Russell Wilson, 36, is 4-0 since replacing Justin Fields as Steelers quarterback. His 'moon shots' make him one of the league's best deep ball throwers. (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
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., in Huntington Bank Field
Record: 8-2.
Last game: Defeated Baltimore Ravens, 18-16, November 17, in Pittsburgh.
Coach: Mike Tomlin, 189-112-2, 18th year.
Series record: Steelers lead, 79-62-1.
Last meeting: Browns won, 13-10, November 19, 2023, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 19th overall (eighth rushing, 28th passing), defense is eighth overall (fourth rushing, 19th passing) and turnover differential is plus-11.
Things to watch
1. Tomlin’s bold move to replace quarterback Justin Fields with a healed Russell Wilson with the team at 4-2 has paid off. The Steelers are 4-0 since Wilson took over, including quality wins over Baltimore and Washington the past two games. Wilson has 6 TDs v. 2 INTs and a 94.4 passer rating. In addition to the calmness of a nine-time Pro Bowler, Wilson has brought back the touchdown pass to the Steelers’ offense, which was lacking in two seasons of post-Ben Roethlisberger with Kenny Pickett at the helm. Wilson has attacked the middle of the field in coordinator Arthur Smith’s play-action passing game and remains one of the best deep passers in the NFL.
2. Fields’ threat of running greatly enhanced the overall running game through the first six games. Wilson won’t run, but the running game has continued to be a major factor in setting up the play-action passing game. Najee Harris is on pace for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Since the start of the 2023 season, Harris has 14 runs of 20 or more yards. Only Derrick Henry (18) has more.
3. Receiver Mike Williams, acquired just before the trade deadline, paid dividends in his first game with the game-winning TD catch against Washington. Temperamental George Pickens (48 catches, 728 yards, 2 TD) is the big-play No. 1 receiver. A recent development has seen TE2 Darnell Washington (14, 168, 1), who is 6-8 and 280 pounds, receive as many targets as TE1 Pat Freiermuth (31, 295, 3).
4. The offensive line lost three starters since the start of training camp, but it has stabilized in front of Wilson despite starting rookies Zach Frazier at center and Mason McCormick at right guard.
5. The defensive has received a much-needed jolt of talent in the secondary in cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Dante Jackson and veteran safety DeShon Elliott. But the strength of the defense remains the front seven. Edge rusher T.J. Watt (7 sacks) continues to be one of the league’s elite disrupters. But the difference this year has been a resurgence by defensive end Cameron Heyward, who, at 35, has regained his Pro Bowl form (5 sacks).
6. The Steelers are second in turnover differential at plus-11. They are sixth in defensive interceptions (11) and tied for second in offensive interceptions (3).
Did you know … ?
1. While every other kicker in the AFC North has struggled this year, Chris Boswell is having a career year. He leads the NFL with 107 points. He has made six field goals in a game twice this year. The only other kicker to do that was John Carney in 1993. Boswell has made 29 of 30 field goals. He is 9 of 10 from 50+ yards. His only miss was from 62 yards
2. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was a turnover machine early in his career. But he has not had a takeaway since the 2022 season.
3. The Steelers have some interesting contract decisions to make. Both quarterbacks Wilson and Fields are unsigned after this season. Same with running backs Harris and Jaylen Warren. The feeling is the Steelers will re-sign Wilson and Warren and let Fields and Harris leave in free agency.
4. In the last eight meetings of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, no team has scored more than 20 points and the Steelers have won seven of them.
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.