When the Browns defense lines up across from the Steelers on Thursday night, there will be a different face at the helm of the offense in QB Russell Wilson.
However, Wilson isn't new to a number of players or head coach Kevin Stefanski. The nine-time Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLVII winning quarterback ranks second in touchdown passes, second in passing yards and second in passer rating, as well as third in completions and fourth in completion percentage among active quarterbacks since entering the NFL in 2012.
Stefanski, who coached Wilson in the Senior Bowl in 2012, then coached against him when Wilson was with the Seahawks and the Broncos, knows what Wilson brings to an offense.
"He's a great player," Stefanski said. "The style which he plays hasn't changed very much. He can win off schedule, he can win on schedule, great deep ball thrower, he's taking care of the ball."
In his four games since his return from injury in Week 7, Wilson has completed 73 of 121 passing attempts for 942 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Wilson has also been sacked a total of 12 times over four games.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive tackle Geron Christian (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Director of Equipment Operations Kory Gillissie during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wilson has different threats in the passing game including WR George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth. This season, Freiermuth has caught 31 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Pickens leads the Steelers receiving corps in receptions and yards this season.
Through 10 games this season, Pickens has recorded 48 receptions for 728 yards and two touchdowns. His longest catch this season was for 44 yards, and he's averaging 15.2 yards per reception this season. He's also shown a connection with Wilson, as in four with Wilson, Pickens has a total of 293 yards and two touchdowns.
"They're doing a nice job utilizing him in a bunch of different ways," Stefanski said of Pickens. "I think he's obviously a down the field threat, as everybody knows, and he can go down on those 50/50 balls one-on-one. But he can catch quick game, they can run jailbreak screens to him. There's really a bunch of different things that they're doing with him."
Yet, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has found a blend of the run and the pass game for the Steelers offense. This season, Pittsburgh is averaging 187.3 passing yards per game and 136.7 rushing yards per game. They have scored 11 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns this season. RB Najee Harris leads the run game for the Steelers, as he has a total of 708 rushing yards on 175 carries and three touchdowns this season.
Defensively, the Browns pass run and run defense will have to be sound against an offense which marries the run and the pass game. This season, the Browns have held teams to an average of 211 passing yards and 131.7 rushing yards per game.
The Browns have also held opponents to negative yards on 14.0 percent of non-kneel down rushing attempts this season, the highest mark in the league. They also led the league in that category last season at 16.7 percent. Pittsburgh has rushed for negative yards on 7.8 percent of non-kneel down rushes this season.
And while the Steelers have struggled with negative yardage plays in the run game, they have found ways to grind out wins this season.
Their latest win, a 18-16 victory over the Ravens in Week 11, was one of those that required six made field goals from K Chris Boswell as the offense struggled to find the end zone. However, through their efforts, they toppled the Ravens and claimed their eighth win of the season.
"Very consistent across the board in their standards and expectations, no matter who is in there," DE Myles Garrett said. "And that kind of coaching seeps into the players and leads to the execution being always on point down the stretch, especially when they need it."
