Carney: 4 Matchups To Watch In Steelers-Browns

For the second time in 17 days, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns will conflict in one other version of AFC North Soccer. This time, it’ll be at Acrisure Stadium, the place situations must be higher than they have been in Week 12 on Thursday Evening Soccer on the shores of Lake Erie.

After dropping a irritating 24-19 recreation to the Browns in Week 12, the Steelers are itching to get again on the Browns and proceed to create respiratory room within the AFC North. To take action, they’ll want some key items to step up and make performs, significantly on the defensive aspect of the soccer. That was an space the Steelers struggled in through the earlier matchup, having points slowing down the Browns in key spots, permitting 4 fourth-down conversions and a game-winning drive late within the fourth quarter.

There can be video games throughout the recreation to observe, just like the turnover battle, tackling battle and extra. Ensure to keep watch over key particular person matchups, although. There are many them this week from prime to backside in all three phases for the Steelers towards the Browns.

Beneath are my 4 key matchups to observe on Sunday.

STEELERS OLB T.J. WATT VS. BROWNS RT JACK CONKLIN

The final time these two matched up, Jack Conklin obtained the most effective of Watt, shutting him out fully. Conklin allowed simply two pressures to Watt, and held his personal whereas on an island in 1-on-1 matchups at instances. Put merely, Watt had a nasty day, and Conklin was on prime of his recreation.

Since then, the Steelers have tinkered with Watt’s alignment, transferring him round towards the Bengals with nice success, resulting in a two-sack day with a pressured fumble within the shootout win towards Cincinnati. Extra of that, please.

The Steelers made Watt a stationary goal, and it was comparatively simple for the Browns to gameplan towards. That may’t be the case on Sunday, and Watt can’t have a nasty recreation once more, particularly with Alex Highsmith getting back from damage and Nick Herbig enjoying at a excessive degree. Watt must be Watt to make the trio of OLBs a three-headed monster Sunday.

Excellent news for Watt is that Conklin is coming off of a disastrous recreation towards the Broncos, allowing eight pressures and a sack within the loss. He was a multitude and now has to cope with a man in Watt who has some extent to show. Good luck.

STEELERS DE LARRY OGUNJOBI VS. BROWNS RG WYATT TELLER

Sometimes on this spot I’d spotlight the matchup of Cameron Heyward towards Joel Bitonio, because it’s two titans at their place going towards one another once more. This time although, I’m shifting my focus to Ogunjobi, who has been strong however quiet this season.

Ogunjobi handles his function effectively, however this week he must be a bit extra impactful. On the 12 months he has simply 13 pressures and two sacks, however he has simply two pressures within the final 4 weeks, together with only one towards the Browns within the Week 12 matchup. With all the consideration that the Browns are going to pay to Watt and Heyward from a move blocking standpoint, Ogunjobi must step up and make some performs.

Teller hasn’t been his regular self this season, taking a little bit of a step again, very like many of the Browns’ offensive line has executed. Teller has allowed 15 pressures this season, together with three on Monday Evening Soccer towards the Broncos. He at present has the worst pass blocking grade of his career from PFF, too.

So, that matchup is there for the taking. After being named the Steelers’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Yr award earlier within the week, it might be becoming for Ogunjobi to make some performs at house on Sunday.

BROWNS DE MYLES GARRETT VS. STEELERS LT DAN MOORE JR.

As soon as once more, this can be a pivotal matchup. In Week 12, Garrett dominated with three sacks within the first half. The Steelers, particularly Moore, admitted after the sport that they didn’t have a good enough plan for Garrett. That confirmed again and again within the first half.

Since then, although, the Steelers offensive line has been fairly good and shut down Bengals’ move rusher Trey Hendrickson, who leads the league in sacks. However Garrett is a greater participant than Hendrickson, so the duty is tall.

The Steelers should have a greater plan for Garrett, particularly to assist out Moore, who has had a strong 12 months however struggled in matchups towards the Browns and Ravens earlier than getting again on monitor Sunday towards the Bengals. In the meantime, Garrett was largely a no-show towards the Broncos, recording simply two pressures. He appeared like he was enjoying by means of some form of ailment, too, however he hasn’t been on the damage report all week.

We’ll see what the plan of assault is for the Steelers this week towards Garrett.

BROWNS CB GREG NEWSOME II VS. STEELERS WR GEORGE PICKENS

This one has the prospect to actually produce fireworks, each good and unhealthy.

Pickens has had fairly a number of feedback in regards to the Browns and Newsome for the reason that finish of the Week 12 recreation, saying the Browns aren’t a superb staff in any respect. Then on Friday, Pickens stated he doesn’t even know who Newsome is. That’ll add some gasoline to the hearth that’s in all probability already burning forward of this rematch.

Pickens and Newsome received’t be matched up a ton on Sunday, however when Pickens has that matchup, he wants to stay cool and simply deal with making performs, fairly than attempting to get again at Newsome for his feedback after the Week 12 recreation and his motion on the ultimate play of the sport.

It is a large check for Pickens mentally. The Browns are going to attempt to get below his pores and skin and get him to take some unhealthy penalties and harm the Steelers. That features Newsome. Pickens has to point out he’s in a position to deal with these varieties of powerful moments emotionally. If not, it might be an extended day.