1st and Goal: No one had the Browns in first place in the AFC North on their bingo card
The Cleveland Browns are leading the AFC North Division as they head into their Week 8 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland already beat Pittsburgh in a Week 4 game. The team has actually split their season series the last three years against the Steelers. While Pittsburgh holds a 83-66-1 series record dating back to 1950, the tide could be turning.
A part of that recent history in the series that needs to be broken by the Browns is a 22 game losing streak in Pittsburgh. They did beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in a big playoff game back in the 2020 season but the Browns still haven’t won a regular season game against their rival since 2003.
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2nd and Goal:” Cleveland’s young talent making a difference this season
The Browns have benefited this season from several newly drafted players over the past two years. The team drafted two wide receivers this year in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. While Boston started the season with a bang catching several big passes from quarterback Deshaun Watson, Concepcion has come on strong over the last few games.
In last week’s win against the Tennessee Titans Concepcion caught eight passes for 129 yards just in the first half alone.
Then there’s tight end Harold Fannin drafted last year who continues to make a big impact on the team. Last week, Fannin caught a pass that he turned into a 36 yard gain that set the Browns up for the game winning field goal.
Both second year running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson also turned up the heat in their last game. Judkins carried the ball for 96 yards and had two touchdown runs while Sampson also had a few good runs and caught a few screen passes that he took for big yardage.
We can’t leave out the young talent on defense as well. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger in only his second season has been dynamite. He already has 64 combined tackles on the season, forced two fumbles, and recorded a sack. He’s been everywhere on the field.
Then there’s newly drafted safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren who’s been playing a lot more over the last few games. He’s recorded 27 tackles, including two for losses and defended three passes.
3rd and Goal: Deshaun Watson’s 4th quarter comebacks worth noting
Photo via Reuters
Deshaun Watson has been making it a habit this season of leading the Browns offense on late game comebacks. The Browns now have three of them this season and Watson has led game winning drives in each of Cleveland’s wins.
Considering where the Browns fan base was mentally going into this season with their love or hate for the highly polarizing quarterback, it’s been a strange time in Browns fandom history.
While fans are happy to see the Browns win, not many saw Watson being one of the main reasons the team is winning.
We’ll have to see how things continue this season. Can Watson continue these late game heroics? For the season Watson is playing his best ball as a member of the Browns. After four up and down seasons with the team he seems to have found his stride.
He’s already passed for 1,482 yards which is the most in his Browns career and he’s only played through Week 7. His 64.8 completion percentage is his best as well. He also is averaging 211 yards a game, his best average as a Brown.
In addition he’s run the ball 48 times for 215 yards which is the most he’s had as a Brown. During Watson’s 2018 season as a member of the Houston Texans, he carried the ball 99 times for 551 yards and five touchdowns. So, Watson is using his legs much more already this season and that dual threat ability is making it more difficult for opposing defenses to defend.
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4th and Goal: Browns vs. Steelers prediction
I’ve been wavering all week on this prediction. The 22 game losing streak on the road by the Browns is hard to ignore but I also see a very young and talented team coming into their own especially in the mental part of the game and their belief in themselves.
Often times, sports comes down to the mental side of things especially the NFL when the talent level is very even.
I think it’s important in this matchup with the Steelers that the Browns score some points early. I don’t think they can go down 14-0 like they have the last two games and expect to win like they have in the past.
I’m going to trust these young and talented Browns players in this battle and give Cleveland the win. They will break that 22 game losing streak!
Game prediction
Browns 23
Steelers 20
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