Cleveland Browns: 3 players key to beating the Steelers in Week 8

Cleveland Browns RB, Nick Chubb

I’ll begin by saying that I expect Nick Chubb to be ready to roll Sunday. With all these key players, this game is against the Pittsburgh Steelers and that’s motivation in itself. We can insert, another running back and star of last Thursday’s big win against the Denver Broncos, D’Ernest Johnson here if you wish. If Chubb can’t go Sunday I have all the faith in the world for the Browns offensive line in creating huge holes in the defensive line of scrimmage to help their running backs.

Johnson’s game, 22 carries for146 yards and a score was dynamite. His back story of working on a fishing boat down in the Florida Keys a few years back only adds to the heroic efforts he put on display last week.

But let’s assume Chubb is back. He has missed a couple of games now but I expect a big outing from the heart and soul of the team. In the last two games Chubb went up against the Steelers, he was tough as nails.

In the game the Browns had to have to reach the playoffs Chubb ran all over the Pittsburgh defense including a spectacular 47-yard touchdown scamper as he raced by the entire defense. In the playoff game, he was equally as impressive. In addition to the 76 yards he picked up on the ground, he also caught a few passes for 69 yards including a nifty 41-yard screen pass he caught and bolted for the end zone.

The Steelers are at the bottom of the league as far as giving up rushing yards. They gave up 144 yards to the Seattle Seahawks in their last contest. The Browns are averaging 170 yards a game and I fully expect the team to continue that push in this game. If Chubb is back or if Johnson takes his place, look for this part of the game to be critical in the Browns claiming victory at the end.