Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Bold predictions for Week 6 vs. Browns
By Samuel Teets
The 4-0 Pittsburgh Steelers face the dangerous 4-1 Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
Dating back to 2010, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 16-3-1 against the Cleveland Browns. During that time, Mike Tomlin hasn’t left his role as Pittsburgh’s head coach. He’s led the Steelers to six playoff appearances and a 106-57-1 regular-season record (including 2020). Meanwhile, the Browns have cycled through eight total head coaches and haven’t authored a winning season.
This one-sided rivalry is getting a new look in 2020. Through five weeks, the Browns are surprisingly 4-1 and are a top-five scoring team. As for the Steelers, they’re undefeated coming off a 38-29 win over the floundering Philadelphia Eagles. While the Baltimore Ravens are also 4-1, Cleveland and Pittsburgh can finish first and second in the AFC North.
The Browns have found a winning formula in Kevin Stefanski’s first season as head coach. Even Pittsburgh might struggle against Cleveland’s dominant ground game and developing defensive front. Baker Mayfield might also try to take advantage of Pittsburgh’s struggling secondary. For once, this is a must-see matchup where either team could emerge victorious.
In such an unpredictable matchup, we’ll see some surprising developments. I haven’t nailed many predictions this season, but keep an eye out for the following five storylines throughout Sunday’s matchup.
5. Mayfield sacked five times
T.J. Watt is fighting to stay in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation while Bud Dupree and Stephon Tuitt are trending toward career years. Cameron Heyward is also becoming a force in the pass rush after a slow start to the year. This monstrous defensive front benefits from Mike Hilton coming off the edge and Vince Williams rushing up the middle as well. Hilton has three sacks this year, while Williams has two.
The Browns haven’t given up many sacks this season. Surprisingly, that reconstructed offensive line is holding up extremely well. Defenses have only gotten to Mayfield seven times this season, which ties Cleveland for the fifth-fewest sacks allowed. Considering the Browns already faced Baltimore and Washington, two of the league’s top six defenses for sacks, that’s fairly impressive.
However, the Browns haven’t faced a pass rush like Pittsburgh’s yet because it’s one of a kind. The Steelers lead the NFL in total sacks (20) despite only playing four games this season.