November 19, 2024 • 23 mins
Matt Williamson and Tom Opferman break down the Steelers upcoming trip to Cleveland on a short week.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is the advanced.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Steelers get to win over the Baltimore Ravens eighteen to sixteen.
They improved to eight and two and take control of
the AFC North. Now they go to Cleveland on a
short week. Who the record is like looking at a
mirror for the Steelers. They are two and eight on
the season. But matt Am I wrong to say that
no matter what the record of your opponent is, even
if this wasn't an AFC North Division game, I don't
(00:30):
like Thursday night football on the road.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Hate it. And frankly, I just heard this that coach
Tomlin's not fond of it either. I think he's one
and seven on road Thursday night games. And frankly, when
the schedule came out, and even up until a couple
of weeks ago, well maybe even a couple days ago,
a couple hours ago, I thought, man, this is a
terrible position for the Steelers to be in physical game.
(00:52):
He knows it was going to be Baltimore, figured there'd
be a lot of injuries. But the more I've been
thinking through it, I like their chance. Of course, it's
a losable game. I mean, I hate the whole Thursday thing.
But they're relatively They're more than relatively healthy. They're very
healthy all things considered. Sounds like Highsmith's the only guy
that really be concerned about Browns have more injuries than
(01:13):
the Steelers going on right now, corner and tackles a
bit of a worry, and they're not in a very
good place. And then when you start looking at the
tactical stuff, I think this is a terrible matchup for
the Browns.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I do too.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, when I look at your stat pack here and
I'm prepping for this show, it's like, if this was
a Sunday game, we'd be picking the Steelers by ten
plus points, no question.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I just said that in the drive. I'm like, if
these guys played coming off a bye in Wichita, Kansas,
I'd pick the Steelers to win by a time. You
know it is. I don't know how they block the edges.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
They're gonna run all over Cleveland's defense.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of problems with this
team that don't match up well with the Steelers strengths.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
You're right, but it's the Thursday night thing that just
keeps hanging over this game, kind of like an ugly cloud.
And I do think they're gonna win. I said today
on The Standard My Show, you know, if you win
this game thirteen to ten, who cares, crumble up, throw
it in the trash, move on to Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Little many by business trip.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
It doesn't mean I wanted to see maybe a little
more style points against the Ravens, score a touchdown, maybe
prove yourself in that echelon with the Bills and the Chiefs.
Not sure if you exactly did that yet, but I
don't care about this in this game. This is a
strictly like you said, business trip. If you have to
win two nothing.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I don't care, three field goals, whatever.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Before we get to serious history and breaking down this matchup,
I always like to dig out some of your best
stats I think in your pack. This one is just
unbelievable when you consider how tight this division usually is.
Since twenty twenty three, the Steelers are now six and
one in the division after their win against the Baltimore Ravens.
Everybody in this division goes three and three or worse
agaist each other for whatever reason. Starting last year, the
(02:50):
Steelers have the sauce against all these teams. Yeah, I
mean the only losses in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I know, so be it. But I would be shocked
if they don't go at least three and three in
the division. Now out they're one and oh I said
that before the season. I bet they're four and two.
It's just the Steelers understand their opponents really well in
this division.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I believe that, seeing as I think they will for
sure sweep the Browns and they already have the Ravens
win in their back pocket.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, you flinched when I said for sure sweep the
Browns now.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Because I know it's a Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
That's your three wins right in your back pocket right there.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I don't know that since he needs to play in
Week eighteen either or if they, even.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
If they were playing, have the ability to sweep the
Steelers exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I don't know what they'll have to play for in
that game.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Both of Pittsburgh's losses of this season to the Cowboys
and the Colts were by three points in weeks four
and five. Their average minus three point differential per loss
that is the lowest in the NFL this season, and
Pittsburgh has put stat or excuse Pittsburgh has put points
on the board in twenty two consecutive quarters played. That
is the longest streak in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It's a good one. Huh.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You're starting to find offensive stats now this year that.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I know it used to be the offense that that's
tomes to be real, real lean.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, but I think it's the Arthur Smith effect. I
think it's the Russell Wilson effect. Obviously, they're starting to
act like a professional offense now.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, I mean, scoring twenty two quarters in a row.
Some of those you might have the ball by a
lot of them, you have the ball once.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Let's take a look at the Cleveland Browns defense to start,
Matt oh, I almost forgot our serious history. Yeah, because
it was such a dominant series history for one side,
it's easy to forget Bug meet Winshield.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
That's the serious history between the Special League.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Since Chuck nol you know, right right exactly, since Auto
Graham and Jim Brown.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
The Browns have met the Steelers one hundred and forty
four times dating back to nineteen fifty. Of those one
hundred and forty four matchups, only three have been in
the postseason, where Pittsburgh is two in one against the Browns.
They did drop the most recent one, though in the
postseason series. Overall, this series hits at eighty one, sixty
three and one in Pittsburgh's favor. But to begin this series,
Cleveland started off with an eight game winning streak, won
(04:59):
twelve of the first first thirteen contests between the teams,
and only had two losses out of the first eighteen
times they met the Steelers. Starting in December of nineteen
sixty two, though the tides greatly turned to the steelers favor.
The Browns won just four games between that point in
October of nineteen eighty three. Even more extreme, starting in
nineteen ninety four January of nineteen ninety four, Pittsburgh has
(05:19):
won forty three of the next fifty two games, with
a tie thrown in. During that time, Steers have won
four of the last six meetings, but the Browns won
the last meeting or the latest meeting, thirteen to ten
at game in Cleveland. Mike Tomlins career record versus Cleveland
is twenty six, seven and one. Since two thousand and seven,
the Steelers have outscored Cleveland by two hundred and seventy
four points in these head to head matchups.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's very overwhelming.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It's yeah, yeah, but they only have one win in
Cleveland Stadium since twenty seventeen. Yeah, twenty twenty one, big
Ben's last year. Because Big Ben's of course going to
win his last game at that stadium. It's basically his stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
That was one of I was about to bring that up.
