Cleveland Browns vs Steelers Week 8 Predictions: Can the Browns get back in the North race?

2 of 9

CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 09: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Cleveland Browns warms up alongside Baker Mayfield #6 prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Writer: Elliot Kennel

Game: Cleveland Browns (2-4-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1)

This may well be Coach Hue Jackson’s last game as Coach of the Browns. The Dawg Pound is grateful that he was able to endure being Head Coach during the draconian rebuilding period instituted by Sashi Brown, but it’s time to win, and so far that has not happened, with the Browns discovering new ways to lose on their way to 2-4-1.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Still, the Browns should be able to score points with Baker Mayfield at the helm rather than Tyrod Taylor. Taylor has been a true Pro through the entire process, but it is clear that the Offense has responded to Mayfield and is better now than in Week 1.

The Steelers get a lot of sacks, led by T. J. Watt, but once the ball gets airborne, the Steelers have had trouble defending against the pass. The Browns have the advantage of having OC Todd Haley, who of course spent the last several years in Pittsburgh and knows the team very well. Hence this should be a big offensive day.

Will the Browns respond well enough to save Coach Jackson’s job? No doubt many players have had the same discussions as the fans, and recognize the grim situation that the team finds itself in. They will certainly give it their all as they always do, but in a high-stress situation, they tend to be more prone to mistakes, and it is very possible that this game could get away from a young Browns team that has not yet learned how to win.

Just as has been the case all year, the Browns will be susceptible to making mistakes at crucial times. Special teams breakdowns, rookie mistakes, penalties, and turnovers will once again be bad enough to overcome the efforts of the Defensive and Offensive Units.

The Browns still do not have an answer for T. J. Watt, which means that Baker Mayfield will be on the run all day. When he’s not lying on his back, he will complete passes and make yards.

This game will be a high scoring affair and the Browns will be ahead in the fourth quarter only to collapse once again due to a critical error in which the Browns give the Steelers undeserved points. Mayfield will have a big day, but will also be sacked several times and take too many hits. On the other hand, Myles Garrett and company will make things hot for Ben Roethlisberger, but he will still connect with Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith Schuster for big plays.

Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 37, Cleveland Browns 31

Home/Browns News