4 changes Cleveland Browns should make against Steelers in Week 17

4. Run the football

This is the easiest change for the Browns to make, as it is what they have done consistently well throughout the season: run the football.

Without any of the starting wide receivers, the Browns shockingly neglected the run game against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Mayfield threw the ball 53 times and the combination of Chubb and Hunt carried the ball a combined 15 times.

Along with Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey, the Steelers are resting defensive ends T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. Already, the Steelers are without linebackers Devin Bush and Bud Dupree. Robert Spillane is eligible to return from the injured reserve, but it’s possible Pittsburgh rests him for the playoffs as well.

This week, the Browns activated receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and KhaDarel Hodge from the COVID-19 reserve list. Mayfield will have his weapons available, but running the football is surely the safer option to beat Pittsburgh.

On the season, Chubb has 959 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite missing four games with a knee sprain. Kareem Hunt has 804 yards with six touchdowns.

With a possible return for Browns offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills, paired with Pittsburgh’s resting defense, there’s no excuse for Cleveland to abandon their winning recipe once again.