Mike Tomlin has his team in the driver's seat of an eighth AFC North title in his 18 seasons as Steelers coach. (Pittsburgh Steelers)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Acrisure Stadium; Pittsburgh, PA
Record: 9-3.
Last game: Defeated Cincinnati Bengals, 44-38, December 1, in Cincinnati.
Coach: Mike Tomlin, 190-113-2, 18th year.
Series record: Steelers lead, 81-64-1 (counting postseason).
Last meeting: Browns won, 24-19, November 21, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 14th overall (ninth rushing, 20th passing), defense is sixth overall (fourth rushing, 19th passing) and turnover differential is plus-15.
Things to watch
1. Since entering what was considered the gauntlet portion of their schedule after their Week 9 bye week, the Steelers are 3-1 with victories over Washington, Baltimore and Cincinnati. Their lone loss? To the Browns in the Cleveland Snow Globe. Now 1 ½ games in front of the Ravens, the Steelers can virtually wrap up their first AFC North title since 2020 with a second victory against Baltimore on December 21 and one other win against the Browns, Eagles, Chiefs or Bengals. That would take them to a minimum of 11-6. Under this scenario, the Ravens couldn't do better than 11-6 and trail in tie-breaker.
2. In his personal duel against Myles Garrett in the first meeting, T.J. Watt was a non-factor (4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss) while Garrett was a game-wrecker (5 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 1 stripped fumble).
3. Edge rusher Alex Highsmith is expected back in the lineup after missing three games with a high ankle sprain. Highsmith probably will open the game at his customary starting role, but he will give up some snaps to Nick Herbig, who was a play-maker in place of Highsmith and has earned time in the edge rotaton. In the last three games, Herbig produced three fumbles -- one that prevented a score and two that resulted in Pittsburgh points. Herbig had strips of Ravens running back Derrick Henry, Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
4. Quarterback Russell Wilson’s only loss in six starts was to the Browns. If he had the minimum number of qualifying games played, he would rank second in yards per attempt (8.7) and fifth in passer rating (104.3). Wilson is averaging 271 yards passing and the Steelers are scoring 28.6 points a game with Wilson at the helm. In an effort to reverse predictability, Wilson lately has been spreading the ball to run personnel. Also, under-utilized tight end Pat Freiermuth has become a more frequent target. He’s second on the team with 41 receptions and co-leads with four receiving TDs.
5. Backup quarterback Justin Fields had three rushes and one ill-fated pass attempt in seven snaps on the field against the Browns. His workload was reduced to two snaps and one run v. the Bengals.
6. Receiver George Pickens and cornerback Joey Porter have become increasingly undisciplined in recent games. Pickens had a skirmish with receiver Greg Newsome at the end of the game in Cleveland, and then drew two personal fouls against the Bengals for taunting and making a gun gesture. “He’s just gotta grow up, man,” Tomlin said after the game. Porter drew six penalties against the Bengals – four were accepted – and all but one came while defending receiver Tee Higgins. Tomlin was more supportive of Porter. “You have to match physicality of these big people, and sometimes you do so at risk, and that's just a tightrope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive,” Tomlin said.
Did you know … ?
1. Receiver Calvin Austin, who had a TD catch v. the Browns and co-leads the team with four, is in concussion protocol and iffy for Sunday’s game.
2. Receiver Mike Williams made a game-winning catch-and-run against Washington in his first game after Pittsburgh traded for him. Over the next three games, Williams has not been targeted once and his snap counts have reduced from 29 to 19 to 17. He simply can’t get open like he used to.
3. The last Cleveland quarterback to win in Pittsburgh in a regular-season game was Tim Couch in 2003. The Steelers have won 20 consecutive regular-season games in Pittsburgh.
4. The Steelers are now 7-3-1 in games in which Watt and Garrett are available. Watt’s 17 sacks against the Browns match his output against the Ravens as the most against any teams in Watt’s career.
5. Punter Corliss Waitman has punted one time in each of the last two games. One of them was a rushed, 15-yard shank that led to the Browns’ winning touchdown drive in the 24-19 Steelers’ loss.
6. Chris Boswell leads all NFL kickers with 34 field goals on 37 attempts. He missed a 58-yard attempt against the Browns and had a 42-yard try blocked by the Bengals.
Small world: Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was a third-round draft pick of the Browns in 2017 and played for them through 2020 … tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts held the same role with the Browns in 2007-08.