Scouting the Browns: Cleveland has 21-game regular-season losing streak at Steelers

SCOUTING THE BROWNS

Last meeting

Steelers beat Browns, 27-14, on Dec. 8, 2024 in Pittsburgh

Key matchup

Steelers LT Broderick Jones vs. Browns DE Myles Garrett

A four-time AP first-team All-Pro, Garrett has six consecutive seasons of 10 or more sacks. He rushes almost exclusively from the right side of the defense, where Jones would most often be responsible for blocking him. No NFL tackle has been charged with allowing more sacks this season than Jones (per Pro Football Focus).

Key injuries

The Steelers are expected to welcome back three starters who have missed varying amounts of game time: cornerback Joey Porter Jr., outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and running back Jaylen Warren. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) is questionable. They will be without receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder).

The only member of the Browns who is designated as out is defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (knee). Garrett was on the injured list earlier this week with an ankle injury but was a full practice participant Friday. Former Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (illness) was a limited participant on Friday.

Series record

Steelers lead 82-64-1

Series notes

The Steelers have won 21 consecutive regular-season games against the Browns at the facility that is now called Acrisure Stadium. … Their only loss in the annual regular-season series against Cleveland at the 25-year-old stadium formerly called Heinz Field was in 2003. Cleveland did, however, win a playoff game there in January 2021. … The Steelers are 23-1 against the Browns there and 53-22 overall in home games versus them. … Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, the Steelers are 71-32-1 against the Browns, including 46-6 at home. … Since the Browns were reborn in 1999 following the original iteration of the franchise moving to Baltimore in 1996, the Steelers are 41-12-1 against them. … Since 2018, the Steelers have won only half of their 14 games played against Cleveland, going 7-6-1.

Notable

Under coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are 14-4 in games after a bye, including 6-1 at home. … The Browns are playing a road game seven days after playing in London, where they lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 21-17. The Steelers have not played since beating the Vikings, 24-21, in Dublin. … Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel made his NFL starting debut last week. A third-round pick, Gabriel is making the sixth start by a then-rookie quarterback for the Browns against the Steelers since 2016. The Steelers won four of the previous five. … Dating to a win against Cleveland’s Cody Kessler in 2016, the Steelers have won 12 of their past 14 games against a team starting a rookie quarterback — albeit the most recent such defeat was to the Browns’ Dorian Thompson-Robinson in November 2023. … The Steelers haven’t lost a home game to a rookie quarterback since the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott beat them in November 2016. .. Dating to late last season, the Steelers have lost their past three games at Acrisure Stadium. Their most recent home win was against Cleveland. … The Steelers are looking to avoid losing their first two home games of a season for the third time since 2021. They lost their home opener to the Seattle Seahawks, 31-17, on Sept. 14.

Fantasy tip

Only three teams this season have allowed more fantasy points per game by their opponents’ tight ends than the Steelers. During Gabriel’s NFL debut last week, more than half of his completions (10 of 19) were to tight ends David Njoku (six) and rookie Harold Fannin (four). Each had a touchdown catch.