I'm glad he did. Like that, blew me away for
that stretch when he was the winningest quarterback in that state.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Baker finally was able to play eight games there.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Just to laugh at the Browns a bit because why not. Sure,
Baker Mayfield finally overtook Ben for that embarrassing stat the
Believers quarterback there, and then Baker Mayfield beat Ben and
the Steelers in their house in a playoff game, and
then the brown said, throw him away.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, Mayfield, what does he know?
Speaker 1 (06:20):
What does he know about beating the Steelers? Watson?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Some of these franchises just can't get out of their
own way, and Cleveland is one of them. They really
are all right now looking at that defense, it allows
thirteen point nine points in the first.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Leven incredibly intelligent and good looking scout go about twenty
years ago.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Imagine where they'd be now you, if you were in
the room, you wouldn't have let Baker go.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I know that's for sure. So Cleveland's defense ago three
Super Bowls, right.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Thirteen point nine points allowed in the first half. Only
five teams are worse. So you can start really fast
against the Cleveland Browns, and their point totals right around
like twenty four points per game throughout a whole game.
So it doesn't really slow down much in the second
half either. They're allowing a decent amount of points to
be scored on them. And that's surprising because this is
(07:09):
a defense that has rivaled the Steelers in the past
couple of years as far as maybe they're the best
in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Maybe they're an elite defense. Yeah, not the case this year.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Real quick, what side of the ball was that you
lost people? For one thing?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
This is when Pittsburgh has the ball. So Cleveland's defense
allows thirteen point nine in the first half.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Well, you're aware of the other side of the ball
the half splits, correct.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I do have that here? When which is bonkers?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Cleveland? The Browns generate just six point seven points of
offense in the first half of the game, and.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The Steelers defense is the best in the second half.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Right, So if you don't score early on the Steelers,
you don't really score at all.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
And the Browns don't score early, right, Right, we'll get
to that.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
The offense, I know, but I just thought they correlated.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
For sure, they do, right, But it is surprising to
me that defensive one, because that that was really the
identity of this team forever, and it didn't get much
worse in the offseason, but it's playing worse.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Playing worse. One thing I do think we have to
note with this team just to be fair, which is
sort of true. It's definitely true for the Steelers too,
is the last The Winston era is a little bit
different than before. That the Wilson era is a little
bit different than before. That doesn't mean they're noticeably different,
but they were so dysfunctional the first six weeks or
(08:17):
so of the season with Watson. Some of these stats
are bottom of the league garbage where they should just
be bottom of the league, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
What's the secondary looking like for the Browns? House picking's
gonna do?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
It's hard to say.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Coming off of that season high in targets.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Newsom and Ward are both When we record this in
short week, you never know questionable to play, so I
don't know what their situation is, But you're right. The
defense has talent and it was a great defense a
year ago. They've traded Darius Smith, j Okay's out, their
linebackers aren't great, but it's not playing nearly as well
as it did last year. And I would assume it's
(08:55):
a human element of it too, like Watson can get
a first down and getting tired of this.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Now, this is an interesting stat to me when it
comes to Mike Williams because I think a lot of
people are being allowed right now.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
After the game against the Ravens, oh, where's Mike Williams.
Where's Mike Williams.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
His raw participation actually went up against the Ravens, quit
a bit twenty one percent against the Commanders, and his
debut thirty six percent against the Ravens. He just didn't
get targeted, so people didn't.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Really know him. And to be very honest, I thought
it was an uninspired Austin Jefferson Williams game. But they
also throw to pickings a ton. But Williams is ramping.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Up high in targets with twelve and eight receptions last week,
and as you mentioned, with Williams ramping up, the more
you see Van Jefferson, I know this was probably not
going to be even a first down, let alone a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
But he misses a bunny in the red zone something
like that.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I mean, the more Tomlin sees that, the more Smith
sees that, the more Rust sees that, Let's get Mike
out there.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah. I think that's where the direction they're going.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Miles Garrett is still the top dog on this defense.
He leads them with seven sacks. No one else on
the roster has more than three.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Why does it feel like he's not the same Miles
Garrett this year?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Though?
Speaker 1 (10:02):
I think he's against the Saints, no statistic the.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Second time this year he played the whole game and did.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Nothing, didn't register, don't even know half tackle not.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I get in a lot of trouble around here because
he's so hated, and I think he is.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
You love him so much. I love him so much.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
He's so good. He's so good, folks. If the Steelers
lose this game, he might be the entire reason that it.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Really the only logical bead you can draw on them
losing a.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Pretty unless Winston rolls doubles over and over, you know
what I mean, Sometimes once a while he does. Yeah,
but I will say, Garrett, he has he's gonna get
foot surgery after the year, and he's on the injured list,
and the whole defense just isn't as inspired as it was.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I mean, part of that what you were saying with
the deflation from Watson just like.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, like watching the Saints game, they didn't want to
tackle Taysom Hill. They didn't want to be there. The
offense has a little bit of juice to it now
with Winston.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
But the defense you kind of lost the defense already, Yeah,
I think so, And you're not getting back now.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
And you can blame Garrett if you want for that,
but I'm a Garrett apologist. He's a ridiculous football player.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I blame coaching more than that.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
I mean, not to be able to wake that side
of the ball up when Winston came up put it.
