It looked like the end for Ben Roethlisberger after the Browns whipped the Steelers in the 2020 AFC wild card game, but he came back to beat them in Cleveland on Oct. 31. (Cleveland.com)
Cleveland Browns scouting report: Pittsburgh Steelers
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Browns v. Pittsburgh Steelers
Monday, 8:15 p.m., in Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Record: 7-7-1.
Last game: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 36-10, Dec. 26, in Kansas City.
Coach: Mike Tomlin, 160-93-2, 16th year.
Series record: Steelers lead, 78-61-1.
Last meeting: Steelers won, 15-10, Oct. 31, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 22nd overall (29th rushing, 14th passing), defense is 26th overall (32nd rushing, 13th passing) and turnover differential is minus-1.
Things to watch
1. Technically still barely alive in the scrambled AFC North playoff chase, the Steelers’ biggest motivation could come more from helping Ben Roethlisberger slay the Browns once last time in his career finale in Heinz Field. Roethlisberger’s 25-3-1 career record against the Browns includes only one loss on his home field. It came in last season’s AFC wild card game, leaving him sobbing next to now-retired Maurkice Pouncey on the Steelers bench. Given that image, you’d think that Big Ben’s Reign of Terror over the Browns had finally ended, yet he summoned all his moxie on Oct. 31 to outlast the Browns, 15-10. Don’t count him out just yet.
2. Ben has looked semi-retired and uninterested at times, but he can still make any throw. He’s the 19th-ranked passer in the NFL, has completed 65.2 percent of his passes and has 20 touchdowns v. 8 interceptions. But at 39, the toll of 551 career sacks – the most in NFL history – is evident as he seeks to avoid hits at all costs behind an inadequate offensive line. He has played through pec and shoulder injuries. There is a feeling that Ben’s flagging confidence in the offensive direction of coordinator Matt Canada has contributed to periods of utter hopelessness on offense. The Steelers have a streak of five consecutive games without scoring a point in the first half. But he still can strike fast and flash that warrior mentality with a game on the line. He is sixth in fourth-quarter passer rating (110.9) and co-leads with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert with 11 fourth-quarter touchdowns. His 39 comeback wins in the fourth quarter and overtime rank third in the league since 2004.
3. Like their offensive line counterparts, the defensive line is the source of the defense’s weakness. The Steelers have not been able to replace Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu, who have been injured all year. Tackle Cameron Heyward is a great player but can’t hold the fort by himself. As a result, the Steelers have fallen to 32nd in rush defense, yielding 142.7 rushing years per game. They’ve given up 200+ yards rushing to Tennessee, Minnesota and Detroit, and 198 to Cincinnati.
4. Edge rusher T.J. Watt leads the NFL with 17.5 sacks despite missing two games and parts of four others with injuries. When Watt plays start-to-finish, the Steelers are 7-2. In games he’s missed or played with injuries, they are 0-5-1. Watt reportedly suffered cracked ribs in the loss to Kansas City.
Did you know … ?
1. Mike Tomlin’s 17-3 record on Monday Night Football is the NFL’s best since he became Steelers coach in 2007.
2. The Steelers have to win one of their remaining two games to avoid the first losing season in 16 years under Tomlin. They conclude their season at Baltimore on Jan. 9.
3. The Steelers’ 149 points in the fourth quarter are third-most in the league, and their 149-99 points margin in the final quarter also ranks third.
4. Since the creation of the AFC North in 2002, the Steelers lead with nine division titles. Baltimore has six, Cincinnati has four and the Browns have none. The Steelers have never finished in fourth place. The Browns have finished fourth 13 times.
Small world: Cornerback Joe Haden was the No. 7 overall pick in the first round by the Browns in 2010 and played with them through 2016 … Linebacker Joe Schobert was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2016 and played with them through 2019 … Offensive tackle Zach Banner played for the Browns in 2017 … Assistant head coach John Mitchell was Browns defensive line coach 1991-93 … Tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts was Browns tight ends coach 2007-08 … Defensive coordinator Keith Butler was Browns linebackers coach 1999-2002.
