Mark Madden's Hot Take: Steelers' defensive playmakers must do more against Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed two defensive touchdowns to win their Week 2 game against Cleveland.

They might need the same when they visit the Browns on Sunday.

The breaks are going the Steelers’ way. Deshaun Watson, the Browns starting quarterback, is out for the season with shoulder problems. His replacement, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, has a quarterback rating of 28. He has started just one NFL game. He lost to Pitt last season.

But the Browns have arguably the NFL’s best defense: It ranks second best in yards allowed per play, fifth in points against, fifth in sacks, eighth in takeaways. It has a multitude of playmakers led by edge rusher Myles Garrett.

The Steelers quarterback is Kenny Pickett. He’s better than Thompson-Robinson, but not by much.

It’s easy to picture the Steelers offense getting few yards and few points, and Pickett’s passer rating on the day nose-diving toward Robinson’s.

So the Steelers defense must get points, snatch turnovers, provide short fields, hurt Thompson-Robinson, whatever it takes.

T.J. Watt has 2½ sacks and one interception over his last four games. He’s been a constant force. But to beat Cleveland, Watt must provide the very tangible.

Alex Highsmith has 2½ sacks over his last four games, just 4½ on the season. He needs to do more.

The Steelers are crippled at safety: No Minkah Fitzpatrick or Keanu Neal. Same goes at inside linebacker: No Kwon Alexander or Cole Holcomb. Practice-squad players will man those positions. They can’t soil the bed.

Cameron Heyward has no sacks and one tackle for loss in his two games since returning from a groin situation, which still hampers him. Heyward needs to be prominent on the stat sheet.

It’s unfair to expect all that. It’s also reality.

Pickett isn’t going to do enough against the Browns defense to have major influence on winning. The Steelers’ rushing attack has prospered in the last two games, but this is a different task.

The Steelers defense must beat Cleveland. Their playmakers on that side of the ball must come through. Just like Week 2. It’s by far the most likely option.

Then, next game, the Steelers visit Cincinnati. Quarterback Joe Burrow, like Watson, is out for the year.

The Steelers aren’t very good. But you don’t need to be very good to be a team of destiny.