Steelers Vs. Browns: 3 Things To Watch

For the second time in three seasons, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers will be squaring off in a late season Thursday night matchup on NFL Network. Unlike their matchup in 2009, which featured a reeling Steelers team against a Browns team that had been gradually improving in recent weeks, this week’s matchup features a Steelers squad that has been gaining steam all season long against a Browns team that has regressed in recent weeks.
Despite their recent struggles, the Browns will undoubtedly be inspired by the memory of their 13-6 upset victory in 2009 and be determined to put up a challenge against their division rivals.

3 Things To Watch

1. Joe Haden vs. Mike Wallace: After being gashed for over 200 yards by the Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Rice, the Browns’ run defense will undoubtedly be looking for some redemption this week against the Steelers. If the Browns load the box in an attempt to slow down the Steelers’ powerful Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger may attempt to exploit the Browns with deep passes to Wallace, the Steelers’ explosive breakaway threat who has supplanted Hines Ward as the Steelers’ primary receiver.
Browns cornerback Joe Haden will need to ensure that Wallace does not use his speed to slip past the Browns’ defensive backs for a touchdown. If Haden is consistently able to shut down Wallace on his own, the Browns will be able to use safeties against the run in an attempt to limit Mendenhall.

2. The Steelers’ Blitz vs. The Browns’ Offensive Line: Dick LeBeau, the Steelers’ wily defensive coordinator, conjures up blitzes that attack opposing quarterbacks from every direction imaginable. Although standout linebacker Lamaar Woodley won’t be active on Thursday night, the Steelers still boast one of the league’s best corps of linebackers. James Harrison, Lawrence Timmons, and James Warrior will look to get to Browns quarterback Colt McCoy early and often on Thursday evening. The Browns’ offensive line will need to be adept at picking up LeBeau’s crafty blitzes and give McCoy time to throw.
Rookie offensive lineman Jason Pinkston will be returning to the stadium in which he played his home collegiate games, and Browns fans should hope that the friendly confines of Heinz Field will motivate him to play his best game of the season. If the Steelers succeed in pressuring McCoy on a regular basis, he will need to make plays with his feet or it will be another long week for the Cleveland offense.

3. Colt McCoy vs. The Doubters: After yet another disappointing offensive performance, McCoy has been savaged on Cleveland sports talk radio this week. There is growing doubt among some Browns fans about his potential to be the Browns’ quarterback of the future, and sentiment that the Browns should use one of their two first-round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft to select a new quarterback is becoming stronger with each frustrating week of offensive ineptitude. McCoy could take a big step towards silencing the doubters with a solid performance this week at Heinz Field, the stadium in which he made his first professional start last season.
Last year, McCoy threw for 281 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in a loss to the Steelers. Perhaps the memories of his debut will motivate McCoy to deliver another standout performance that will give the Browns’ long-suffering fan base reason to believe that he can still be the franchise quarterback that the Browns have lacked since their return to the league in 1999.

Prediction: This game will be closer than most people expect. Expect the Steelers to wear down the Browns’ defense with a steady diet of Mendenhall rushes and use one big pass play to Mike Wallace to break the game open in the second half. Weather predictions call for snow, which should make the kicking game even more interesting than it already is at Heinz Field. The Steelers will win 20-10.

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