Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Steelers at Huntington Bank Field, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Cleveland.
Post-Gazette sports reporter Christopher Carter breaks down the Week 8 game vs. the Cleveland Browns and lists the Steelers’ keys to victory.
When the Steelers have the ball
Though the Steelers put up 24 points when these teams played in Week 4, they did not have an efficient night moving the ball. The Browns pressed the Steelers with man coverage and blitzed Aaron Rodgers, holding the Steelers to just 31% on third down while sacking Rodgers five times and intercepting three passes.
Since that loss, the Steelers have won three straight. But the Browns still play a style of defense that strikes at the Steelers’ offensive weaknesses. They play the most man coverage of any team in the NFL, and the Steelers receivers are among the worst at getting separation on their routes.
The key to the Browns defense has been its ability to generate pressure. Pro Football Focus charts Cleveland’s defense with a quarterback pressure on 40% of dropbacks, fifth in the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) celebrates with linebacker Patrick Queen (6) after a defensive stop during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have allowed sacks on 8.3% of their dropbacks, 24th in the NFL. The Steelers must hold up in protection against the Browns’ pass rush and play to their own strengths, like running the ball and finding their tight ends with quick passes.
When the Browns have the ball
Deshaun Watson wasn’t elite the last time he faced the Steelers, but he beat them for the first time in his career and exposed weaknesses in Patrick Graham’s zone schemes. Since then, those schemes have become among the NFL’s best, as they rank 11th in passing yards allowed and third in EPA per dropback when in zone.
Quinshon Judkins is an impressive athlete at running back, but he averages just 3.5 yards per carry.
Cleveland does have a talented group of pass catchers for Watson to target.
Rookie Denzel Boston has proven to be a big-play threat, as he leads the NFL with 18.6 yards per reception and leads the Browns with 372 receiving yards. Next Gen Stats ranks rookie KC Concepcion and veteran Jerry Jeudy among the top 20 receivers in the NFL at getting separation on their routes.
Add in tight end Harold Fannin Jr., whose three touchdown receptions are tied for seventh most among NFL tight ends, and the Browns have a slew of playmakers.
Key matchup
Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle vs. the Browns’ ILB duo
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.
The Steelers’ 1-2 punch at running back will need to be ready to face an impressive inside linebacker duo for the Browns. Carson Schwesinger is the Browns’ leading tackler. Quincy Williams paces them with 14 run stuffs.
Getting his running backs going must be a top objective for Mike McCarthy. The Steelers are 3-0 when they rush for over 100 yards and 2-2 when they don’t.
Warren averaged 5.5 yards per carry against the Browns four weeks ago, but the Steelers’ deficit kept them from feeding him more. Work the ball to Warren and Dowdle early and often and force the Browns to sell out to stop them.
The X-factor
DeShon Elliott still needed to ramp up last week, with only 15 snaps in his first game coming back from injured reserve. Expect him to get more Sunday in an important game.
He would be an ideal matchup to cover Fannin, as well as help against the run and shadow running backs leaking out of the backfield. The Steelers have allowed the third-most receiving yards to running backs in the NFL this year.
Take away the tight ends and running backs, and the Steelers should be in good shape against the Browns.
Carter’s three keys
Get Watson. The Steelers only sacked Watson twice in their first showdown. That number must be higher if they’re going to win the rematch.
The Browns allow sacks on 11.8% of their dropbacks, the worst rate in the NFL. The investments in the Steelers’ pass rush must pay bigger dividends this time around and not allow Watson to feel comfortable in the pocket. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig need to have big days.
Play clean football. The Browns are one of the least disciplined teams in football, as their nine penalties per game rank third most. Meanwhile, the Steelers are on the other side of the spectrum, committing only six per game.
However, in Week 4 the Steelers committed a season-high eight penalties against the Browns, which negated their chance to capitalize on the Browns’ 14.
Keep running the ball. The Steelers found out last week that when they run the ball on third and manageable, it works.
They converted six of seven third downs last week when running the ball on third and 6 or less. Before last week, they had run the ball only eight times in those situations.
McCarthy must embrace this in the red zone, as well. The Steelers have run an NFL-low 16 times in the red zone. Change that up and run the ball when you get close to pay dirt, and maybe your red-zone offense won’t rank 27th.
The bottom line
The Steelers played into the Browns’ hands for most of their first matchup and were on the road for a Thursday night game — a situation when AFC North teams are a collective 3-19 all time against divisional opponents. Despite all of that, Pittsburgh only lost on a last-second field goal.
Now, the Steelers have found their identity and their strengths on both offense and defense. They get to host the Browns at Acrisure Stadium, where Cleveland is 1-25 all time when fans are allowed to attend.
Pittsburgh hasn’t been swept by Cleveland since 1988. I don’t see that happening, especially with the improvements the Steelers have made over the past three weeks. But the Browns will make it a hard-fought contest.
Carter’s call
Steelers 26, Browns 20
First Published: November 1, 2026, 1:00 a.m.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) reacts after wide receiver DJ Moore scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Houston.
Pitt running back Damon Ferguson Jr. carries during the first half of an NCAA football game against Georgia Tech at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Pittsburgh.