But at the same time, I mean, maybe you waited
too long to put Winston in. You were already what
two and six at that point.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Now you're too dug your own grave.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
And when they've be traded for Watson.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Garrett's got caught it on the mine.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
The defense has got vacation plans I think already starting
to line up.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I wonder if even they shut him down and he
gets with surgery or whatever.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It's probably not the worst idea for Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Uh, you mentioned how they had no interest in tackling
Taysom Hill. The Saints ran for two hundred and fourteen
yards against Cleveland last week. One hundred and thirty eight
came on seven Taysom Hill carries. One hundred and thirty
eight yards on seven carries from Taysom Hill. See whys
kind of have a Taysom Hill Matt.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I think you'll see Fields in somewhat of a similar capacity,
Like they're not apples to apples, because Fields is a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
That can yet Taysom Hill is a tight and.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
As a gunner and a punt protector.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
And he's a really good football player.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
He's a good football player.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yes, Fields is more polished the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And we did see Fields run, and I think we'll
see Field Svallech.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
The only thing that got in the Fields running or
in the way of Fields running was justin Fields himself.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Take one more step short, just take one more step, you.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Know, I know that you're now in the mindset as
a quarterback in the NFL to slide. Always go back
to your Ohio State days, dude, Like put the shoulder
down into somebody. You see Anthony Richardson's goal line run
against the when the first down to win the game
is on the line, JO something like that. At least
dive where you don't give yourself up.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That's why we do this job.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Than that.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Still highlight some of that water.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
And I'm sure he'll tell you the same things, and
I think it's.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Valid to highlight it because again, I think you can
use him in this game. You think a short week
benefits him getting out there more or less.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Though I wondered Tomlin kind of.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Had this tone in his press conference where it was
kind of like, we're going to keep it simple, stupid
this week because the Browns really familiar with us, and
it's such a short week to install anything like.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
When we get to the fields is a simple kind
of package.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
It's just it's already in the playbook, right, It's.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Not it's not rocket science, like you're not.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And I doubt you know, I know Wilson's a little older.
It's his body hurting a little.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Bit on a short week, got beat up, you.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Know, at least has just thrown it out there. I
don't know.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
One less stat on the Steelers offense forty four point
four red zone success rate That is only better than
the Giants and the Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Point pretty bad.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, touchdowns, you got to Russell Wilson has made a
career scoring touchdowns, justin Fields has shown a bit of
better track record in a higher sample size in the
red zone so far this year. Converting touchdowns as opposed
to field goals versus Russell Wilson, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
And you're pretty fortunate to have a great field coaches.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
The coaches, including Tomlin, especially Tomlin, has made unbelievably tough
decisions this year when it comes to the quarterback position,
and this red zone thing. I think is another one
that's facing them is do I put fields in there
to get this five yards?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
I'm a big no on that. Yeah, because Wilson's history
is he is an elite red zone passer, and I
still believe that to be true, and I didn't I
think throwing touchdown passes is supportant. I've been saying that
for a year.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
I'm gonna know on it as well. Here's a little
different reason, though, I don't trust Justin Fields completely. Still,
he slid short of the game winning first down. Hello,
like you don't want him to do something stupid in
a weighty moment at the goal line. I'll be honest.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
When he came out there for that play, I kind
of didn't yell, but said to my TV, the guy
that struggles with quarterback center exchange, you're trusting.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
The I was, you know, a little more surprised that
he got the second play after he sleep short.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
He was out there for the handoff the denage, but
again water on the bridge.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Like you said, they love him, though I mean, I'm
not saying I don't. I mean I like feeling I.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Would be enamored with that capability because the Ravens couldn't
stop it when it mattered the most.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
But he slid short. You just can't trust the guy.
That's my big problem. There's always a little something.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
In the back of your head, just like I don't
know if i've and like you SA said, with the
center snap exchange too, it's probably in the back of
their head kicking around.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
A little bit like he could fumble this snap.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
We saw it against Indy offense for the Browns sixteen
point two points per game. Only the Giants are worse
in the NFL, So this is technically the second worst
offense in football because all that matters to scoring points
at the end of the day. Pittsburgh sixteen point two
points allowed per game, well, that's only behind the La
Chargers for the best in the NFL when it comes
to a defense. So this is a bestund worst matchup
(15:28):
when it comes to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
I definitely think they're more dangerous now though with Winston
and they have three receivers in the Djoku that are
NFL players, you know what I mean. Like, but they
are a.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
League worst four point four yards per play, but that's
up a full yard in the past three games exactly.
They're averaging five point right now. But that's that that
we already kind of spoiled. That they generate just six
point seven yard or six point seven points on average
in the first half of games. It's the worst in
the league in the first half. They're under a touchdown
every time. That's just not going to get it done.
(16:00):
And then we talked about the Steelers allowing just six
point four points on average in the second half of games.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
So they really shut teams down.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
What was it?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It wasn't it was the Commander's game, that drive out
of the halftime. It's the first time they give up
points in the third quarter.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Third quarter points.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, Browns throw the ball the highest rate in the
NFL sixty five point nine percent.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Not changing with jamis either they.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Are with him and even more downfield, and they're also
losing a lot. But still they don't run the ball.
They're not the Nick Chubb offense like they used to be.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
How's the pass protection for Winston?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
The worst in the league.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Is like most Like we said at.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
The beginning of this show, I mean, this is a
matchup on paper that the Steelers just avalanche.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
The tackle thing would really worry me. And Dwad Jones
is out for the year. They've had a lot of
different offensive line starting groups injuries.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
He holds a.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ball to drive it downfield. He's not real mobile. This
is not going to be a Washington Baltimore rush to
keep him in the pocket. This is going to be
rush to take the quarterbacks head off and instance not.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
You said he holds on the ball and gets it downfield.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
He's not a quarterback that you coach into quick passes
through a full sixty minutes right Like you might have
a game plan here where Winston's getting the ball out
quick early, but he's just gonna sit back there and
be Jamis Winsday.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
He is who he is. He has a lot of
DNA that is fun, but it's also dangerous.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
One of the best college quarterbacks I've seen. The season
at Florid State was insane.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
I mean, he's picked number one overall for a reason.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Absolutely. His teammates love him too.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
He's a great teammate.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
In his three starts, he averaged he's been averaging forty
four point three pass attempts. That's amazing, three hundred and
twenty one point three passing yards. He has a five
to three touchdown interception ratio, and his attempted ninety nine
passes so far in a Brown's uniform. You're getting fun
football when it comes to Jamis Winston.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Yeah, it's like his receivers are loving it there.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
If you're a bad team on your television, hope that
Jamis Winston is playing quarterback for that bad team.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It's going to be fun.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
He's thrown the ball seventy one fewer times than Watson
this year, he only has one hundred and one fewer
passing yards, and he has two more touchdown passes, so
two more past week. Right, his targets Jerry Judy. I
always thought Jerry Judy was a really good wide receiver.
