. It will be needed against Ward.
THREE QUESTIONS: With SS TERRELL EDMUNDS
Q: You guys seemed upbeat out there at practice this week. Is it the holiday spirit?
TE: “Holiday spirit, game week spirit, playoff spirit; there are so many different things you can put into that category. Everybody’s feeling thankful just for the opportunity to come out here and play with their brothers, the brotherhood, friendships, everything, and then just going to get that win on Sunday, so we’re just all ready. We want to come out fast. It’s happening.”
Q: You guys are home underdogs. Might that be a good thing?
TE: “I don’t know. Honestly, it is what it is. We know what we’re capable of. We know how we can play, and that’s how we’ve got to go into this game. We want to go in and play fast, start fast, finish fast. Play a full game and it will be in our favor.”
Q: Is anyone worried or nervous or have anxiety about starting Hodges at QB?
TE: “No, because Duck carries that confidence with him. When you talk to Duck, he never seems nervous, never seems worried. He knows we’ll have his back. We’ll try to make him as comfortable as we can by putting him in the best positions. From there, just get the win.”
GAME BREAKDOWN
What to look for from the Steelers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Field
ON OFFENSE:
Hodges won’t have Smith-Schuster, and RB James Conner is doubtful, but the new QB’s developing relationships with Washington and rookie Diontae Johnson. And rookie runners Benny Snell and Kerrith Whyte provide a potent 1-2 inside-outside punch with Jaylen Samuels the receiving threat out of the backfield. For having few recognizable skill players, the Steelers have enough talent to scratch out a win with this group against a Browns defense that will be without Myles Garrett, the best pass-rusher in football. The Browns’ interior line will be the problem, with Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, against a Steelers line still missing Maurkice Pouncey.
ON DEFENSE:
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are proving to be an effective pony backfield with Hunt’s receiving ability out of the slot. The possible loss of left tackle Greg Robinson will hurt the Browns. Robinson reported concussion symptoms at Wednesday’s practice and was ruled out Saturday afternoon. TE David Njoku is another Cleveland secret. He was designated to return from IR last week, off a Week 2 wrist injury, but wasn’t activated against Miami. He might play this week, but no word.
PREDICTION
The Browns were supposed to be road favorites this year, and here they are, minus 2 at Heinz Field. Learning how to be a favorite is a process and the Browns are novices. They’re also undisciplined as a team of rookies. With one fewer game played than Dallas, the Browns lead the Cowboys as the NFL’s most penalized team by 53 yards. And even when the game’s one kneel-down from victory, the Browns still self-detonate, as evidenced by the loss of Garrett two games ago. No, I don’t trust the Browns in this spot, even against Duck Hodges and the practice squad players with whom he’s risen during this injury-plagued Steelers season. In stats from the last five games, the Steelers are right with the Browns at the line of scrimmage, and ahead of them in pass defense and points efficiency. The Browns also have a rookie kicker coming to Heinz Field. He’s missed three of his last five FG attempts. Go with the upset in what’s virtually an elimination game for both teams … Steelers, 19-17.
BY THE NUMBERS
1: Player in the NFL — Minkah Fitzpatrick — has five interceptions and two forced fumbles this season. The Steelers’ FS has also recovered three fumbles.
2: Interceptions by Browns ILB Joe Schobert last week against Miami made him the fourth linebacker in the Super Bowl era with two interceptions in consecutive games. He, of course, intercepted Mason Rudolph twice two games ago.
8: Consecutive games with at least half a sack by Watt is the longest active streak in the NFL. LaMarr Woodley holds the franchise record with 10 consecutive games with half a sack. That streak spanned the 2009-10 seasons.
85: Scrimmage yards, at least, every game this season by Browns RB Nick Chubb, the only player in the NFL to do so.
118.1: Browns QB Mayfield’s passer rating last week against Miami, his season-high.
DOWNLOADS
n Suspended indefinitely for assaulting Rudolph with a helmet, Garrett takes 29 percent of the Cleveland sacks and 28 percent of the QB hits with him. Interesting that Watt not only has more sacks (11.5 to 10) and QB hits (25 to 18) than Garrett, but a higher percentage of team sacks and QB hits. Watt accounts for 30 percent of the Steelers’ sacks and 31 percent of the QB hits. The rusher to watch for the Browns becomes NT Larry Ogunjobi (5 sacks, 9 QB hits). Chad Thomas (3 sacks/QB hits) replaced Garrett last Sunday at RDE. Olivier Vernon (3 sacks, 9 QB hits) is questionable after missing the last three games.
n Robinson, the Browns LT, was ruled out on Saturday. Coach Fred Kitchens was non-committal to the replacement. Many expect Justin McCoy, who stepped in at guard when Robinson went down in the opener at right tackle to start for Hubbard in Game 3 and at left tackle for Robinson in Game 8. The Browns allowed 11 sacks in those three games combined, all losses.
n Through the first seven games, the Browns allowed 21 sacks, but have allowed only 6 in the last four games, including the 1-sack performance by the Steelers two games ago. Why the improvement? “They’re running the ball,” said Watt. “Running the ball and setting up play-action. They’re playing good football. Baker’s doing a lot more with his legs later in the season than he had been earlier. I think that’s also helping his offensive line out.”
n Kareem Hunt has played the last three games for the Browns primarily as an on-field complement to Chubb, who’s six yards off Christian McCaffrey’s NFL rushing lead with 1,117 yards. Hunt has been an effective runner and slot receiver with 11, 12 and 10 touches in the three games for 74, 58 and 44 yards. “It makes you more accountable with the ball going either way, and they’re both capable blockers,” said Heyward. “You never know who’s going to get the ball, so you’ve got to make sure you take care of your assignment play in and play out.”
n Why Hodges? “He hasn’t killed us,” Mike Tomlin said in coachspeak for turnovers. Rudolph has committed 82 percent of the QB turnovers in 70 percent of the snaps. Hodges and Ben Roethlisberger each havee 9 percent of the QB turnovers in 17 and 13 percent of the snaps, respectively. “We know we’ve got to protect the ball,” said OC Randy Fichtner. “He’s giving us a chance to do that. He did it again last week.”
PARTING SHOT
“I don’t think anyone’s going to do anything stupid. No one wants to get fined. I don’t think anyone wants to cost their team the game. They’re in the hunt just like we are. It’s a vital game.” — Steelers peacekeeper David DeCastro.