The Steel Curtain vs the Dawg Pound

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2, 1-0 AFC North) at Cleveland Browns (2-8, 1-1),

Nov. 21st, 8:15 p.m. 


Mike Tomlin (181-102-2) vs Kevin Stefanski (39-38) 


Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland. 


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR SHOWDOWN: There is a rivalry within the rivalry between T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, who are the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners of both the 2023 season and the 2021 season. When Garrett won the award, Watt felt disrespected and posted “Nothing I’m not used to” on his social media page. Watt had more sacks (19) than Garrett (14) last season, and this season currently leads him with half a sack more than Garrett. Watt also has 4 Forced Fumbles to Garrett’s 2, and 27 Solo tackles to his 21. During the week both players made comments to the press saying they don’t play against each other directly, and want their respective teams to come out with the win. 


TALE OF THE TAPE: The Steelers are just 1-3-1 in their past five away games to Cleveland, losing twice on Thursday night... while the Browns have won eight straight home games on Thursday nights. However, the Steelers have won four straight games with new quarterback Russell Wilson at the helm who missed the first six weeks with a calf injury. Last week, Pittsburgh defeated AFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens, 18-16, which helped them take control of first place in the division. Cleveland, meanwhile, has dropped seven of its last eight games and lost quarterback Deshaun Watson to an achilles injury in Week 7 which will keep him out for the year. 


THE STANDARD IS THE STANDARD: Pittsburgh needs one more victory or to tie in its last eight games to assure the franchise of its 21st straight non-losing season, the past 18 of which, have been under head coach Mike Tomlin. "When you have back-to-back division games, it is significant, but also to have back-to-back division games, and the second one be on a short week on the road, that has our attention and urgency from a lot of perspectives," Tomlin said. "We have got to make really good decisions this week about strategy, what to run, what not to run, what can we perform on a limited amount of physical repetitions? What do we need to take a calculated risk in terms of running on a limited amount of physical repetitions? I just think that that's always the case. On Thursday, we don't default to base menus and things of that nature, particularly when you play someone that is familiar with you, as Cleveland is with us.”


KING NAJEE: In order to be called a King, you must carry something with you to do so. Running back Najee Harris has carried the steelers to many positive outcomes this year with his current 708 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 175 carries. It isn’t a coincidence why he has been named to Good Morning Football Host Kyle Brandt’s “Angriest Run of the Week” winner of the year last year. That of course, comes with a scepter, something a king should carry. 


THE GLOVE: Similarly to famous NBA player Gary Payton, steelers wide receiver George Pickens can also carry the nickname the Glove. Perhaps no player has profited more from quarterback Russell Wilson’s arrival than Pickens. The 6-foot-3 third-year wide receiver has become Wilson’s go-to target in almost every situation. Pickens had a season high 12 targets and 8 receptions last week against the Ravens, and his 48 catches on the season are more than the next four receivers on the depth chart combined, which stands at 35.

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