The Browns will play under the lights on Thursday Night Football in Week 12 when they host a divisional rival in the Steelers. Pittsburgh sits at the top of the AFC North with an 8-2 record, while Cleveland is last in the division with a 2-8 record.
"Great challenge playing the (Pittsburgh) Steelers on Thursday night," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Well coached team, great players, offense, defense and special team. So, we have to have a great week here to get ready for that game."
Here are three keys to Thursday's game.
Protect up front for QB Jameis Winston
The Browns protection of QB Jameis Winston has improved in recent weeks, as Winston only took three sacks in Week 11 against the Saints. The protection has given Winston time to work through his progressions to either find open receivers or make a decision.
Winston has performed well under pressure, as he holds a 105.1 passer rating, throwing two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He's completed 15 of his 29 attempts for 257 yards, and has been sacked 12 times, according to Next Gen Stats.
However, the Browns offense will have a tall task when they host the Steelers and have LB T.J. Watt and DT Cameron Heyward among the front seven. Watt has a total of 7.5 sacks this season, part of a five-way tie for seventh in the league, as well as 36 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles. Heyward has five sacks, 39 tackles, six tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hits this season.
"It's precision passing, getting the ball out on time, elite operation and just doing our job," Winston said. "It's the simple things. Like this team is not going to try to fool you. They're going to line up and say, "Give us your best, we're going to give our best."
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.
Pressure QB Russell Wilson
The Browns defense will face another veteran quarterback with QB Russell Wilson under center for the Steelers. In four games this season, 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.
Yet, if the Browns pass rush can apply pressure to Wilson, they could find success in limiting Wilson and the pass game.
Wilson has a 59.1 passer rating when under pressure, completing 12 of 34 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He's been sacked 12 times in the 48 times he's been pressured this season. His passer rating against pressure ranks 29th among eligible quarterbacks, according to Next Gen Stats.
"(Russell Wilson) definitely helps them be a little more versatile move them down the field," DE Myles Garrett said. "He's playing some great football right now. Definitely hitting the deep ball with some consistency, can scramble when they need to."
Limit WR George Pickens in the pass game and RB Najee Harris in the run game
The Steelers marry the run and pass the game in their offense, with both the run and the pass game play an important role in the success of their 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 with 708 rushing yards on 175 carries and three touchdowns. He's averaging 70.8 rushing yards per game this season, as well as four yards per carry this season. His longest run of the season was for 36 yards against the Raiders in Week 5.
Through 10 games this season, WR George 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. "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."
