Steelers Scouting Report: Cleveland Browns, Week 14
Steel City Underground scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents each week of the 2024 NFL regular season ahead of the games to inform fans of the latest news, roster moves, important players, and latest social media chatter.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) will host the Cleveland Browns (3-9) at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, December 8, in the second meeting in the AFC North series. The Browns stalled a Steelers win streak in Week 12 of the 2024 NFL regular season, and Pittsburgh will be playing to prevent a sweep as well as to remain in control of the division as the playoffs picture emerges. We look at the upcoming game and key factors.
Winston still dishing despite team’s record
Browns fans probably wish Jameis Winston had started the season as their QB1 with the win-loss record they have. In the last three weeks, Winston has thrown for 1,111 yards and six touchdowns. He has run for 26 yards and a touchdown in that same span.
What is worrisome for the Browns are the seven interceptions he’s thrown in the last four games, including one that was picked off by the Steelers in Week 12. He’s been sacked 16 times in the last six games; he fumbled the ball three times in that same span. That potential for a turnover could deliver a crushing blow to the Browns offense against a deep, disruptive Steelers defense whose turnover margin of +15.
Winston still poses a threat, however, and broke the Browns’ single-game passing record against the Denver Broncos last week with 497 yards. He has the potential to turn the game with Pittsburgh into a shootout should he heat up again this weekend. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would prefer not to have that happen and has emphasized this week that he wants the Steelers defense to prevent that from happening.
https://www.twitter.com/steelers/status/1863990720912080958
In the loss to the Broncos, Winston’s stat line was as follows:
- Completion rate: 34-of-58 (58.6%)
- Passing yards: 497
- Passing TDs: 4
- INTs: 3
- Yards per attempt: 8.6
- Passer rating: 88.1
Tough test for Steelers DBs
The last time the Browns and Steelers met, the defensive backfield of Pittsburgh showed some flaws and Winston completed 18-of-27 passes for 219 yards. His hottest target was Jerry Jeudy who made six receptions for 85 yards; Jeudy’s longest went for 26 yards.
Joey Porter Jr. was targeted by Cincinnati last week and, despite the win by the Steelers, penalties called against him were abundant. Porter allows little separation to opposing receivers, but has struggled, at times, to not be as hands-on in coverage. Counterpart Donte Jackson has sometimes been out of position and allowed chunk plays to occur. As the primary cornerbacks, Porter and Jackson face a tough test to keep Jeudy, Jordan Akins, Cedrick Tillman, and Elijah Moore from successfully navigating routes without making costly mistakes that hurt the Steelers.
Chubb continues to be a factor out of the backfield
Running back Nick Chubb has proven he is a workhorse despite sharing limited snaps, mainly with Jerome Ford. Pittsburgh limited him to just 59 yards on 20 carries in their last meeting but couldn’t keep him from scoring twice against them.
Chubb has averaged 40.5 yards per game in his six games this season after returning from a serious knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season against Pittsburgh. Expect the Steelers to have a defender spy him in this matchup in order to prevent big-yardage runs and trips into the end zone.
“It’s a divisional game, so for me, that’s enough for me to get excited about, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about it, going back to that place where (the injury) happened last year. But besides that, I’m always excited to play the Steelers,” – Nick Chubb
No respect from Garrett
It’s clear from recent statements made by defensive end Myles Garrett that he has little respect for the Steelers; he hasn’t shown much since he joined the Browns, in fact.
“We’ve got to start going out there and start spoiling people’s dreams and start making people feel how we feel right now,” Garrett said this week.
Garrett – who has 10 – is just 1.5 sacks behind current league leader Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals. Garrett believes he can be a repeat Defensive Player of the Year despite Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt being the current favorite.
“I got a lot of respect for him, a lot of respect for all the guys over there,” Garrett said of Watt, to local Cleveland media. “But I’m number one. And that’s what I am, Edge 1, to defensive player of the year.
How the Steelers prevent Garrett from a repeat performance (3 sacks and a forced fumble in Week 12) will be key in allowing Russell Wilson cranking things up offensively for the Steelers. Wilson is coming off of his best performance since donning the black and gold in Pittsburgh as QB1 and would find plenty of success this weekend if the offensive line can hold up under the pressure, even if tight ends and running backs have to help chip Garrett.
