Thewill host the on Thursday Night Football with first place in the AFC North at stake. Both clubs are 2-1. The Baltimore Ravens and are also 2-1, so the winner leaves Huntington Bank Field alone at the top of the division, at least until Sunday.
Cleveland Browns have won two in a row after a season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Each of those wins ended with a late touchdown pass and a defense that kept the other side off the board on the final drive. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has been the steadier unit. The offense finally showed up in last Sunday’s 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kickoff is 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, October 1, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. The national broadcast is on Prime Video. Local viewers can also find the game on WEWS in Cleveland and WTAE in Pittsburgh. NFL+ Premium carries the stream on phones and tablets in the United States.
Pittsburgh’s offense was quiet through two weeks. The Steelers managed 499 yards combined against Atlanta and New England, 350 through the air and 149 on the ground, with 31 first downs and three turnovers. Against Cincinnati, they put up 411 yards in one night, 273 passing and 138 rushing, and turned it over once on an interception that went through a receiver’s hands.
has completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 700 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, an average of 6.2 yards per attempt. Most of that production came against the Bengals, when he threw for 292 yards and three scores. Downfield connections have been scarce. The shorter work has gone to , Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
Rico Dowdle is out again with a toe injury, so Warren is the backfield. He played 90 percent of the snaps last week and finished with 20 touches for 176 yards. A long touchdown run was called back, and he slipped on another chance in the open field. Pittsburgh’s rushing totals have climbed from 58 yards to 91 to 138. Cleveland is allowing 4.5 yards per rush. The Browns have also been tight after the catch, giving up 278 yards after reception and 4.3 per catch.
Deshaun Watson has been cleaner than in his earlier Cleveland seasons. He has completed 68.3 percent of his throws for 587 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, at 7.2 yards per attempt, and he has led a fourth-quarter game-winning drive in each of the last two weeks. He has also carried 24 times for 105 yards.
The run game has not travelled with him. Cleveland is at 3.5 yards per carry, 29th in the , and those numbers are helped by Watson’s scrambles. Quinshon Judkins has 42 carries, more than any other back or receiver has attempts, and is averaging 3.0 yards. His best outing was the opener, at 3.9.
