Pittsburgh Steelers: Studs and duds from Week 6 vs. Browns
By Samuel Teets
Stud: Pass Defense
Pittsburgh’s defense held Cleveland to 145 passing yards. Cleveland’s quarterbacks completed 15 of 28 pass attempts, which translates to only 4.5 yards per pass. However, the more important stat coming out of Sunday’s matchup dealt with interceptions. The Steelers picked off Mayfield twice, and a reigning All-Pro safety made his return to the spotlight.
Minkah Fitzpatrick drew criticism for his play through Pittsburgh’s first four games. The Steelers traded their 2020 first-round pick to Miami for Fitzpatrick last year. Upon arriving in the Steel City, Fitzpatrick transformed the Steelers into the NFL’s best defense. He made big plays every week, briefly earning a spot in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion.
However, Fitzpatrick didn’t make an impact early in this season. The star safety went silent until he intercepted one of Mayfield’s passes and returned it 33 yards for Pittsburgh’s first touchdown on the day. Hopefully, Sunday’s outcome signals Fitzpatrick turning his 2020 season around.
Dud: The Cleveland Browns
If I’m honest, the Steelers played so well that I couldn’t find a third dud. The first two selections were already nitpicking. So, the Browns get the final dud spot. After starting with a 4-1 record, Cleveland had some fans wondering if everything was clicking. They should know that LeBron James is the only athlete capable of curing the city’s sports curse.
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On paper, the Browns have one of the NFL’s most talented offenses. However, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry combined for fewer receiving yards than James Washington produced yesterday. Even Kareem Hunt struggled, recording only 57 yards from scrimmage in Nick Chubb’s absence. They may be 4-2, but this is still the same old Cleveland team.