Week 10 Preview

Week 10
Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1:00 PM

This week the Browns (5-3) get their rematch against the Steelers (6-2). I don’t have to go into details, we all remember what happened in Week 1. Ironically, though, Week 1 turned out to be the best thing to happen to the Browns this season. It allowed the Browns to trade Charlie Frye and throw DA into the starting role. Since that time, our offense has taken off. We come in with the #4 offense in the NFL in yards per game (365.4 yards/game) and the #4 scoring offense (28.4 PPG). The Steelers’ offense isn’t too shabby itself, ranking 8th in total offense and 5th in points per game. The difference in this game will be the defenses. The Steelers defense is ranked #1 in the NFL in yards/game and points allowed per game, while the Browns are dead last in yards per game and 30th in points allowed.

Injury Reports

Cleveland:

– Seth McKinney, G – Out (shoulder)
– D’Qwell Jackson, LB – Doubtful (ankle)
– Antwan Peek, LB – Questionable (knee)
– Eric Steinbach, G – Questionable (back)
– Leigh Bodden, CB – Probable (back)

Pittsburgh:

– Ryan Clark, S – Out (spleen)
– Jerame Tuman, TE – Out (back)
– Gary Russell, RB – Probable (personal)
– Santonio Holmes, WR – Probably (hamstring)
– Clint Kriewaldt, LB – Probable (calf)
– Willie Parker, RB – Probable (knee)
– Ben Roethlisberger, QB – Probable (hip)

Game Outlook

For the past 3 games, I have gone into each game with increasing confidence in the outcome. This game is much different. The Browns haven’t shown themselves to be a great road team this year, and Pittsburgh is one of the tougher road games in the NFL. Furthermore, there’s a decent chance we will be playing without either of our starting guards, as McKinney and Steinbach are both banged up. This isn’t exactly good timing for O-Line injuries, when facing the top defense in the NFL. I look to our offense to be slowed down a bit from past weeks, and that’s really all it will take this week, as the Steelers offense should handle our defense without problem. I’m praying I’m wrong on this one, as a win puts us in a tie with Pittsburgh for first in the North, but I cannot logically see that happening. I think Pittsburgh takes care of business at home and wins this one 27-17.