Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns are home for the final time in 2025 on Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field.
Cleveland enters the contest on a four-game losing streak, while the Steelers could take the field with the AFC North Division title in hand if the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.
It is setting up to be another dreary afternoon on the shores of Lake Erie, although the Browns have won five of the past six meetings between the teams in Cleveland. Could the Browns have some leftover coal to put in Pittsburgh’s holiday stocking?
On Wednesday, Cleveland’s coordinators held their weekly meeting with the media, and here are the key takeaways from what they had to say about the upcoming game against the Steelers.
The Browns have struggled against the run the past three weeks, allowing 490 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. This week presents another challenge with the way Pittsburgh utilizes its running backs, according to Schwartz:
“It’s not just Jaylen Warren; Kenneth Gainwell’s really increased his role since the first time we’ve played, not just in the run game, but in the passing game. And one of the things Pittsburgh does with Aaron Rodgers is they throw a lot of short RPOs, quick passes, little option routes to the running back, which are high percentage plays that are sort of an extension of the running game. And both of those guys are really good at runs after the catch. A lot of short throws, a lot of quick throws, and run after the catch, and both Warren and Gainwell give those guys a little bit of a different style.
“They’ll use both of them, so we got to know which guy is out there, and then also just really work hard for tackling and allowing no run after contact, but also no run after the catch.”
There is a possibility, even if it is a small one, that the Steelers may rest some of their starters if they have clinched the AFC North Division title because of a loss by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. But the defense is not focusing on that possibility, according to Schwartz:
“We always get ready for backup players and backup quarterbacks, that’s part of our preparation anyway, knowing the skill sets of everybody that’s on the field. So, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. We concentrate a little bit more on us and what our game plan is and how we’re going to play. And if that’s something they choose to do, then we’ll adjust accordingly.”
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has struggled the past two weeks as the Browns have faced better defenses. Against Pittsburgh, giving Sanders a clean pocket to work in will be vital, according to Rees:
“It starts with our ability to protect, which I thought our protection Sunday was...
