The Week 8 game between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers is a sports fan’s dream. It’s a matchup between two good teams who are rivals, and they really don't like each other.
There’s something at stake. With both teams entering the game at 5-2, control of first place in the AFC North division is on the line.
These kinds of games are the ones that make sports great, and it’s simple to see why. Sticking with the basics, the game could also be decided by a foundational principle for the game of football — ball security.
In football, the turnover battle is often the biggest difference in wins and losses, and that should be the case in Sunday’s game as well. With the Steelers entering the matchup as a team that’s good at taking the ball away, Cleveland will have to make sure it’s protecting the ball.
Browns must avoid costly turnovers against aggressive Steelers defense
Entering Week 8, Pittsburgh has forced 11 turnovers on the season, which is tied for the fifth-best mark in the league. The Steelers have seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries, and since their offense has done a good job of protecting the football, Pittsburgh has a plus-four turnover differential.
The Browns are well aware of the Steelers’ ability to force turnovers, because Cleveland gave the ball away twice in the Week 4 meeting between the two teams. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson lost a fumble and threw an interception. However, the turnovers only resulted in six points, and since the Browns had two takeaways of their own, they were still able to win.
Cleveland’s offense has done a solid job this season of limiting turnovers, and the defense has come through whenever the Browns are turning the ball over. Still, it needs to be a priority to protect the ball on Sunday, because the Steelers will be doing everything they can to create takeaways.
Considering how much of a struggle it is for the Steelers' offense to score points, and how well the Browns defense is playing, Cleveland has to make sure it doesn’t hurt itself on Sunday. That starts with the Browns offense ending every drive with a kick.
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