He's starting to play better with a quarterback that can throw.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
In the full competent quarterback. All three catches last week,
one hundred and forty two yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
That's a Jerry Judy performance that I thought you get
a lot more when he came out of Alabama.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
And I still think Tillman's the one, but it's hard
to tell because they all get about the equal targets
with Winston and Nijoku's a force too well.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Winston actually played pretty well last week, three hundred and
ninety five yards, did not throw an interception either.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
There were two we of course.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
I was going to He's such a roller coaster of
a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I love seeing him throw up numbers one week because
I think the next week you're going to get him.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
That's the four interception, Yeah, right.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Into the Steelers' hands with that one.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I just think sacks are coming in a plenty.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
I agree he holds onto the ball way too much.
It won't be a frustrating ay, He's getting it out
in half a second and it'll be like Daron Rodgers,
you know, yep, exactly what's up with Nick Chubb since
coming back from the injury.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Just that's a tough injury to come back from.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
It is, but they're also always losing, which means wards
out there.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
He just said that they can't play the team.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
They can't play the script that he works, and he
doesn't look the same, averaging like three and a half
yards of carrias.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's see one of those backs too that you got
to give him like twenty five carries.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
He kind of went the defense the mount.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Honestly, when he before his injury, I thought he was
the best ball carrier in the league over Henry, even
over Henry, I mean, special guy. And I know he's
a Brown, but I'm rooting for him because a brutal injury.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
It was a brutal injury.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
And again, yeah, Brown, you you have enough to laugh
at that organization for Nick Chubb was an all timer
for that organization. And that's a rich history of running
backs that he was adding to. So yeah, I hope
that the end of that story isn't Oh he got
injured in a Steeler game and it was never the same.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Like, give him a couple more years.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
And maybe this is the week he looks better. I mean,
he doesn't look terrible. There's not a lot of opportunity.
The blocking is bad, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
The Browns offense has only been to the red zone
seventeen times this year. Close in the league, the Bears
rank thirty first with just twenty three trips to the
red zone.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
But here's a pretty big discrepancy.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
But here's a silver lining, too, Cleave. Your team is
pretty much in the dumps right now. Chicago's supposed to
be turning and around with the rookie quarterback and they're
only been in the red zone six more times than
you have.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
But that's a bad look for Cleveland. Terrible, right.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
I think that's maybe going up a little bit too
this week with with Jamis. Although Jamis does a lot
of damage outside of the red it's a lot of
big play, splash kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
H per EPA. Only the Eagles and Bears.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Have faced an easier slate of defenses than Cleveland to
this point in the season. So they stink on offense
and they don't play anybody.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
They haven't played anybody, and it's about to get way
harder for them.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, you added on here, including these this game against
Steelers and then of course another game against the Steelers.
Only the Bears, Ravens and lines face a more difficult
slate of defenses moving forward.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
If you thought it was bad and now you're starting
to get some signs, it's like now it's a steeper
hill to climb.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Little hidden thing in that step before we get to
our key matchups. I like hearing that the Ravens face
a very difficult slate of defenses.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Moving for as well.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
You're in control of the AFC North, but you can
always use an extra loss or to to help you out.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
In the last week because it included the Deelers.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Key matchups in this one David and Joku versus Steelers safety.
To Shawn Elliott, boy, what a great signing, Elliott. I'm
done saying just good. I think it's been a great
sign and it's just been exactly what you needed. You
didn't go out and get an All Pro, so you're
not gonna expect an all pro performance, but you're expecting
to be a solid safety, solid compliment with Minka, and
he's been.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
He's been awesome, well above average starter.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I didn't put Porter on there because I don't know
if he'll follow this week, or if they'll just kind
of play sides or you know, the Joku is a
little bit easier one to target.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Yeah, I think in Joku's maybe.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I don't know though, because Jerry Judy is impressive, and
like you said, someone's not bad either.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
It's not a terrible receiving course. There's some weapons for
him to.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Throw to the path. The Steelers losing is that foursome,
including the Joku. Jamis gets hot, Jamis throws for three
point fifty and Garrett has four sacks and Garrett iss
four sacks right, uh, and.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Then the offensive tackles versus Brown's defensive end. Miles Garrett.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Now, before Dann More, before Dan Moore broke out this
year and actually became a very solid time in the NFL,
he was always known as kind of this like one
trick pony against Miles Garrett.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
He was the Miles Garrett stopper. Well, now I think
they're gonna move Like you said, they.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Move them around.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
They're going to move me Gyard over to the.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Other side more in this game, because there is such
a weakness over there that you'd have to and be
stupid not to exploit.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I would imagine. I would imagine I'll see a lot
of darnet washing and to help Rod Russell Wilson, Right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Agree with that, And we were just saying Jameis Winston
is not coachable when it comes to getting the ball
out quick.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
To face a pass rush. Russell Wilson is.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Very coachable to get the ball out quick with pass rush.
Dump it off the nage, dump it off the Jalen
quick screen to fire me if he it won't. I
think you're gonna do you see a better job this
week of dealing with pressure than you did against Baltimore
and Washington the previous team.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
I tend to think so, and let's say they better
be better at it. But in the end, I'm with you.
I don't care how it looks, as long as it's
a W at the end.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Steelers in Browns on Thursday in Cleveland. Matt's gonna be
on the air around four o'clockish on dve to get
things going. Steelers Audio Network pregame starts at six fifteen
and then eight to fifteen kickoff in Cleveland. Steelers try
to get to nine or nine and two and should
get to nine and two Formatt Williamson and Tom Offerman.
