Myles Garrett's Halloween decorations include a mock graveyard of opposing quarterbacks, but he hasn't yet chased the ghost of Ben Roethlisberger from FirstEnergy Stadium. (Joshua Gunter, Cleveland.com)
Much on the line against Steelers for Baker Mayfield and, yes, Myles Garrett
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Four downs on Browns (4-3) v. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)
First down: No excuses?
“Functionally, he is 100 percent.” That’s what Kevin Stefanski said of Baker Mayfield after watching his quarterback practice for three days with a new, stronger harness to protect Mayfield’s left shoulder from popping out. Ten days ago, it appeared Mayfield would be shut down for three games, at least, after Mayfield disclosed to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports that his left shoulder wounds now included a fracture of the humerus to add to a completely torn labrum. Either Mayfield sneaked a visit to Lourdes to heal or the summation of the injuries has been exaggerated. In any case, once swelling subsided, Mayfield worked his way back to the lineup after missing only one game – his first due to injury in eight years. “It is pretty simple,” Stefanski said. “It is, really, medically he is ready to go. Our doctors, our trainers and the second opinions felt very comfortable about that, and Baker feels that he is ready and he feels like he is ready to help this team win.” You wonder if Mayfield and the Browns would subject Mayfield to the obvious risk of further injury if he were under contract for, say, $35 million a year for six years. But the club has steadfastly declined to reinvest in him, so far. As a result, every game for Mayfield is an opportunity to prove his worth to the franchise, and Case Keenum’s safe, efficient orchestration of the team in a 17-14 victory over Denver added to sentiment that it’s Stefanski’s system that makes the offense hum, not necessarily the quarterback. After a slow start that included injuries suffered in two of his first four games against the Steelers, Mayfield has won two in a row, including last season’s wild-card rout, to even his record to 3-3 against the defending AFC North champions.
Second down: Chubb Crunch off the shelf.
Further evidence of the importance of Stefanski’s system was the big night D’Ernest Johnson enjoyed against the Broncos. Even without All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin in the lineup, Johnson rushed for 146 yards and one touchdown in 22 attempts in relief of both No. 1 backs nursing calf injuries, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. But we would argue that the ceiling for Chubb, as opposed to that of Johnson, is much higher than the ceiling for Mayfield, versus Keenum. In other words, Chubb’s return for this game could mean more for the Browns than the return of Mayfield – especially considering that most Browns-Steelers games are decided by the more physical team and Chubb’s ability to demoralize opponents. Chubb missed the past two games. “I think you guys know Nick,” Stefanski said. “I think he is excited to get back out there.” A year ago, Chubb missed four straight games with a knee injury. When he returned, he responded with successive games of 126, 114 and 144 yards. Chubb has 19 100-yard games in his career, but only one (108) against the Steelers, which came when they rested several regulars in Game 16 last season.
Third down: Myles’ losing battle.
Myles Garrett talks much about his desire to be proclaimed NFL defensive player-of-the-year. But for that to happen, he must first be considered best defensive player in the AFC North. The fact is, he has been outshone in each of his four seasons by Pittsburgh pass rusher T.J. Watt. In 2020, Watt finished second to the Rams’ Aaron Donald in DPOY votes, 27-20. In 2019, Watt’s 10 votes placed him third behind Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (21) and Jones (14). Donald won in 2018 with 45 votes to Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack’s 5. And in 2017, Donald was first with 23 votes to Jacksonville’s Calais Cambell’s 17. It may be hard for Browns fans to believe, but Garrett has never received a single vote for the league award. It speaks to many factors, not the least of which is Garrett has been overshadowed in his own division by Watt. This is magnified in their head-to-head battles since both were selected in the first round in 2017. Garrett has played in seven games against the Steelers. His key statistics are 5 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 8 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble. Watt has played in eight games against the Browns. He has 9 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, and 1 interception.
Fourth down: The ghosts of Roethlisberger past and present.
Most everyone in Pittsburgh believes this is the last appearance in Cleveland for Ben Roethlisberger, and everyone knows it’s been quite a ride for the native of Findlay, OH, which will lead him eventually to Canton for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Roethlisberger has tortured the Browns like nobody since John Elway in the 1980s. Overall, Big Ben is 23-3-1 against the Browns, including 11-2-1 in FirstEnergy Stadium. (He is 24-10 against the Bengals, his other home-state opponent.) Now, back to Garrett. The night he was drafted in 2017, Garrett warmed the hearts of Browns fans when he said he’s coming after Roethlisberger first as an NFL pass rusher to “chop him down.” Unfortunately, Garrett missed that 2017 opener against Ben as a rookie because of an ankle injury and then Ben sat out the second meeting that year. Garrett’s biggest play against Ben was a strip-sack in the 2018 season opener, which resulted in a 21-21 tie. This week, Roethlisberger, a shadow of himself on the field in his 18th season, lauded Garrett, saying, “He’s the man.” But like Watt, Roethlisberger has gotten the better of Garrett in their meetings, which numbers only four. Garrett does have four sacks of Ben and that emphatic victory in the AFC wild card, but he has yet to produce a signature game against the No. 1 Browns nemesis of his time. Ben is 2-1-1 overall against Garrett. On Friday, Garrett was respectful of Roethlisberger’s career, saying, “I have to send him off, right? If it is. He’s left a huge legacy in Pittsburgh and here. So I have to make sure he doesn’t leave with a win. But, you gotta respect what’s he’s done and the greatness he’s had on the football field.”
The pick: Browns 23, Steelers 17.
My record: 5-2.
