Cleveland Browns: Keys to season finale in Pittsburgh

Ideally, with an offense that has weapons such as Terrelle Pryor and Corey Coleman, big plays would provide a significant amount of the offense. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case for the 2016 Browns.

Accepting that connecting on a deep ball is not something the offense can take to the bank is important, as the Browns need to slightly alter their thinking as a result of this reality.

A designed first down run or a short pass is the way to go to stay on schedule. This also keeps the defense honest, and may later give the Browns the opportunity to throw a deep ball against a secondary which surrenders the 17th most yards in football.

Also, avoiding penalties is paramount in the effort to stay ahead of the sticks. In their lone win last week, the Browns committed just four penalties, and two were on defense. This worked into their favor since they avoided moving backwards and obvious passing situations.

In the end, moving the chains methodically by avoiding third and long situations will make this matchup seem less overwhelming to the Browns. It will also keep Pittsburgh’s defense on the field, creating an unfamiliar yet significant advantage for Cleveland.