We'll talk to you next week when we PREVIEUW Steelers
(23:14):
and the Bengals.
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is the advanced.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Steelers get to win over the Baltimore Ravens eighteen to sixteen.
They improved to eight and two and take control of
the AFC North. Now they go to Cleveland on a
short week. Who the record is like looking at a
mirror for the Steelers. They are two and eight on
the season. But matt Am I wrong to say that
no matter what the record of your opponent is, even
if this wasn't an AFC North Division game, I don't
(00:30):
like Thursday night football on the road.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Hate it. And frankly, I just heard this that coach
Tomlin's not fond of it either. I think he's one
and seven on road Thursday night games. And frankly, when
the schedule came out, and even up until a couple
of weeks ago, well maybe even a couple days ago,
a couple hours ago, I thought, man, this is a
terrible position for the Steelers to be in physical game.
(00:52):
He knows it was going to be Baltimore, figured there'd
be a lot of injuries. But the more I've been
thinking through it, I like their chance. Of course, it's
a losable game. I mean, I hate the whole Thursday thing.
But they're relatively They're more than relatively healthy. They're very
healthy all things considered. Sounds like Highsmith's the only guy
that really be concerned about Browns have more injuries than
(01:13):
the Steelers going on right now, corner and tackles a
bit of a worry, and they're not in a very
good place. And then when you start looking at the
tactical stuff, I think this is a terrible matchup for
the Browns.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I do too.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, when I look at your stat pack here and
I'm prepping for this show, it's like, if this was
a Sunday game, we'd be picking the Steelers by ten
plus points, no question.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I just said that in the drive. I'm like, if
these guys played coming off a bye in Wichita, Kansas,
I'd pick the Steelers to win by a time. You
know it is. I don't know how they block the edges.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
They're gonna run all over Cleveland's defense.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of problems with this
team that don't match up well with the Steelers strengths.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
You're right, but it's the Thursday night thing that just
keeps hanging over this game, kind of like an ugly cloud.
And I do think they're gonna win. I said today
on The Standard My Show, you know, if you win
this game thirteen to ten, who cares, crumble up, throw
it in the trash, move on to Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Little many by business trip.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
It doesn't mean I wanted to see maybe a little
more style points against the Ravens, score a touchdown, maybe
prove yourself in that echelon with the Bills and the Chiefs.
Not sure if you exactly did that yet, but I
don't care about this in this game. This is a
strictly like you said, business trip. If you have to
win two nothing.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I don't care, three field goals, whatever.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Before we get to serious history and breaking down this matchup,
I always like to dig out some of your best
stats I think in your pack. This one is just
unbelievable when you consider how tight this division usually is.
Since twenty twenty three, the Steelers are now six and
one in the division after their win against the Baltimore Ravens.
Everybody in this division goes three and three or worse
agaist each other for whatever reason. Starting last year, the
(02:50):
Steelers have the sauce against all these teams. Yeah, I
mean the only losses in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I know, so be it. But I would be shocked
if they don't go at least three and three in
the division. Now out they're one and oh I said
that before the season. I bet they're four and two.
It's just the Steelers understand their opponents really well in
this division.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I believe that, seeing as I think they will for
sure sweep the Browns and they already have the Ravens
win in their back pocket.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, you flinched when I said for sure sweep the
Browns now.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Because I know it's a Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
That's your three wins right in your back pocket right there.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I don't know that since he needs to play in
Week eighteen either or if they, even.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
If they were playing, have the ability to sweep the
Steelers exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I don't know what they'll have to play for in
that game.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Both of Pittsburgh's losses of this season to the Cowboys
and the Colts were by three points in weeks four
and five. Their average minus three point differential per loss
that is the lowest in the NFL this season, and
Pittsburgh has put stat or excuse Pittsburgh has put points
on the board in twenty two consecutive quarters played. That
is the longest streak in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It's a good one. Huh.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You're starting to find offensive stats now this year that.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I know it used to be the offense that that's
tomes to be real, real lean.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, but I think it's the Arthur Smith effect. I
think it's the Russell Wilson effect. Obviously, they're starting to
act like a professional offense now.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, I mean, scoring twenty two quarters in a row.
Some of those you might have the ball by a
lot of them, you have the ball once.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Let's take a look at the Cleveland Browns defense to start,
Matt oh, I almost forgot our serious history. Yeah, because
it was such a dominant series history for one side,
it's easy to forget Bug meet Winshield.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
That's the serious history between the Special League.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Since Chuck nol you know, right right exactly, since Auto
Graham and Jim Brown.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
The Browns have met the Steelers one hundred and forty
four times dating back to nineteen fifty. Of those one
hundred and forty four matchups, only three have been in
the postseason, where Pittsburgh is two in one against the Browns.
They did drop the most recent one, though in the
postseason series. Overall, this series hits at eighty one, sixty
three and one in Pittsburgh's favor. But to begin this series,
Cleveland started off with an eight game winning streak, won
(04:59):
twelve of the first first thirteen contests between the teams,
and only had two losses out of the first eighteen
times they met the Steelers. Starting in December of nineteen
sixty two, though the tides greatly turned to the steelers favor.
The Browns won just four games between that point in
October of nineteen eighty three. Even more extreme, starting in
nineteen ninety four January of nineteen ninety four, Pittsburgh has
(05:19):
won forty three of the next fifty two games, with
a tie thrown in. During that time, Steers have won
four of the last six meetings, but the Browns won
the last meeting or the latest meeting, thirteen to ten
at game in Cleveland. Mike Tomlins career record versus Cleveland
is twenty six, seven and one. Since two thousand and seven,
the Steelers have outscored Cleveland by two hundred and seventy
four points in these head to head matchups.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's very overwhelming.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It's yeah, yeah, but they only have one win in
Cleveland Stadium since twenty seventeen. Yeah, twenty twenty one, big
Ben's last year. Because Big Ben's of course going to
win his last game at that stadium. It's basically his stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
That was one of I was about to bring that up.
