Todd Monken spent a good portion of his Wednesday media availability distancing himself and his young team from the Cleveland Browns’ history in Pittsburgh. In a sense, playing the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Halloween weekend is fitting.
The Browns are 2-26 on the road against the Steelers since the millennium, a run that includes 22 consecutive losses in the regular season. Cleveland just beat Pittsburgh at home back in Week 4, but that one stat continues to haunt the team whenever this particular road game pops up on the schedule.
Monken wasn't going there when asked about his message to the team this week.
“I don’t know the other 20-something years, whatever that is. I’m just worried about this year, and really today, that’s all I’m worried about.”
There’s a lot at stake here. A rare win in Pittsburgh would give the Browns sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Based on the first meeting, the Browns have some exploitable matchups that could work in their favor.
On that note, here are three stats or tendencies that could swing Sunday’s showdown between 5-2 teams.
The Browns have a blueprint to end their 22-year regular-season drought in Pittsburgh
1. First quarter scoring
Cleveland’s best stat this season is its five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter. But there’s a painfully obvious reason why the Browns constantly find themselves tied or trailing late in games.
Monken, Deshaun Watson and the Browns haven’t been able to start games on time. They’ve been outscored 58-13 in the first quarter, which ranks dead-last in football.
Cleveland jumped out to a 21-10 halftime lead against the Steelers in their first meeting this season. The score after the first quarter? Pittsburgh 7, Cleveland 0.
The Steelers are top-10 in football in first-quarter scoring, per Team Rankings. Another slow start could doom the Browns in a hostile environment in Pittsburgh. They have to find a way to start fast.
2. Lack of trust in the run game
Neither of these teams have found much success running the football. The Browns rank 19th in total average rush yards per game. The Steelers rank 20th.
Cleveland did outrush Pittsburgh 112-92 in the first meeting, though, and the team that trusts its run game the most in the rematch could gain the upper hand.
That team likely won’t be the Steelers, who with Rodgers at quarterback rank second in the NFL in pass play percentage. Per Sharp Football Analysis, 13 of Pittsburgh’s 14 offensive touchdowns have come through the air, which is the highest rate in football.
The Steelers rank eighth in the NFL in EPA per rush, according to SumerSports, so they have had success when handing the ball to Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. But they rarely stick with it, and that could play into the Browns’ hands on Sunday. They have the personnel to smother Pittsburgh’s pass catchers.
3. Sacks plus turnovers
Watson and Rodgers have been two of the NFL’s most sacked quarterbacks through seven games. Watson leads the league with 26 sacks taken. Rodgers is third with 22.
Both quarterbacks have done a good job limiting turnovers, though. Watson only has four total giveaways — three interceptions and one lost fumble. Rodgers has five interceptions and no fumbles.
When combining sacks and turnovers, the Browns average 4.9 per game, which ranks 31st in football. The Steelers, with T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey, and company, are as good as any team in football at creating those havoc plays. Winning that confrontation could be the key to the game for Cleveland.
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