As the Browns prepare to face the Steelers for the second time in three weeks, head coach Kevin Stefanski said as a team, they are preparing for the Steelers just like they would any game of the season.

"Just played these guys a couple weeks ago, so that's the unique piece of this for both teams, Stefanski said. "So, division, team that we know well, they know us well and 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. There are guys that will play in this game that weren't available previously and vice versa. So, we have to really go to school on them again."

Here are three keys to Sunday's game.

Protect against the pass rush with return of LB Alex Highsmith

The Steelers could have some depth back in their front seven with the return of LB Alex Highsmith, as head coach Mike Tomlin said he "fully expects" to have Highsmith back against the Browns. Highsmith was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, but a full participant on Thursday.

"He's one of the top rushers in this league," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "He generates pressure. He's a high effort guy. He can win with speed, win with power, and with the depth they have at the position and then obviously (T.J.) Watt, on the other side, it's a challenging combo."

The Browns did not face Highsmith in the first meeting in Week 12, as Highsmith has missed the past three with an ankle injury. It's the first time since Week 3 of the season that LB T.J. Watt, LB Nick Herbig and Highsmith will all play in a game together.

"They've had some guys step up for them – Herbig has stepped up for them and he was playing really well – but Highsmith is dynamic," LG Joel Bitonio said. "We've played him a bunch. He has a killer spin move. They all go to the same school of pass rushing, but it will be interesting – maybe they'll throw Herbig or Highsmith or Watt on the inside a little bit more on third down situations. But it's a big challenge."

This season, Highsmith has played and started six games, totaling 19 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and three sacks.

While Highsmith did not play in Week 12, the Browns were able to limit Watt and Herbig's success in the pass rush. Watt only recorded four tackles and one tackle for loss against the Browns, while Herbig totaled five tackles, two quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.

"You can never have too many pass rushers, and they have a good crop of them," Bitonio said. "So, it will be a good challenge for us, but we'll be ready and we're expecting them to come out and play. So, will be a good look for us."

Win the turnover margin

The Browns know the importance of winning the turnover margin, and how that can affect the outcome of a single game. They experienced losing the turnover battle in Week 13 against the Broncos and have to prepare to face another team in the Steelers is forcing turnovers at a high level, as Pittsburgh has a turnover margin of plus 15.

Even when Browns faced the Steelers in Week 12, they recorded three giveaways compared to the Steelers one turnover – yet came out with a 24-19 win.

"It's the most important stat there is," Stefanski said. "And we had three giveaways in the last time we played this team, and we won. And that's not a formula to win. You can't turn it over three times versus the Steelers, because they do such a nice job of taking care of the ball. So, it's a huge emphasis for us. That stat is a large part of where they are as a football team with their record, because they're second in the league in the turnover margin. So that is, is critical to this game for our team to take care of the ball when we're on offense, if we're on special teams, and obviously do our best to take it away when we're on defense or special teams."

QB Jameis Winston knows there are areas they can focus on to help win the turnover battle, and it begins with limiting their giveaways. In order to do that, Winston said when he's in the pocket he has to have a heightened awareness against a Steelers defense that forces turnovers.

The Steelers defense has 14 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries – tied for the league lead – as well as 13 interceptions this season for a loss of 155 yards, which is the fourth-most in the league. They are second in the league in the turnover margin.

Dorsey highlighted how the Steelers excel at attacking the football, which an emphasis on ball security for the Browns.

"Obviously, from a quarterback's perspective, decision making, throwing the ball, but also in the pocket and then all of our ball carriers as well," Dorsey said. "We got to do a great job covering the ball up, and then we got to do a great job covering to the ball with guys who don't have it, so we get population around the football. So, I think those things we really got to stress, and we really got to make sure that we're putting ourselves in the best position possible to make sure that we're really good with our ball security."

Establish the run game

In the first meeting between the two teams, the Browns did not rely as heavily on the run game – even as the snowy weather conditions increased. Winston threw for 219 passing yards and one interception, completing 18 of 27 passing attempts.

The Browns finished their Week 12 matchup against the Steelers with 85 net rushing yards. RB Nick Chubb led the run game for the Browns, as he totaled 20 carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns. RB Jerome Ford followed suit with four carries for 19 yards. Winston added three carries and a touchdown of his own for a total of seven yards.

The Steelers have a stout run defense, only giving up an average of 90.5 rushing yards per game, which is fourth-best in the league.

Yet, if the Browns can establish the presence of the run game, it opens up opportunities in the pass game. The Steelers run defense and pass rush have to prepared for Winston to throw a deep ball or the Browns to run the ball. Dorsey said they have to strike the balance of using the run and the pass game to their advantage.

"We want to make sure that we're continually focusing on letting our guys come off the ball and do those things and be physical, which they've done well here this year and over the years," Dorsey said. "We just got to continue grow because as you keep hitting those body blows, those things start popping for bigger gains. So, I think that's the mentality that we want to have. We just got to keep grinding on it and keep doing that to put ourselves in position. So, hey, those things – because we got good backs, we got a good line, they can do these things – tight ends, receivers that are willing to get dirty. So, we got to keep letting them be in position to come off the ball."