I'm glad he did. Like that, blew me away for
that stretch when he was the winningest quarterback in that state.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Baker finally was able to play eight games there.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Just to laugh at the Browns a bit because why not. Sure,
Baker Mayfield finally overtook Ben for that embarrassing stat the
Believers quarterback there, and then Baker Mayfield beat Ben and
the Steelers in their house in a playoff game, and
then the brown said, throw him away.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, Mayfield, what does he know?
Speaker 1 (06:20):
What does he know about beating the Steelers? Watson?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Some of these franchises just can't get out of their
own way, and Cleveland is one of them. They really
are all right now looking at that defense, it allows
thirteen point nine points in the first.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Leven incredibly intelligent and good looking scout go about twenty
years ago.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Imagine where they'd be now you, if you were in
the room, you wouldn't have let Baker go.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I know that's for sure. So Cleveland's defense ago three
Super Bowls, right.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Thirteen point nine points allowed in the first half. Only
five teams are worse. So you can start really fast
against the Cleveland Browns, and their point totals right around
like twenty four points per game throughout a whole game.
So it doesn't really slow down much in the second
half either. They're allowing a decent amount of points to
be scored on them. And that's surprising because this is
(07:09):
a defense that has rivaled the Steelers in the past
couple of years as far as maybe they're the best
in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Maybe they're an elite defense. Yeah, not the case this year.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Real quick, what side of the ball was that you
lost people? For one thing?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
This is when Pittsburgh has the ball. So Cleveland's defense
allows thirteen point nine in the first half.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Well, you're aware of the other side of the ball
the half splits, correct.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I do have that here? When which is bonkers?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Cleveland? The Browns generate just six point seven points of
offense in the first half of the game, and.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The Steelers defense is the best in the second half.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Right, So if you don't score early on the Steelers,
you don't really score at all.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
And the Browns don't score early, right, Right, we'll get
to that.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
The offense, I know, but I just thought they correlated.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
For sure, they do, right, But it is surprising to
me that defensive one, because that that was really the
identity of this team forever, and it didn't get much
worse in the offseason, but it's playing worse.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Playing worse. One thing I do think we have to
note with this team just to be fair, which is
sort of true. It's definitely true for the Steelers too,
is the last The Winston era is a little bit
different than before. That the Wilson era is a little
bit different than before. That doesn't mean they're noticeably different,
but they were so dysfunctional the first six weeks or
(08:17):
so of the season with Watson. Some of these stats
are bottom of the league garbage where they should just
be bottom of the league, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
What's the secondary looking like for the Browns? House picking's
gonna do?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
It's hard to say.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Coming off of that season high in targets.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Newsom and Ward are both When we record this in
short week, you never know questionable to play, so I
don't know what their situation is, But you're right. The
defense has talent and it was a great defense a
year ago. They've traded Darius Smith, j Okay's out, their
linebackers aren't great, but it's not playing nearly as well
as it did last year. And I would assume it's
(08:55):
a human element of it too, like Watson can get
a first down and getting tired of this.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Now, this is an interesting stat to me when it
comes to Mike Williams because I think a lot of
people are being allowed right now.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
After the game against the Ravens, oh, where's Mike Williams.
Where's Mike Williams.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
His raw participation actually went up against the Ravens, quit
a bit twenty one percent against the Commanders, and his
debut thirty six percent against the Ravens. He just didn't
get targeted, so people didn't.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Really know him. And to be very honest, I thought
it was an uninspired Austin Jefferson Williams game. But they
also throw to pickings a ton. But Williams is ramping.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Up high in targets with twelve and eight receptions last week,
and as you mentioned, with Williams ramping up, the more
you see Van Jefferson, I know this was probably not
going to be even a first down, let alone a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
But he misses a bunny in the red zone something
like that.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I mean, the more Tomlin sees that, the more Smith
sees that, the more Rust sees that, Let's get Mike
out there.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah. I think that's where the direction they're going.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Miles Garrett is still the top dog on this defense.
He leads them with seven sacks. No one else on
the roster has more than three.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Why does it feel like he's not the same Miles
Garrett this year?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Though?
Speaker 1 (10:02):
I think he's against the Saints, no statistic the.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Second time this year he played the whole game and did.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Nothing, didn't register, don't even know half tackle not.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I get in a lot of trouble around here because
he's so hated, and I think he is.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
You love him so much. I love him so much.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
He's so good. He's so good, folks. If the Steelers
lose this game, he might be the entire reason that it.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Really the only logical bead you can draw on them
losing a.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Pretty unless Winston rolls doubles over and over, you know
what I mean, Sometimes once a while he does. Yeah,
but I will say, Garrett, he has he's gonna get
foot surgery after the year, and he's on the injured list,
and the whole defense just isn't as inspired as it was.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I mean, part of that what you were saying with
the deflation from Watson just like.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, like watching the Saints game, they didn't want to
tackle Taysom Hill. They didn't want to be there. The
offense has a little bit of juice to it now
with Winston.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
But the defense you kind of lost the defense already, Yeah,
I think so, And you're not getting back now.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
And you can blame Garrett if you want for that,
but I'm a Garrett apologist. He's a ridiculous football player.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I blame coaching more than that.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
I mean, not to be able to wake that side
of the ball up when Winston came up put it.
