Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Preview, Prediction, TV Info and more
By Matt Shetler
Keys for Steelers:
1. Continued Roethlisberger dominance over Browns: The Steelers haven’t lost at home to Cleveland since Ben Roethlisberger came into the league, winning by an average of more than two touchdowns.
Dec 22, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le
Roethlisberger is 16-1 versus the Browns and has started eight of Pittsburgh’s nine straight home wins against them, averaging 9.86 yards per attempt and posting a 109.1 passer rating. Cleveland has had six different starters in that stretch, going for 6.02 yards per throw with a 65.2 QB rating.
2. Run the football: It took 23 weeks, but the Steelers finally had a running back eclipse the 100-yard plateau when rookie Le’Veon Bell rushed for 124 yards last week in the Steelers win over the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers must be able to move the chains against a Browns defense that ranks only 16th against the run, allowing 110.7 yards per game.
3. Solid play up front: The Steelers need to own the trenches. The Browns don’t run the football very well and the Steelers defense needs to contain that aspect of the game. They did so in the first meeting and must do so again.
Offensively, the line must keep playing well. If they do, the offense should have success. The Steelers topped 30 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2007 after last week’s 38-31 win in Green Bay, and their 29.3-point average since Week 9 ranks fifth in the league.
Roethlisberger has thrown 14 touchdowns and two interceptions in the past six weeks, and his protection has made a big difference. He’s been sacked only six times in that stretch, compared to 35 in Pittsburgh’s first nine games.