The Steelers will face the Cleveland Browns for the second time in three games Sunday at Heinz Field. Here are five things to know about the AFC North rival.
1. Baker Mayfield is getting hot — The second-year quarterback threw for 327 yards and three scores in a 41-17 triumph Sunday against Miami. Not a huge deal, considering the Dolphins stink. But during the Browns’ current three-game winning streak that includes the Nov. 14 victory against the Steelers, Mayfield’s completed 64% of his passes for an average of 252 yards per game and seven touchdowns against just one interception. That’s a decent sample size against some solid defenses that shows he might be figuring things out here in the second half of the season. His overall numbers remain pretty pedestrian, but the Steelers should remain cautious of confidence that’s clearly growing.
2. Jarvis Landry has been the beneficiary — The wideout has taken 30 targets over that three-game span and turned them into 23 catches for 288 yards and four touchdowns.
.@bakermayfield to @God_Son80 for six AGAIN!#MIAvsCLE pic.twitter.com/PZJ4Np7jij
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 24, 2019
That’s the kind of production that Cleveland was hoping for when it brought the former Dolphin on board last year and added college teammate Odell Beckham Jr. to the mix in the offseason. Beckham’s connection with Mayfield has remained lukewarm — he’s caught just 15 of his 30 targets in that span. He did come up with a 35-yard score Sunday, though, in one of his best performances of the year: six catches for 84 yards.
3. Nick Chubb has stayed hot — The running back’s 164 scrimmage yards Sunday give him 1,341 on the season. That’s an average of more than 120 per game. He wasn’t especially efficient last time out against the Steelers, as his 92 rushing yards came of a heavy workload of 27 touches, which is good for a per carry average of just 3.4. But with the passing game emerging as more of a threat, he might be as dangerous as ever. His 58 receiving yards Sunday were a season high.
4. Pass rush looked good without Myles Garrett — In their first game without the star defensive end — suspended indefinitely for striking Mason Rudolph with a helmet the last time these two teams met — the Browns came up with four sacks and seven tackles for loss. Not bad, even if we are talking about the Dolphins. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was the most active in Garrett’s absence, slicing through for his first two sacks of the season and forcing a fumble. Rookie end Porter Gustin stepped up with his first career sack, too, in a role that only figures to grow. The Browns also get tackle Larry Ogunjobi back from suspension this week. So while this front is definitely missing its biggest piece, it’s not one to be taken lightly.
5. Picks, picks, picks — After four interceptions against the Steelers, the Browns came up with two Sunday against Miami to push their season total to 10. That mark is sixth-best in football and puts them just four behind the second-ranked Steelers. The defensive backs aren’t the only guys to worry about, either. In fact, linebacker Joe Schobert has the rare distinction of leading his team in both tackles (97) and picks (4.)
2 games.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 24, 2019
4 interceptions.@TheSchoGoesOn53 cannot be stopped! pic.twitter.com/QaN98KCNvA
Throw in two forced fumbles, and he’s been a disruptive force that should be under a bigger spotlight with Garrett missing in the weeks to come.
First Published: November 26, 2019, 12:00 p.m.
