Steelers vs. Browns (Week 6)

Much like we wanted to get on from the loss the Bucs, we also can't cherish the wins too long either.  This week, we have an opponent we know all too well:  The Cleveland Browns.  We go into the Dawg Pound looking to complete the season sweep and it's only week 6 (I don't like playing them both times so quickly).

The Steelers are coming off a win at Jacksonville while the Browns went to Tennessee and scored 19 unanswered points to beat the Titans.

As you all remember from last time these two teams met, the Steelers came out hot, built a huge lead, let it slip away only to win the game in the final seconds.

As of Monday night, the Browns are listed as a 2 point favorite.

Can the Steelers start hot again and keep it going for all 4 quarters?  Will the the second half magic continue for the Browns?  Will Johnny Football see some action?  Can the Steelers complete the sweep?

No love will be lost on Sunday.

But I'm not done dwelling on the Jacksonville game yet.

Wallace108 wrote:

But I'm not done dwelling on the Jacksonville game yet.

Well that's why the other thread isn't locked

Just in case anyone forgot....

Great, 4 posts in and Dubs breaks the thread. Let's hope our offense gets off to a better start than this thread.

Wallace108 wrote:

Great, 4 posts in and Dubs breaks the thread. Let's hope our offense gets off to a better start than this thread.

Wait, how did I break it?

SteelersYak wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

Great, 4 posts in and Dubs breaks the thread. Let's hope our offense gets off to a better start than this thread.

Wait, how did I break it?

By posting a life-size pic of Antonio Brown.

Wallace108 wrote:

SteelersYak wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

Great, 4 posts in and Dubs breaks the thread. Let's hope our offense gets off to a better start than this thread.

Wait, how did I break it?

By posting a life-size pic of Antonio Brown.

annnnnnd fixed.

Much better.

This game scares me a bit. The way the browns played the 2nd half of the first game combined with how they've played the last few games is a recipe for disaster.

Needless to say, missed tackles, stoopid penalties, under performance by our o-line, lack of execution by key players, combined with mediocre play calling at the most inopportune times doesn't leave me with a warm fuzzy.

But then again, these Steelers can be one of the most surprising teams in the league. I'm hoping we get a more complete game this week, similar to the one we saw against the Panthers.

Keys to victory:
O-line maintaining blocks without hands to the face
O-line making holes for Bell and Blount
WRs catching balls that hit their hands
QB making timely on target throws
Defensive front 7 getting to Hoyer early & often
DBs playing good coverage and making the tackle on first contact
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers

Finally a game that will be on here in "Kintuck". At least we can say this is not a trap game. We will have to show up and play like we have talent and execute. That said I'm worried about this team (didn't know if I'd ever say that again about the Browns). Run,Run,Pass.

solardave wrote:

Run,Run,Pass.

As long as it's not Run, Run, Pass, Punt.

solardave wrote:

Finally a game that will be on here in "Kintuck". At least we can say this is not a trap game. We will have to show up and play like we have talent and execute. That said I'm worried about this team (didn't know if I'd ever say that again about the Browns). Run,Run,Pass.

This SHOULD make the big difference: the fact it is a division rival and not one of those crappy* Florida teams that we can slide down and play to their level.

Even if we get out to a big lead early, I'll still be holding my breath.

As you should, because Hoyer has owned LeBeau's 3-4 prevent all season.

And now he gets to face it again this week.

I imagine both teams will be studying the second half of game 1. I predict a Steelers win ... as I do every single week. The patchwork defense has had two games to figure things out and the offense will return to form.

mrcrash wrote:

As you should, because Hoyer has owned LeBeau's 3-4 prevent all season.

And now he gets to face it again this week.

By all season, you mean 2 quarters? But point taken, until we see the team build a lead and stomp the gas peddle in the second half, we'll all be holding our breath.

kirklandrules wrote:

mrcrash wrote:

As you should, because Hoyer has owned LeBeau's 3-4 prevent all season.

And now he gets to face it again this week.

By all season, you mean 2 quarters?

Nope, Ray Horton is Dick LeBeau's protege, Ray Horton is the Titans defensive coordinator, Ray Horton runs OUR defense, Ray Horton's prevent gave up two touchdowns in the 4th quarter Sunday and let the Browns steal a game they had no business winning.

Sounds familiar doesn't it?

Cleveland has made it clear that they are capable of playing hard football. And if you go by the performance of each team the past 2 weeks, you can see why the Browns are favored over the Steelers.
The only way the Steelers shut up the naysayers is to dominate and win this game soundly. This is the first time in forever the Browns have been favored over the Steelers. The Browns are playing at a higher level and we barely beat them on opening day to prove it. I hope the coaches, if they do their jobs, can get across their players and motivate them from beating themselves with penalties and poor execution.Our boys need to come in prepared. Beating the Steelers is Cleveland's version of the SB.

The Brown's are no longer the chumps they once were. That said we're still the better team if we play sound, penalty less football. So far this year we've shot ourselves in the foot by lack of execution and really dumb penalties giving oponents extra yardage. Add in we don't tackle or cover well. If we clean this up we can beat anyone.
I lived in Tampa back when John McKay coached and some of his quotes are great. I can't remember exactly but one went something like this: "we couldn't run,we couldn't catch but we made up for it by not tackling"! When asked what he thought of his team's execution he said he was all for it.

If we can play like the 2nd half of the Panthers game for a full game, the Clowns don't stand a chance.

Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert, the No. 8 overall pick, was benched against the Titans, but might be pressed into service against the Steelers with Joe Haden ailing with a hip injury.

"With Joe's status potentially up in the air, he might have to play -- but we'll see,'' said coach Mike Pettine.

Gilbert, who's been struggling all season and has watched his playing time dwindle from 59 snaps the first game to nine in Tennessee, lost his job as the third cornerback to undrafted rookie K'Waun Williams out of Pittsburgh against the Titans.

READ MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/10/mike_pettine_says_benched_cb_j.html

Just hope that when the Steelers get a lead, they stay throttled up and throttle down and not allow the clowns to jump back in to the game.

From today's practice:

Quote :

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) – An officiating crew was again on hand for practice Wednesday afternoon when the Steelers began their on-field preparations for Sunday’s game in Cleveland.

It’s the second week in a row that Mike Tomlin has had officials oversee practice. The Steelers were penalized seven times against Jacksonville and continue to be the NFL’s most penalized team through five games.

Four players were given the day off: defensive end Brett Keisel, tight end Heath Miller and safeties Troy Polamalu and Micheal Mitchell. Safety Shamarko Thomas missed practice with a hamstring injury, while cornerback Ike Taylor (forearm) and linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) remain out.

Shazier, who sprained the MCL in his right knee on Sept. 21, ran on the grass for the first time since the injury.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/10/08/steelers-linebacker-ryan-shazier-updates-on-his-rehab-from-mcl-injury/

Well it's great that Shazier is STARTING to come back but I wouldn't expect to see him for another few weeks. Hopefully we get him back before the bye.

I really like those close games as long as WE of course win them. It brings the rivalry back. Hoyer is no push over and I don't see us winning an easy game by any means.

They almost BBQ'ed us the first time they played us and that was in our house! Hope we are on fire come Sunday. We have to be. This team is becoming more and more real as the weeks go by. And that scares me.