Steelers Eye Fifth Straight Win, Browns Struggling with Injuries
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns: Steelers Aim for Fifth Straight Win, Browns Struggling with Offensive Line Issues
The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Cleveland Browns in a pivotal AFC North matchup on Thursday Night Football. With kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET at Huntington Bank Field, the Steelers (8-2) enter the contest riding a five-game winning streak, including a hard-fought 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns (2-8) are reeling, having dropped seven of their last eight games, including a 35-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints last weekend. The Steelers are favored by 3.5 points, with a total set at 36.5 points.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Riding a Strong Defensive Wave
Pittsburgh’s defense has been the backbone of their impressive five-game run. In their latest win over Baltimore, the Steelers stifled the Ravens’ high-powered offense, forcing them into uncomfortable situations. Kicker Chris Boswell played a pivotal role, connecting on six field goals, including a franchise-tying performance that helped secure the 18-16 victory. The Steelers have now won seven of their last eight matchups against the Ravens.
The Pittsburgh offense has been steady, but not overly spectacular. Since switching from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson on October 20, the 35-year-old quarterback has brought stability to the position, passing for 942 yards, six touchdowns, and just two interceptions in four starts. His primary targets include wide receiver George Pickens (48 catches, 728 yards, 2 TDs), tight end Pat Freiermuth (31 catches, 295 yards, 3 TDs), and wideout Calvin Austin III (17 catches, 262 yards, 2 TDs). On the ground, running back Najee Harris has carried the load with 175 attempts for 708 yards (4.0 YPC) and three touchdowns.
The Steelers average 23.3 points per game (14th in the NFL) and 324 total yards (19th). Their offensive struggles are evident in their passing game, where they rank 28th with just 187.3 yards per contest. However, they’re strong on the ground, ranking 8th with 136.7 rushing yards per game. Despite being 25th in sacks allowed (28), the offense has made strides in key areas, including a solid 38.3% conversion rate on third downs (17th) and a red zone efficiency of 44.4% (30th).
Defensively, the Steelers have been elite, allowing just 16.2 points (2nd) and 305.3 total yards (8th) per game. Their pass defense is ranked 19th (214.5 yards allowed per game), but they’re stingy against the run, surrendering only 90.8 yards per game (4th). The Steelers also excel in forcing turnovers, with 19 takeaways (2nd in the league), and they’ve generated 24 sacks (22nd). Opponents have struggled on third downs against Pittsburgh, converting only 34.9% of attempts (9th).
Cleveland Browns: Struggling with Offensive Line Issues
The Cleveland Browns‘ offense has been plagued by inconsistency, and their offensive line struggles have only compounded these issues. In their latest loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Browns found themselves on the wrong side of a 35-14 scoreline, despite a strong performance from quarterback Jameis Winston, who passed for 395 yards and two touchdowns. However, New Orleans’ ground game dominated, rushing for 214 yards and averaging 9.2 yards per pass.
Winston has been the Browns’ primary signal-caller, completing 61.4% of his passes for 1,047 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. His top receiving options include wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (39 receptions, 560 yards, 2 TDs), tight end David Njoku (39 receptions, 336 yards, 2 TDs), and wideout Elijah Moore (39 receptions, 315 yards, 1 TD). Cleveland’s rushing attack has been lackluster, with Nick Chubb leading the way with 53 carries for 163 yards and one touchdown.
Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the league in several key offensive categories. They average just 16.2 points per game (31st) and 291.3 total yards (27th). Their passing game has been slightly more efficient, ranking 20th with 202.8 yards per game, but their running game has been abysmal, ranking 29th with only 88.5 rushing yards per game. Protecting Winston has also been an issue, as the Browns have allowed a league-worst 46 sacks (32nd). Additionally, their third-down conversion rate is the worst in the NFL at just 28.1%, and they score touchdowns on only 52.9% of their red zone trips (23rd).
Defensively, Cleveland has performed better, allowing 24.8 points (24th) and 342.7 total yards (19th) per game. They are solid against the pass (17th in the league with 211.0 passing yards allowed) but have struggled against the run, ranking 24th with 131.7 rushing yards allowed per game. While the Browns have accumulated 28 sacks (10th), their turnover differential is concerning, with just seven takeaways (31st).
Conclusion
This AFC North clash promises to be a gritty, hard-fought battle. Pittsburgh enters the game in strong form, especially on defense, and will look to extend its winning streak against a Browns team that has struggled offensively. Cleveland will need to overcome a banged-up offensive line and find a way to protect Winston while also sparking their rushing attack. If the Steelers continue their defensive dominance, they should be favored to win, but Cleveland’s defense can still make this a tight contest if they can limit Pittsburgh’s scoring chances.
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