Throw your 0-16 jokes in the trash; the Browns have finally won. They beat the Chargers, 20-17, despite giving up 322 yards though the air and allowing nine sacks. Hue Jackson and the team will now have a parade around Northeast Ohio on Saturday.
All kidding aside, with the emotion he showed in the locker room after winning, Jackson could be that passionate coach that the team and city have always longed for. Here’s to hoping that the man gets an extension.
Moving forward, let’s be clear that the happy days of the Browns could be short-lived, with Week 17 being an uphill climb. They are 31st in ground defense (allowing 147.6 YPG), points allowed (28.3 PPG), and points scored (16 PPG). Through 15 games this season, only three teams have failed to eclipse 100 or more rushing yards, and seven have poured in 30 or more points against the Browns. It certainly doesn’t look good opposite the potent Steelers offense.
With Robert Griffin III (concussion) and Josh McCown (finger) questionable for the game, Cody Kessler could draw his ninth start of the season. He’s averaging 153.3 passing YPG and has a 6-2 TD-INT ratio. Look for him to often target safety blankets Terrelle Pryor, Corey Coleman, and Gary Barnidge, the team’s top three pass-catchers.
For the running attack, Isaiah Crowell should get the most touches. He’s coming off a 54-yard, two-TD game, and currently ranks 22nd in the league in yards from scrimmage, with 1,103 (73.5 per game).
The Browns haven’t beaten the Steelers at Heinz Field in 12 years (4-8 ATS).
The Steelers will be coming off an AFC North-clinching win over the Baltimore Ravens. They edged out their bitter rivals, 31-27, in a classic back-and-forth affair. The two teams ended up combining for 774 total yards.
They are now winners of six straight, and considering they’ll be facing NFL’s last-placed team next, Ben Roethlisberger and company should be able to finish the season on a seven-game winning streak. The QB is leading Steel City to average 263.9 passing YPG (fifth in the league), and has also thrown for 29 TDs. He and his receivers should have an easy day operating throughout the field, as the Browns have allowed a league-worst 33 passing scores.
The same goes with Le’Veon Bell, who’s putting up 181 yards from scrimmage per game in his last six (139 rushing and 43 receiving), along with six TDs. The fourth-year back should have no problems powering through one of the worst run defenses in the league.
Defensively, the Steelers could probably coast for most of the game and still win. The team’s pass rush is quite average (28 sacks, 13th in the league), but they’ll have a favorable matchup with the Browns offensive line that has given up 62 sacks this season, which is also dead-last in the NFL.
