Is the Browns defense really the No. 1 group in the NFL? Cleveland's looking to play spoiler to rival Pittsburgh as the Steelers head into town Sunday to try and lock up the AFC North title.
The Browns offensive output is in a laughable state as they average a meager, 16.4-points per game. Good for a 31st league wide ranking. What does cause opponents to worry is the club's defense.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made mention of just that as they get ready for this road game, "This is the best defensive unit in the entire division."
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Cleveland cornerback Denzel Ward is Pro Bowl bound, while safety Grant Delpit is an alternate. However, the names that obviously cause sleepless nights for Tomlin are superstar defensive end Myles Garrett, and stud first-year linebacker Carson Schwesinger:
"They have a slam dunk Defensive Player of the Year and a slam dunk Defensive Rookie of the Year."
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's game-plan held Pittsburgh to 23-points in a loss back in Week 5. That's just below their 2025 average points-per-game total of 24.3.
The difference this time around is that the Browns' run stopping abilities have vanished in recent weeks. Since the loss of DT Maliek Collins to injury on Nov. 30th versus San Francisco, Cleveland allowed 184, 142, and 164-rushing yards in the next three games.
A Pittsburgh plan of heavily utilizing their running back combo of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell seems to be a sound strategy. It would neutralize the Browns' nasty pass-rushing attack, and take pressure off of Aaron Rodgers, who won't have his top weapon in DK Metcalf due to suspension.
The Browns must somehow jolt its lethargic offense to gain a lead, and force Pittsburgh to throw if the defense has any chance of living up to Tomlin's "best defensive unit in the entire division praise." For what it's worth, the Steelers' head coach is only 9-8-1 when playing in Cleveland, and is 1-5 in his last six.
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