But at the same time, I mean, maybe you waited
too long to put Winston in. You were already what
two and six at that point.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Now you're too dug your own grave.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
And when they've be traded for Watson.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Garrett's got caught it on the mine.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
The defense has got vacation plans I think already starting
to line up.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I wonder if even they shut him down and he
gets with surgery or whatever.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It's probably not the worst idea for Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Uh, you mentioned how they had no interest in tackling
Taysom Hill. The Saints ran for two hundred and fourteen
yards against Cleveland last week. One hundred and thirty eight
came on seven Taysom Hill carries. One hundred and thirty
eight yards on seven carries from Taysom Hill. See whys
kind of have a Taysom Hill Matt.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I think you'll see Fields in somewhat of a similar capacity,
Like they're not apples to apples, because Fields is a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
That can yet Taysom Hill is a tight and.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
As a gunner and a punt protector.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
And he's a really good football player.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
He's a good football player.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yes, Fields is more polished the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And we did see Fields run, and I think we'll
see Field Svallech.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
The only thing that got in the Fields running or
in the way of Fields running was justin Fields himself.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Take one more step short, just take one more step, you.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Know, I know that you're now in the mindset as
a quarterback in the NFL to slide. Always go back
to your Ohio State days, dude, Like put the shoulder
down into somebody. You see Anthony Richardson's goal line run
against the when the first down to win the game
is on the line, JO something like that. At least
dive where you don't give yourself up.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That's why we do this job.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Than that.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Still highlight some of that water.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
And I'm sure he'll tell you the same things, and
I think it's.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Valid to highlight it because again, I think you can
use him in this game. You think a short week
benefits him getting out there more or less.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Though I wondered Tomlin kind of.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Had this tone in his press conference where it was
kind of like, we're going to keep it simple, stupid
this week because the Browns really familiar with us, and
it's such a short week to install anything like.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
When we get to the fields is a simple kind
of package.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
It's just it's already in the playbook, right, It's.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Not it's not rocket science, like you're not.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And I doubt you know, I know Wilson's a little older.
It's his body hurting a little.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Bit on a short week, got beat up, you.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Know, at least has just thrown it out there. I
don't know.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
One less stat on the Steelers offense forty four point
four red zone success rate That is only better than
the Giants and the Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Point pretty bad.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, touchdowns, you got to Russell Wilson has made a
career scoring touchdowns, justin Fields has shown a bit of
better track record in a higher sample size in the
red zone so far this year. Converting touchdowns as opposed
to field goals versus Russell Wilson, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
And you're pretty fortunate to have a great field coaches.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
The coaches, including Tomlin, especially Tomlin, has made unbelievably tough
decisions this year when it comes to the quarterback position,
and this red zone thing. I think is another one
that's facing them is do I put fields in there
to get this five yards?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
I'm a big no on that. Yeah, because Wilson's history
is he is an elite red zone passer, and I
still believe that to be true, and I didn't I
think throwing touchdown passes is supportant. I've been saying that
for a year.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
I'm gonna know on it as well. Here's a little
different reason, though, I don't trust Justin Fields completely. Still,
he slid short of the game winning first down. Hello,
like you don't want him to do something stupid in
a weighty moment at the goal line. I'll be honest.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
When he came out there for that play, I kind
of didn't yell, but said to my TV, the guy
that struggles with quarterback center exchange, you're trusting.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
The I was, you know, a little more surprised that
he got the second play after he sleep short.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
He was out there for the handoff the denage, but
again water on the bridge.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Like you said, they love him, though I mean, I'm
not saying I don't. I mean I like feeling I.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Would be enamored with that capability because the Ravens couldn't
stop it when it mattered the most.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
But he slid short. You just can't trust the guy.
That's my big problem. There's always a little something.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
In the back of your head, just like I don't
know if i've and like you SA said, with the
center snap exchange too, it's probably in the back of
their head kicking around.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
A little bit like he could fumble this snap.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
We saw it against Indy offense for the Browns sixteen
point two points per game. Only the Giants are worse
in the NFL, So this is technically the second worst
offense in football because all that matters to scoring points
at the end of the day. Pittsburgh sixteen point two
points allowed per game, well, that's only behind the La
Chargers for the best in the NFL when it comes
to a defense. So this is a bestund worst matchup
(15:28):
when it comes to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
I definitely think they're more dangerous now though with Winston
and they have three receivers in the Djoku that are
NFL players, you know what I mean. Like, but they
are a.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
League worst four point four yards per play, but that's
up a full yard in the past three games exactly.
They're averaging five point right now. But that's that that
we already kind of spoiled. That they generate just six
point seven yard or six point seven points on average
in the first half of games. It's the worst in
the league in the first half. They're under a touchdown
every time. That's just not going to get it done.
(16:00):
And then we talked about the Steelers allowing just six
point four points on average in the second half of games.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
So they really shut teams down.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
What was it?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It wasn't it was the Commander's game, that drive out
of the halftime. It's the first time they give up
points in the third quarter.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Third quarter points.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, Browns throw the ball the highest rate in the
NFL sixty five point nine percent.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Not changing with jamis either they.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Are with him and even more downfield, and they're also
losing a lot. But still they don't run the ball.
They're not the Nick Chubb offense like they used to be.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
How's the pass protection for Winston?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
The worst in the league.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Is like most Like we said at.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
The beginning of this show, I mean, this is a
matchup on paper that the Steelers just avalanche.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
The tackle thing would really worry me. And Dwad Jones
is out for the year. They've had a lot of
different offensive line starting groups injuries.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
He holds a.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ball to drive it downfield. He's not real mobile. This
is not going to be a Washington Baltimore rush to
keep him in the pocket. This is going to be
rush to take the quarterbacks head off and instance not.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
You said he holds on the ball and gets it downfield.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
He's not a quarterback that you coach into quick passes
through a full sixty minutes right Like you might have
a game plan here where Winston's getting the ball out
quick early, but he's just gonna sit back there and
be Jamis Winsday.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
He is who he is. He has a lot of
DNA that is fun, but it's also dangerous.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
One of the best college quarterbacks I've seen. The season
at Florid State was insane.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
I mean, he's picked number one overall for a reason.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Absolutely. His teammates love him too.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
He's a great teammate.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
In his three starts, he averaged he's been averaging forty
four point three pass attempts. That's amazing, three hundred and
twenty one point three passing yards. He has a five
to three touchdown interception ratio, and his attempted ninety nine
passes so far in a Brown's uniform. You're getting fun
football when it comes to Jamis Winston.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Yeah, it's like his receivers are loving it there.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
If you're a bad team on your television, hope that
Jamis Winston is playing quarterback for that bad team.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It's going to be fun.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
He's thrown the ball seventy one fewer times than Watson
this year, he only has one hundred and one fewer
passing yards, and he has two more touchdown passes, so
two more past week. Right, his targets Jerry Judy. I
always thought Jerry Judy was a really good wide receiver.
