The Browns will have a short week following their loss on Monday Night Football to the Broncos in Week 13 before they head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Week 14.
Just two weeks after defeating the Steelers in a snowy game on Thursday Night Football in Week 12, the Browns are looking to repeat the success they have shown against their division rival.
"Short week going into Pittsburgh, just played these guys a couple weeks ago so that's the unique piece of this for both teams," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Division team that we know well. They know us well. Having just played them, it won't be the same, you don't pick up where you left off. There's going to be adjustments that they make, adjustments that we make. […] So, we have to really go to school on them again, have a good week of practice and go on the road and try and find a way to win."
Here are the top news and notes from Stefanski's time with the media ahead of Week 14.
Facing QB Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense
One key to securing a season sweep over the Steelers will be limiting QB Russell Wilson, who has led the Steelers to a 5-1 record since taking over as the starting quarterback in Week 7.
"He's obviously a great player. They're utilizing him in a way that's conducive to his skillset. He has a great deep ball, he gets the ball out of his hands in the quick game, makes quick decisions," Stefanski said. "You have to rush him really well and stay with lane discipline because he's athletic, he can break the pocket and make plays. So, he really requires you to play with great discipline."
Wilson threw for 270 yards and a touchdown in his last outing against Cleveland. Five of his 21 completions went for over 20 yards as he continued to display his ability to connect with receivers on deep balls.
Stefanski, who recalled coaching Wilson in the 2012 Senior Bowl, noted that Wilson's hand size – a league-leading 10.25 inches among NFL starting quarterbacks – could be one reason behind his ability to accurately launch deep passes.
"Russell has really, really big hands. That ball looks small in his hands, that may contribute to it," Stefanski said. "He's a baseball player, so he's always had a great stroke and how the ball comes out of his hand, but that's always been a natural part of his game."
One of the beneficiaries of Wilson's deep passes this season has been WR George Pickens. Pickens has averaged 15.5 yards per catch this year, tied for the 12th-highest rate in the NFL.
Against the Browns, he connected with Wilson on a 31-yard pass and finished the game with four receptions for 48 yards.
"[Pickens] is a challenge in the pass game. He's a contested catch player where he's always open, the quarterback always feels like he's open," Stefanski said. "[Wilson] can throw it into coverage, and they feel like [Pickens] is going to come down with the ball. They've expanded his routes and things where he's running them, how he's running them throughout this offense this season. So, he's a very big challenge. You have to understand where he is at all times."
WR Jerry Jeudy's intelligence fueling recent success
Since QB Jameis Winston took over as the Browns starting quarterback in Week 8 against the Ravens, WR Jerry Jeudy has averaged over 120 receiving yards per game. Jeudy has the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL with 880 and is fresh off a 235 receiving yard performance against the Broncos.
The Browns acquired Jeudy from the Broncos in the 2024 offseason, and Stefanski said that the receiver's intelligence was a factor in their decision to trade for the five-year veteran.
"Just doing my research into Jerry, when we were first thinking about adding him and calling some of his former coaches, they talked about how intelligent he was and how you can put a lot on his plate and he can handle that," Stefanski said.
As a player who can line up both on the outside and in the slot, Stefanski said he believes Jeudy's intelligence has allowed him to excel regardless of what position he holds on the offense.
"I give Jerry a ton of credit. I think his coaches do a great job in preparing him and all the players," Stefanski said. "But when you're talking about being a player that's going to move around both in the formation and via motion or shift, you have to have that intelligence to be able to handle that."
Michael Woods II steps in for injured Cedric Tillman
The Browns participated in a walkthrough on Wednesday as they prepare to travel to play the Steelers. WR Cedric Tillman was included in the estimated injury report as he continues to recover from a concussion sustained against the Steelers in Week 12. Tillman did not play in Week 13 against the Broncos.
Stefanski did not rule out Tillman for Week 14 against the Steelers and said there was a chance he could practice and play this week.
While Tillman was out against the Broncos, WR Michael Woods II saw his first action this season, participating in 77 percent of offensive plays. Woods caught three of his five targets for 43 yards. Two of his receptions came on third down and kept eventual scoring drives alive.
"Mike's a guy that we've always trusted," Stefanski said. "He's played for us in games before and performed well. He's been, unfortunately, unlucky with some injuries over the course of his career. But he's healthy and knows what to do. We move him around in different spots, he has a good report with Jameis, with them having a lot of reps together throughout the spring and summer. But I thought he did a nice job in that game."
