Cleveland Browns: 5 matchups vs Steelers that will decide the victor

Cleveland Browns Matchup No. 5: Baker Mayfield vs Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Steelers traded a first-round pick during the season in 2019 to acquire free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The trade was made for one simple reason, the Steelers did not have an X-factor type of player in their secondary and felt one was needed to elevate their defense. The trade paid immediate dividends with Fitzpatrick being named a First-Team All-Pro in both of his seasons in Pittsburgh.

Fitzpatrick is currently having a down season, but if you watch the tape it speaks more to the fact that he’s trying to make up for the lack of production of his teammates in the backend of the Steelers’ defense. Even with a slight decline in his own play, the Browns have to realize that Fitzpatrick smells the blood in the water with an undeniably injured Baker Mayfield under center.

Baker and Fitzpatrick have been playing chess on the field the last two seasons, with both besting each other at different times. From Fitzpatrick tricking Baker into a pick-six in their first meeting in 2020, to Mayfield using the same play to bait Fitzpatrick into a second window throw on a slant that Jarvis Landry took to the house in the wildcard playoff game later that same season.

With Mayfield significantly less than 100 percent physically, he will need to be one step ahead mentally in order for him to best Fitzpatrick and the Steelers’ defense.

The perpetual game of cat and mouse will continue this Sunday, and whoever wins this intellectual chess match will set their team up for victory.