Hi Browns fans, welcome to week 12 of the season. Thursday the 2-8 Browns are in the national spotlight as they renew the AFC’s oldest rivalry welcoming the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers to Huntington Bank Field for Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football. Game time is 7:15 CST and the ChicagoLand Browns Backers/Northside Dawg Pound will be gathering at Burke’s Public House 5401 N. Broadway to cheer the Browns on to their third victory of the season. The Steelers will be trying to extend their 5-game winning streak while the Browns will be looking to end their 3-game losing streak and go 2-1 in the AFC North. Last Sunday the Steelers managed to beat the Baltimore Ravens 16-18 without scoring a single touchdown as they kicked 6 field goals to get the victory. Thursday night’s game will offer the Browns defense an opportunity to redeem themselves after they surrendered three 4th quarter TD’s to the New Orleans Saints that turned a 14-14 third quarter tie into a 14-35 loss. The game has also gotten even more personal for one important member of the Browns defense. At the end of last season Steelers All Pro DE TJ Watt decided to skip the NFL Honors Ceremony where Browns DE Myles Garrett was named Defensive Player of the Year. After the ceremony Watt posted on-line “nothing I’m not used to” in registering his disappointment and possible anger over not receiving the award, later his brother JJ Watt posted a side by side comparison of the 2 players’ stats for the season to show that his brother was more deserving of the award. This week Myles Garrett said he was expecting an apology from Watt when he saw him during Thursday night’s game. So we can expect Garrett to work extra hard to impress a national TV audience during the game and get a little payback. TJ Watt may have an added advantage during the game as the Browns, after injuries to left tackles Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills, will be forced to start third string tackle Germain Ifedi at left tackle. The Browns and Steelers couldn’t have more contrasting styles on offense. The Browns throw the ball on 65.8% of their offensive snaps, the second highest rate in the NFL while they run the ball on only 34.1% of their snaps the second lowest rate in the league. In contrast Pittsburgh runs the ball on 54.4% of their offensive snaps, second most often and they throw the ball only 47.5% of the time, the second lowest rate in the NFL. Overall, the Steelers are ranked 15th in scoring averaging 23.3 points per game and 19th in total offense gaining 324 yards per game. They average 5.0 yards per play which is 24th while converting 38.3% of their third downs and 44.4% of the red zone possessions into touchdowns, the third lowest rate in the league. Four weeks ago, the Steelers named 13-year veteran Russell Wilson their starting QB for the remainder of the season, replacing former Bear Justin Fields. In his 4 games this season Wilson is completing 60.3% of his passes averaging 7.8 yards per pass with 6 TD’s against 2 interceptions with 12 sacks for a QB rating of 94.4 good for 15th among starting QB’s. The Browns will need put consistent pressure on Wilson as his completion rate drops to 38.2% and his QB rating drops to 50.1 when he’s pressured. Wilson’s favorite receiver is third year pro George Pickens whos’ caught 48 of 75 passes thrown his way for 728 yards, 4th most in the NFL with 2 TD’s and 7 drops. Wilson’s most reliable receiver is second year TE Pat Freiermuth who’s caught 91% of his targets for 3 TD’s with only 1 drop. After New Orleans Saints short yardage QB Taysom Hill rushed for 138 yards and scored 3 TD’s against the Browns last week we can expect the Steelers to make frequent use of Justin Fields as a change of pace dual threat QB. Despite running the ball at the 2nd highest rate Pittsburgh averages only 4.0 yards per rush led by RB Najee Harris who’s averaging 4.05 yards per rush with 3 TD’s. QB Justin Fields leads the team averaging 4.4 yards per carry with 5 rushing TD’s along with 6 fumbles. The Steelers have the #2 scoring defense in the NFL giving up only 16.2 points per game. They are 8th in total defense allowing only 305.3 yards per game. Opponents are converting 35% of their third downs, ninth best in the league and 48.3% of their red zone possessions. Pittsburgh is 5th in rushing defense giving up 4.1 yards per carry and 91 yards per game. Their passing defense is almost as stingy limiting opponents to a 61.1% completion rate third best and 6.9 yards per pass. Despite having one of the best defensive lines in the NFL lead by 6-time Pro Bowl DE TJ Watt, 7.5 sacks, and 6-time Pro Bowl DT Cameron Heyward, 7 sacks, Pittsburgh is 20th in sack percentage at 6.65%. It will be vitally important for the Browns to protect QB Jameis Winston who’s 61.4% completion rate drops to 42.3% when pressured. One thing that might help is putting Winston under center instead of in shotgun. When using play action Winston is completing 68% of his passes averaging 14 yards per pass with 3 TD’s and no interceptions for an outstanding QB rating of 150.4. When not in play action Winston completes 60% of his passes for 5.8 yards per pass with 4 TD’s and 3 interceptions. The Browns special teams will once again be under the spotlight with kicker Dustin Hopkins converting only 70% of his field goal attempts, second worst in the league vs. Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell who’s converted 96.7% of his field goal attempts second best in the NFL. Lastly, could it be that RB Nick Chubb is returning to form. In his first game back against the Bengals he averaged only 2 yards per carry however last week against the Saints he rushed 11 times for 50 yards and a 4.5 yards per carry average.
SEE YOU THURSDAY GO BROWNS……GO CAVS