Cleveland Browns: 4 players to watch on the Steelers
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are set to renew their rivalry that goes all the way back to 1950.
The Cleveland Browns will finally have a divisional game this Sunday when they play host to the hated Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. from FirstEnergy Stadium. Cleveland is the only team in the NFL to not play a divisional game yet this season.
This matchup is different than most of the previous matchups, at least in the past two-plus decades, because both teams are competitive and jockeying for position in the AFC North.
Entering Sunday, Cleveland has a record of 4-3, coming off a win against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Pittsburgh, coming off a bye week, has won two straight after losing three in a row. They are 3-3 on the young season.
Last year, the Browns won two-of-three contests against the Steelers, including a win at Heinz Field in the wild card game. The offseason saw the Browns get a lot of national attention, while the Steelers were just…there.
This Sunday, the Browns will look for their first three-game winning streak over the Steelers since the mid-to-late 80s.
If the Browns want to be successful, win the game, and keep pace with the Bengals and Ravens in the division, they must keep an eye on these four players on the Steelers.
4. DT Cam Heyward
Don’t just look at Cam Heyward’s numbers and think “This guy made the list?” He’s much more than his stats would indicate. Heyward is one guy who can have an impact on this game and the Browns need to be mindful of him at all times.
On the season, Heyward has recorded two sacks, five batted balls at the line of scrimmage, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He also has 36 tackles (20 solo), five tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive tackle is a force to be reckoned with. He’s one of the strongest d-linemen in the league and is incredible at getting a hand on the ball once the opposing quarterback releases it.
If you ask Heyward’s former teammate Ramon Foster, he believes Heyward will be the team’s MVP this season.
The 11-year veteran is a former two-time First-Team All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl the last four seasons. He will look to bulrush Browns center J.C. Tretter backward and off his block in hopes of stopping Nick Chubb and D’Ernest Johnson or getting to the quarterback, whether that is Baker Mayfield or Case Keenum.