The Pittsburgh Steelers return from their bye week to host the Cleveland Browns in their first matchup of the 2025 season. The Browns are coming off a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, a game that marked rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s first career start.
Throughout Mike Tomlin’s tenure as head coach, he has built an impressive record against rookie quarterbacks. The question now is, will that trend continue this week?
With how poorly the Browns have played on offense this season, it feels like a safe bet that Pittsburgh will have a great chance to add to Tomlin's resume against rookies.
Tomlin’s defense aims to feast on another rookie as the Pittsburgh Steelers return from the bye to face the Browns
Over the past three seasons, the Steelers have not shown the same dominance over the Browns that was so common during the Ben Roethlisberger era. During that stretch, the two teams have split their season series each year.
For this first matchup of the 2025 season, the Browns will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, making his second career start. Cleveland sits at 1-3 after benching Joe Flacco, who struggled with turnovers. Gabriel was ok in his debut against Minnesota, completing 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. While he did not make many big plays, he managed the game effectively and avoided mistakes, which was exactly what the Browns asked of him.
However, things will not get easier this week. The Steelers' defense has been dominant over the past two games, forcing seven turnovers and recording eleven sacks. Mike Tomlin’s track record against rookie quarterbacks is remarkable, with a 26- 6 record. Pittsburgh will look to extend that success by pressuring Gabriel early and often.
The Browns' offense has struggled mightily this season, and their offensive line has been a major weakness. With Alex Highsmith returning to the lineup, the Steelers' pass rush, led by T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, should have plenty of opportunities to create chaos. Expect defensive packages featuring all three on the field to generate relentless pressure on the rookie.
This matchup heavily favors Pittsburgh’s defense. Facing a rookie quarterback making just his second start, behind a struggling offensive line, and coming off a bye week, the Steelers should be ready to control the game. If their defense continues to play at an elite level, this could be the perfect opportunity to build momentum for the rest of the season.
I believe the Steelers will notch their first home victory of the season with a 23-13 win, setting their sights on a Thursday Night Football matchup in Cincinnati.