Cleveland Browns Week 6 score predictions: Myles Garrett redemption tour

Writer: Dan Gilinsky

The Cleveland Browns are 4-1..and I’m experiencing a feeling I haven’t felt before. 4-1? Wowzers.

Anyway, this one against the Pittsburgh Steelers has the makings of a doozy. For the Browns, they’ll need to stay composed. While they mostly have with Kevin Stefanski as head coach this season, it’s important to stay under control here in a rivalry matchup.

Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson and the defensive line will need to get after Ben Roethlisberger, who has been stellar thus far with a 10-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Pittsburgh has an impressive group of young wideouts for him to deliver the ball to as well, as JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool (20.1 yards per catch) are going to be a handful.

For the Browns, hopefully their run defense can bottle up James Conner, and with their start in terms of run defense to this point, they should have a good chance. Look for Jacob Phillips to play a hand in that, too, as should hopefully Mack Wilson.

Unfortunately, on the offensive side, Cleveland is in for a tough rushing game matchup once again. While Kareem Hunt runs hard, him and D’Ernest Johnson have a rough time going up against the Steelers’ no. 1 rush defense.

In the passing game, Baker Mayfield has a solid day, along with the receiving corps, when the protection holds up. The key issue here is Pittsburgh’s pass rush, which is always ramped up and leads the league in QB pressures.

T.J. Watt, Stephon Tuitt, Bud Dupree, Vince Williams and that Steelers rush are simply too much in key situations, and it’s natural to wonder about Mayfield here, given his rib injury. Keep an eye out for slot corner Mike Hilton here off the edge as well, who has three sacks.

No, Mayfield’s mom didn’t raise “a wuss,” but even with the way Cleveland’s o-line is playing, this one might be the toughest test of the season. Mayfield and the pass catchers move it and make plays, but the Steelers rush throughout, and too many big plays in the passing game their way is the difference.

Some special teams lift, especially after last week’s issue, would be nice. Granted, the group as a whole plays well in flipping the field some, but the Steelers in the passing sense are too much and close it out in the fourth quarter.

There’s no funny business here, Pittsburgh just keeps it going.

Week 6 prediction: Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 20