He's starting to play better with a quarterback that can throw.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
In the full competent quarterback. All three catches last week,
one hundred and forty two yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
That's a Jerry Judy performance that I thought you get
a lot more when he came out of Alabama.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
And I still think Tillman's the one, but it's hard
to tell because they all get about the equal targets
with Winston and Nijoku's a force too well.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Winston actually played pretty well last week, three hundred and
ninety five yards, did not throw an interception either.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
There were two we of course.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
I was going to He's such a roller coaster of
a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I love seeing him throw up numbers one week because
I think the next week you're going to get him.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
That's the four interception, Yeah, right.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Into the Steelers' hands with that one.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I just think sacks are coming in a plenty.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
I agree he holds onto the ball way too much.
It won't be a frustrating ay, He's getting it out
in half a second and it'll be like Daron Rodgers,
you know, yep, exactly what's up with Nick Chubb since
coming back from the injury.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Just that's a tough injury to come back from.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
It is, but they're also always losing, which means wards
out there.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
He just said that they can't play the team.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
They can't play the script that he works, and he
doesn't look the same, averaging like three and a half
yards of carrias.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's see one of those backs too that you got
to give him like twenty five carries.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
He kind of went the defense the mount.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Honestly, when he before his injury, I thought he was
the best ball carrier in the league over Henry, even
over Henry, I mean, special guy. And I know he's
a Brown, but I'm rooting for him because a brutal injury.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
It was a brutal injury.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
And again, yeah, Brown, you you have enough to laugh
at that organization for Nick Chubb was an all timer
for that organization. And that's a rich history of running
backs that he was adding to. So yeah, I hope
that the end of that story isn't Oh he got
injured in a Steeler game and it was never the same.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Like, give him a couple more years.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
And maybe this is the week he looks better. I mean,
he doesn't look terrible. There's not a lot of opportunity.
The blocking is bad, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
The Browns offense has only been to the red zone
seventeen times this year. Close in the league, the Bears
rank thirty first with just twenty three trips to the
red zone.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
But here's a pretty big discrepancy.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
But here's a silver lining, too, Cleave. Your team is
pretty much in the dumps right now. Chicago's supposed to
be turning and around with the rookie quarterback and they're
only been in the red zone six more times than
you have.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
But that's a bad look for Cleveland. Terrible, right.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
I think that's maybe going up a little bit too
this week with with Jamis. Although Jamis does a lot
of damage outside of the red it's a lot of
big play, splash kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
H per EPA. Only the Eagles and Bears.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Have faced an easier slate of defenses than Cleveland to
this point in the season. So they stink on offense
and they don't play anybody.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
They haven't played anybody, and it's about to get way
harder for them.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, you added on here, including these this game against
Steelers and then of course another game against the Steelers.
Only the Bears, Ravens and lines face a more difficult
slate of defenses moving forward.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
If you thought it was bad and now you're starting
to get some signs, it's like now it's a steeper
hill to climb.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Little hidden thing in that step before we get to
our key matchups. I like hearing that the Ravens face
a very difficult slate of defenses.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Moving for as well.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
You're in control of the AFC North, but you can
always use an extra loss or to to help you out.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
In the last week because it included the Deelers.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Key matchups in this one David and Joku versus Steelers safety.
To Shawn Elliott, boy, what a great signing, Elliott. I'm
done saying just good. I think it's been a great
sign and it's just been exactly what you needed. You
didn't go out and get an All Pro, so you're
not gonna expect an all pro performance, but you're expecting
to be a solid safety, solid compliment with Minka, and
he's been.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
He's been awesome, well above average starter.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I didn't put Porter on there because I don't know
if he'll follow this week, or if they'll just kind
of play sides or you know, the Joku is a
little bit easier one to target.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Yeah, I think in Joku's maybe.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I don't know though, because Jerry Judy is impressive, and
like you said, someone's not bad either.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
It's not a terrible receiving course. There's some weapons for
him to.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Throw to the path. The Steelers losing is that foursome,
including the Joku. Jamis gets hot, Jamis throws for three
point fifty and Garrett has four sacks and Garrett iss
four sacks right, uh, and.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Then the offensive tackles versus Brown's defensive end. Miles Garrett.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Now, before Dann More, before Dan Moore broke out this
year and actually became a very solid time in the NFL,
he was always known as kind of this like one
trick pony against Miles Garrett.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
He was the Miles Garrett stopper. Well, now I think
they're gonna move Like you said, they.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Move them around.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
They're going to move me Gyard over to the.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Other side more in this game, because there is such
a weakness over there that you'd have to and be
stupid not to exploit.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I would imagine. I would imagine I'll see a lot
of darnet washing and to help Rod Russell Wilson, Right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Agree with that, And we were just saying Jameis Winston
is not coachable when it comes to getting the ball
out quick.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
To face a pass rush. Russell Wilson is.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Very coachable to get the ball out quick with pass rush.
Dump it off the nage, dump it off the Jalen
quick screen to fire me if he it won't. I
think you're gonna do you see a better job this
week of dealing with pressure than you did against Baltimore
and Washington the previous team.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
I tend to think so, and let's say they better
be better at it. But in the end, I'm with you.
I don't care how it looks, as long as it's
a W at the end.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Steelers in Browns on Thursday in Cleveland. Matt's gonna be
on the air around four o'clockish on dve to get
things going. Steelers Audio Network pregame starts at six fifteen
and then eight to fifteen kickoff in Cleveland. Steelers try
to get to nine or nine and two and should
get to nine and two Formatt Williamson and Tom Offerman.
We'll talk to you next week when we PREVIEUW Steelers
(23:14):
and the Bengals.
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