Read & React Week 12 preview: Steelers vs. Browns

Are the Browns better than their record?

Steelers Read & React is back to preview Pittsburgh’s Week 12 opponent, the 2-8 Cleveland Browns. Are the Browns better than their record shows? That’s debatable, but they’re an AFC North rival, almost guaranteeing that Thursday’s matchup won’t be drama-free.

What to expect from the Browns’ offense

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Rushing Y/G: 88.5 (29th)

Passing Y/G: 202. 8 (20th)

Points Per Game: 16.2 (31st)

RB: Cleveland’s offense has improved a bit since Jameis Winston took over for an injured Deshaun Watson at quarterback. But as can be seen from the metrics above, the Browns offense is still one of the NFL’s worst.

Cleveland is tied for the least touchdowns scored this season with 15; they have the worst yards per play at just 4.4. Watching the Browns’ game against the Saints, the offense is rarely a train wreck, but it fails to do anything consistently.

That’s a trait that’s more or less defined Winston’s career — he’s the guy who threw 33 touchdowns to 30 interceptions in 2019. With the Browns, that ratio has calmed down a bit, at least: 6:3 in three starts.

In fact, the Browns’ offense relies heavily on the short passing game with Winston, and it was largely successful against New Orleans. Winston was dealing on Sunday, throwing for a season-high 395 yards. His group of pass-catchers is notably without a WR1, but Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and David Njoku are big, athletic targets who can move the chains. Elijah Moore (315 yards this season) remains a solid option in the slot.

However, Winston’s deep ball remains incredibly hit and miss. That doesn’t mean he won’t attempt it though — he was throwing downfield a lot against New Orleans. Sometimes it works — Jeudy had an 89-yard touchdown in a monster, 142-yard game — but a number were quite inaccurate and/or thrown into crowded coverage.

The Steelers secondary will need to be ready on Thursday night. The Browns pass at the second-highest rate in the NFL (65.9% of plays). The short game could be a problem, but the downfield throws, although threatening, should present some turnover opportunities.

As a result of a pass-heavy offense, the Browns face the most light boxes (six or fewer defenders) in the NFL, 60.7% of the time. You’d think that would result in some success running the ball, but it hasn’t really materialized. The Browns have the NFL’s second worst rushing attack in terms of yards per game.

The Cleveland offensive line has struggled to get push in the ground game, and running back Nick Chubb, who’s played four games since returning from last year’s season-ending knee injury, is averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per carry. He hasn’t regained his old explosiveness just yet.

With ugly weather expected on Thursday night, the Browns might have to rely on their struggling running game more than usual. If that’s the case, it’s good news for Pittsburgh.

And although this doesn’t have to do with the offense, it does have to do with field conditions and scoring points: Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins missed twice last week in the Superdome, once from 51 yards another from 27. That could be a situation to monitor.

There’s also some important news on the injury report: The Browns will be without both Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. at left tackle against Pittsburgh, meaning the job will likely fall to backup lineman Germain Ifedi, who normally plays on the right side. That will immediately be a matchup Pittsburgh will try to exploit; Nick Herbig and Preston Smith could have good days, and the Steelers could also move T.J. Watt around.

Overall, the Browns offense isn’t that innovative, multifaceted, or explosive. It’s a favorable matchup for Pittsburgh. But there are still some things that Pittsburgh should be wary of. For one, Chubb has been an elite running back for much of his career, and is primed for a bounce back game eventually.

Winston has long been unpredictable, and his gunslinger style of play is always a threat. Beyond that, former Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey took over Cleveland’s play-calling from head coach Kevin Stefanski back in Week 8 — there isn’t a ton of tape out there on Dorsey’s new-look Browns offense, and there’s room for the unexpected.

However, if Pittsburgh can shut down the run game and force mistakes and negative plays in the passing game, they have a very good chance at shutting down a Cleveland offense that’s only scored over 20 points once this season.

And what about the defense?

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Rushing Y/G: 131.7 (24th)

Passing Y/G: 211.0 (16th)

Points Allowed Per Game: 24.8 (24th)

RP: What a difference a year makes. In 2023, Cleveland was one of the hottest defenses in the league. The Browns ranked 10th against the rush, second against the pass, and star defensive end Myles Garrett infamously took home Defensive Player of the Year honors despite having fewer sacks, tackles, tackles for loss, and QB hits than TJ Watt. Now? Cleveland ranks among the bottom half or worse against the run, pass and points allowed.

They’re actually barely giving up any more points (they averaged 22.6 points allowed in 2023), but the Jim Schwartz-led defense has lost its juice this year. And don’t just take my word for it, Cleveland fans are saying the same thing.

On paper, the Browns are the type of defense the Steelers offense should be excited to play. Cleveland’s rushing defense was struggling prior to rangy linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s injury, but they have cratered since. Heading into their Week 8 game against the Ravens, the Browns had allowed 126.1 rushing yards per game. Owusu-Koramoah injured his neck in the final minute of the third quarter. Cleveland had allowed 67 yards on 13 attempts (5.1 YPC). In the fourth quarter, Cleveland allowed 57 yards on eight attempts (7.1), which included both a long Lamar Jackson scramble and a 2-yard touchdown from Derrick Henry.

In the two games since Owusu-Koramoah’s injury, the Browns have held the Chargers to 96 rushing yards and been steamrolled by the Saints for 214 yards at an average of 6.0 yards-per-carry.

Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s defense is known for his aggressive use of stunts and rush design with his defensive line, mixed with simulated pressure. He rarely blitzes but has a reputation for being successful when he does. However, Schwartz’s defenses have years of extreme peaks and valleys. Clever offenses are able to counter Schwartz’s aggressive style with misdirections and presnap motions. That should put a strength of the Steelers against a weakness of the Cleveland’s.

If that doesn’t calm some of your trap game nerves, let me delight in informing you that Devin Bush is a starting linebacker for the Browns. We know how he plays against the run.

On paper, Cleveland should have an excellent secondary. Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., and Greg Newsome II are all sticky man corners that shouldn’t be taken lightly. That said, remember how I mentioned earlier that clever offenses are able to counter against the Browns’ aggressive playstyle? I want you to watch safety Grant Delpit (orange sleeves), Ward (21) and safety Juan Thornhill (1) on this play.

There will be opportunities to be had for the Steelers’ offense.

Does Cleveland’s offense or defense worry you more? What matchups will you be watching the closest on Thursday? Let us know in the comments below!