The Steelers enter a revenge matchup against the Cleveland Browns today. Here are three X-Factors for today’s heated matchup.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns face each other for the second time in the past three weeks in what promises to be a heated contest. After multiple players were involved in a late-game scuffle that ended in suspensions on both sides, it felt like a game with no winner.
Though the Browns emerged victoriously, they took the biggest blow – losing star pass rusher Myles Garrett for the season for suspension. Both of these teams are desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Here are three Steelers X-Factors for today’s game against the Browns:
T.J Watt
T.J. Watt has had a breakout season thus far. He’s fourth in the NFL with 11.5 sacks, and second in the NFL with 17 tackles for a loss. He has the capability to kill drives by putting offenses behind the sticks and getting them off schedule. Not only is he able to put the Browns behind the sticks, but he is also capable of forcing turnovers on his own. Watt is tied for the league lead with five forced fumbles. On Sunday, it is as important as ever that Watt is in that Browns backfield early and often in order to impact Mayfield’s internal clock. Once the young quarterback realizes the rush is giving the offensive line issues, he will look to force the ball earlier than he may have to.
Watt aligns on the defensive left (offensive right) so he will be matched up against Cleveland’s right tackle Chris Hubbard for most of the game. The Browns have allowed 27 sacks on the season; Hubbard has allowed 7 of them. Over 25% of the sacks allowed this season have come against him.
With Cleveland’s left tackle (Greg Robinson) out of this game due to a concussion, it will be difficult for the Browns to help both tackles out. Opposite of Watt is Bud Dupree who is also having a breakout season. He will be working on a back-up left tackle, and it could cause major issues in how the Browns plan to block both of these pass rushers.
Watt, who is playing the best football of his young career, is aligned on a below-average right tackle. This is a match-up that must reap benefits in a big way for the Steelers to win this game.