3 Reasons the Cleveland Browns will beat the Steelers on TNF

Reason No. 2: The Browns D have their backs against the wall

It could possibly sound hyperbolic to say that the Browns have a must-win game on their hands in Week 3, but…the Browns have a must-win game on their hands in Week 3. It’s just that simple. If they don’t get a win this Thursday against the Steelers, it will start to get late awfully early.

If the Browns want to have any hope of making the postseason in 2022, then they must take advantage of this early portion of the schedule. After giving away the game last week to the New York Jets, the Browns now find themselves with their backs against the wall.

The players know the score as well. The defense in particular is well aware of the scrutiny that they are under. The unit held a players-only defensive meeting in an attempt to all get on the same page and air out their grievances.

How they respond to their last performance will be a good barometer of how this season will go. From a personnel standpoint, the Browns are way too talented on that side of the ball to repeatedly be having these lapses in communication. Now they get the opportunity to take their frustration out on the Steelers.

The Steelers’ offense has been on the struggle bus so far this season. Trubisky isn’t playing at a high level, and Najee Harris looks to be playing injured. They do have some weapons in the passing game, but Trubisky has not been attacking defenses down the field. Pittsburgh’s offensive line has improved slightly from last season, but they are still the weak point of their offense.

This game is set up on a tee for the defense. Trubisky does not take the kind of shots down the field that have been exploiting the Browns coverage busts the first two weeks of the season. Combine that will their offensive line weaknesses, and Cleveland’s defense should be able to put the clamps down and hold the Steelers under 20 points.