Steelers notes: Defense does its job vs. Browns' vaunted rushing attack

CLEVELAND – After Sunday’s 15-10 win against the Browns, Cameron Heyward was big on PG-13 language.

Wearing a black-and-gold T-shirt that read “Get the (heck) to work,” the Pittsburgh Steelers veteran defensive lineman used a similar tone in describing how the defense contained the Browns’ vaunted rushing attack.

“Stay in our (dang) gaps,” Heyward said. “Get off blocks.”

Heyward went on to list the names of virtually every member of the defense in calling it “a collective effort” in holding Cleveland to 96 rushing yards on 23 carries. That accounted for the Browns’ third-lowest total in any of its past 16 games.

“We knew the run was going to be the biggest issue and the biggest problem to solve all week,” linebacker T.J. Watt said. “I think the coaching staff did a great job of getting us in great spots. As players, we did a really great job of mentally preparing for the run and not always being aggressive. Not biting on play fakes where it could potentially get into the gaps and two gaps and all that stuff. For the most part, we played assignment and sound football. That’s attributed to the whole defense and defensive staff.”

Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb had carries of 14 and 21 yards but, outside of that, had just 26 yards on his other 14 carries. He was limited to 2 or fewer yards on a run 10 times; five times, he was stopped for no gain or negative yardage.

“There is no secret sauce,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of stopping the Browns’ NFL-best run offense. “You have to come off blocks. You have to hit, wrap and make tackles. You have to get multiple people to the football. We did that today.”

“Stay in our damn gaps”
—says the man wearing the “Get the hell to work” T-shirt about the Steelers defensive effort against the run pic.twitter.com/83f7nn3zz9

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 31, 2021

Relatively healthy

The shot to the head of kicker Chris Boswell aside, the Steelers emerged mostly without injury. The only ailment aside from Boswell that Tomlin noted was fourth-string running back Kalen Ballage, who suffered a rib injury.

“Other than that, just natural bumps and bruises associated with play,” Tomlin said.

Quick hits

Watt’s fumble recovery in the fourth quarter was his sixth since 2019. Combining that with his 13 forced fumbles and three interceptions, the 22 turnovers Watt has statistically factored in on are the most in the NFL in that time span. … Watt’s 1 ½ sacks Sunday give him 7 ½ at FirstEnergy Stadium, tied with Terrell Suggs for the most by an opponent in the facility’s 23-year history. … In games played following an idle week, the Steelers have won five consecutive and 11 of their past 14. …. WR Diontae Johnson was targeted 13 times by Ben Roethlisberger passes. He’s been thrown to at least 10 times in five of the six games he’s played this season.

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