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| Photo courtesy of www.clevland.com |
After an eventful win over Oakland last Sunday, the Steelers come into this week with a modest record of 5-4. This week's game against the Clevland Browns will have significant playoff implications, as likely will most, if not all remaining games on the schedule. Here are three important things for the Steelers to execute in order get a W on Sunday in this one-sided but still historic rivalry.
Key #1: Don't let Johnny be good
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| Photo Courtest of www.thesportsbank.net |
Although head coach Mike Pettine has not yet made anything official, it is likely that the Browns starting QB this week will be none other than the charismatic, controversial and unproven Johnny Manziel. In his short career, Manziel has yet to have a breakout performance that he became so well known for while at Texas A&M. The Steelers defense cannot afford to have his first such performance come against them, and if they play the way they are capable of playing, I do not foresee Manziel silencing any doubters.
Likelihood of Executing: High
Key #2- Make sure the offense revolves around DeAngelo Williams
Assuming that Landry Jones will be the starting quarterback on Sunday, the Steelers passing game will become less of a threat. Therefore, the Steelers use of running back DeAngelo Williams will become all the more significant. Williams should not only get more carries but also be used in the passing game as well. Like Le'Veon Bell, Williams does a solid job of gaining yardage through the screen pass. It is obvious that the Steelers won't be as pass heavy with Jones behind center as opposed to Big Ben, so Williams will be given plenty of carries. This combined with Todd Haley's knack for calling screen passes means that we will see #34 quite often. Williams is in stellar form right now, and I do not expect the Browns defense to slow him down, and the passing game being limited will give him even more of an opportunity to shine.
Likelihood of Executing: High
Key #3: Don't have a meltdown
The Clevland Browns are a 2-7 football team. Granted, they are a 2-7 football team that has lost a few close games along the way, but still a 2-7 football team. To emerge victorious on Sunday, the Steelers don't need to play a great football game. Hell, they don't even have to play a very good football game. For Pittsburgh to lose in their home stadium to a team that is tied for the second-worst record in the NFL, things are going to have to go quite awry. If the Steelers play even a decent football game, and Landry Jones does what he needs to do as a babysitter QB (again, assuming he is starting), and Johnny Manziel doesn't turn into Mike Vick circa 2004, I see no reason the Steelers should lose this game.
Likelihood of Executing: High
Final Prediction
It should be rather apparent at this point in the article that I do not see the Steelers losing this game. The Steelers are better than Clevland in every phase of the game, and they are playing at Heinz Field. If this game were on Lake Erie, I would call it a trap game, but since it is by the Allegheny River, I'll call it a ''we have no excuse not to win this one'' game. Compared to last week's thriller against Oakland, this game will be very subdued, and the Steelers should win quite comfortably as they head into their bye week.
Steelers 28, Browns 10
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| Photo Courtesy of stillcurtin.com |
Assuming that Landry Jones will be the starting quarterback on Sunday, the Steelers passing game will become less of a threat. Therefore, the Steelers use of running back DeAngelo Williams will become all the more significant. Williams should not only get more carries but also be used in the passing game as well. Like Le'Veon Bell, Williams does a solid job of gaining yardage through the screen pass. It is obvious that the Steelers won't be as pass heavy with Jones behind center as opposed to Big Ben, so Williams will be given plenty of carries. This combined with Todd Haley's knack for calling screen passes means that we will see #34 quite often. Williams is in stellar form right now, and I do not expect the Browns defense to slow him down, and the passing game being limited will give him even more of an opportunity to shine.
Likelihood of Executing: High
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| Photo courtesy of www.tulsaworld.com |
Key #3: Don't have a meltdown
The Clevland Browns are a 2-7 football team. Granted, they are a 2-7 football team that has lost a few close games along the way, but still a 2-7 football team. To emerge victorious on Sunday, the Steelers don't need to play a great football game. Hell, they don't even have to play a very good football game. For Pittsburgh to lose in their home stadium to a team that is tied for the second-worst record in the NFL, things are going to have to go quite awry. If the Steelers play even a decent football game, and Landry Jones does what he needs to do as a babysitter QB (again, assuming he is starting), and Johnny Manziel doesn't turn into Mike Vick circa 2004, I see no reason the Steelers should lose this game.
Likelihood of Executing: High
Final Prediction
It should be rather apparent at this point in the article that I do not see the Steelers losing this game. The Steelers are better than Clevland in every phase of the game, and they are playing at Heinz Field. If this game were on Lake Erie, I would call it a trap game, but since it is by the Allegheny River, I'll call it a ''we have no excuse not to win this one'' game. Compared to last week's thriller against Oakland, this game will be very subdued, and the Steelers should win quite comfortably as they head into their bye week.
Steelers 28, Browns 10
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