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This is not the Cleveland Browns of old…
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) are on a short week preparing for their first matchup of the year with the Cleveland Browns (2-8) in Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season — their 72nd regular-season meeting in the history of their AFC North rivalry.
The last time these two teams met, in Week 11 of the 2023 season, the Browns walked away with a 13-10 victory with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback and backups in the run game between Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford following a season-ending injury to Nick Chubb. The Steelers, meanwhile, totaled just 12 first downs in what was the second-to-last game Kenny Pickett would ever start and finish for the black and gold. He went on to play his last snap for the franchise just two weeks later after suffering an ankle injury.
Neither team had a receiver surpass the 60-yard mark, nor did they surpass 260+ yards of offense. It was a typical AFC North battle.
So, what’s changed since?
Well … just about everything.
There’s no question that the Steelers have undergone a significant transformation since their last meeting. A new quarterback room. A revitalized defense with the additions of Donte Jackson, Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott. A newly-built offensive line with two rookies and a surprisingly successful Dan Moore Jr. playing left tackle? Who’d have predicted an 8-2 start for the very same team they watched run through mud all of last season?
Still, no amount of change for the Burgh could really match the transformation the Cleveland Browns have made — for better, or for worse.
Hardly any team has had a season as tumultuous as the Browns have had, and it’s clear they’re in a state of rebuilding — even if the direction of that rebuild remains unclear due to their current situation at quarterback. This season, the Browns dealt with below-average quarterback play from Deshaun Watson, and he suffered a season-ending injury (his second in back-to-back seasons) before what seemed like an inevitable benching. They moved on to the roller coaster that is the Jameis Winston experience at QB and traded away WR1 Amari Cooper.
The Browns are also dealing with a slew of injuries; they’ll be without star LB Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah (neck), starting RT Dawand Jones (leg) as well as 2024 second-round DT Mike Hall Jr (knee). Meanwhile, star DE Myles Garrett popped up on Tuesday’s injury report with a hip injury, missing practice. Though there are no imminent signs of a potential absence based on media reports, it’s still a situation worth monitoring, as Garrett was not listed as with a veteran rest day (as DTs Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi were on Tuesday, for example).
How do the team stats match up for this matchup in comparison to their last meeting?
Well, heading into their last meeting in Week 11 of the 2023 season, the Steelers’ offense was struggling mightily, while the Browns’ defense was surging (despite their offensive struggles):
- PIT: 17.3 PPG scored (26th among NFL offenses) vs. CLE: 18.9 PPG allowed (6th among defenses)
- PIT: 283.6 yards per game (28th) vs. CLE: 242.7 yards game allowed (1st)
This season? The script has flipped — in particular, with Russell Wilson under center. Here’s a look at the Steelers’ offensive stats with Wilson (Weeks 7-11) versus the Browns’ defensive efficiency over the entirety of the 2024 season:
- PIT: 27.3 PPG scored (6th among NFL offenses) vs. CLE: 24.8 PPG allowed (24th among defenses)
- PIT: 362.5 yards per game (11th) vs. CLE: 342.8 yards allowed per game (19th)
- PIT: 144.5 rush yards per game (4th) vs. CLE: 131.7 yards allowed (24th)
- PIT: 7.7 pass yards per attempt (11th) vs. CLE: 7.8 yards per attempt allowed (29th)
- PIT: 1.0 turnovers per game (18th) vs. CLE: 0.7 turnovers per game forced (t-30th)
There have been plenty of changes on both sides of the ball, both offense and defense. However, most of those shifts seem to be in favor of Pittsburgh, which is well reflected in the fact that they’re 3.5-point road favorites over the Browns, against whom they’ve won just a single road game dating back to 2017 (Week 8, 2021) … though it’s worth noting they notched a Week 1 tie in 2018 — woof.
Give us your thoughts on this week’s matchup between the Steelers and the Browns, BTSC.