Cleveland Browns: 5 Bold predictions for Week 6 vs. Steelers

Bold predictions for the Cleveland Browns against the rival Steelers in Week 6

The Cleveland Browns are the living embodiment of a post-hype sleeper through five weeks of the 2020 NFL season. After falling miles short of expectations last year, they’re off to a 4-1 start this year. Now they have a chance to make a statement in Week 6 as they travel to Heinz Field to face the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the wake of last year’s ugly melee, there is no love lost between the Browns and Steelers. They are division rivals to begin with but now there’s some bad blood that’s still fresh between the two franchises. And given that they are a combined 8-1 entering this game, the stakes are going to be high on Sunday.

Can the Cleveland Browns continue finally living up to the hype, even if a year late? Or will the Steelers have an answer? Let’s make five bold predictions for the Browns in their crucial Week 6 matchup.

5. OBJ stays hot with 100-yard, 1+ TD outing

After there was some potential drama early in the year, Odell Beckham Jr. has seemingly found his groove. He leads the Browns in receiving and that bodes well for him against Pittsburgh. For as good as the Steelers defense is, the secondary has been exploited a bit. They don’t have anyone who can match up with Beckham, which will allow the mercurial wideout to break loose at least a few times so that he ends up with a 100-yard day with at least one trip across the goal line.

4. Hunt held under 50 yards rushing, gets 75+ receiving

The fact that Nick Chubb has been injured and the Browns offense hasn’t missed a beat is a testament both to head coach Kevin Stefanski and the talent on the roster. Running back Kareem Hunt is at the heart of that.

While that may be true, the Steelers run defense has been stout so far this season, even if they haven’t faced a team as capable as Cleveland. They’ll still shut down Hunt in that department, though — but won’t be able to silence him. As a checkdown option to combat the Pittsburgh pass-rush, Hunt will have a big receiving day and end up with at least 75 yards through the air.

3. Garrett gets his ‘revenge’ with multiple sacks

Myles Garrett is going to be a topic of conversation all week after what happened against the Steelers last year, a brawl that resulted in him swinging a helmet at Mason Rudolph, which led to Garrett being suspended for the rest of the season. He’ll get his so-called revenge on Sunday, though. He’s been lights-out in 2020 and has too much juice for Pittsburgh to handle. He’ll get to Big Ben and bring the veteran to the turf at least twice on Sunday.

2. Baker has his best game of the season

Though his overall production has been solid through the first five games, Baker Mayfield hasn’t been consistently good this season. But despite the prowess of Pittsburgh’s defensive line and the quarterback being listed as questionable, he’ll have his best game of the year in Week 6.

Mayfield hasn’t thrown for more than 247 yards or two touchdowns in a single game this season. That will change against the Steelers as he’ll pick apart a struggling secondary for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns.

1. Cleveland Browns hand Steelers their first loss of 2020

Sunday’s AFC North rivalry matchup will be a defining moment for the Browns this season. In case you couldn’t tell by what’s already been predicted, I think Cleveland not only plays well but they get the win in Pittsburgh in Week 6.

Pittsburgh’s offense has been inconsistent and just enough so to make me think they could struggle against the Browns pass rush. More importantly, Stefanski has been finding his groove as a play-caller and will attack the Steelers defense where they’ve been weakest, giving Cleveland a statement win to move them to 5-1 on the year.