Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 2 vs the Cleveland Browns

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on September 17, 2023

Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Series Notes

All-Time Steelers lead, 80-62-1
- Last: Steelers Win, 28-14 (Jan. 8, 2023)
Home Steelers lead, 51-22
- Last: Steelers Win, 28-14 (Jan. 8, 2023)
Away Browns lead, 40-29-1
- Last: Browns Win, 29-17 (Sept. 22, 2022)
Playoffs Steelers lead, 2-1
- Last: Browns Win, 48-37 (Jan. 10, 2021)

The Coaches

Steelers: Mike Tomlin
- At Franchise: 163-93-2 (17)
- Overall: 163-93-2 (17)
- Versus Opponent: 3-1
Browns: Kevin Stefanski
- At Franchise: 27-24 (4)
- Overall: 27-24 (4)
- Versus Opponent: 2-4

Gameday Information

Date: Monday, Sept. 18
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium
Pittsburgh, PA
Capacity 68,400 // Natural Grass
TV: ESPN // Locally WTAE-TV
- Joe Buck (play-by-play)
- Troy Aikman (analysis)
- Lisa Salters (field reporter)
Satellite Radio
- Steelers Broadcast: Sirius 85, XM/SXM 228, Internet 826
- Browns Broadcast: Sirius 158, XM/SXM 229, Internet 807
- National Broadcast: Sirius 88, XM/SXM 88, Internet 88
National Radio: Westwood One Radio
- Kevin Harlan (play-by-play)
- Kurt Warner (analysis)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network
Locally: 102.5 WDVE-FM (Pittsburgh) & 970 WBGG-AM (Pittsburgh)
(48 affiliates – see below)
- Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
- Craig Wolfley (analysis)
- Max Starks (field reporter)
- Missi Matthews (field reporter)
Referee: Ron Torbert

SCU Steelers Coverage

Game Capsule

	CLE	PIT
Home Record	1-0-0	0-1-0
Away Record	0-0-0	0-0-0
Record vs. Spread	1-0-0	0-1-0
Points Scored/Game	24.0 (10th)	7.0 (30th)
Points Allowed/Game	3.0 (2nd)	30.0 (26th)
Takeaway Diff.	-2 (26th)	-1 (19th)
Pass Yds/Game	144 (24th)	198 (15th)
Rush Yds/Game	206 (2nd)	41 (31st)
Def. Pass Yds/Game	67 (2nd)	203 (21st)
Def. Rush Yds/Game	75 (9th)	188 (30th)

Steelers Notes

QB KENNY PICKETT completed 31 of 46 atts. (67.4 pct.) for 232 yards, 3rd-most completions among all QBs in Week 1. Passed for 195 yards with TD vs. 0 INTs in last meeting. Has 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs in 4 career starts vs. division. Is 3-1 as starter in primetime, with 65+ comp. pct. in 3 of 4 games.
RB NAJEE HARRIS has 477 scrimmage yards (119.3 per game) in 4 career games vs. Cle., with rush TD in each game. Aims for his 7th in row vs. division with TD. Has 323 scrimmage yards (107.7 per game) in 3 career games on MNF with rush TD in each game.
WR GEORGE PICKENS had 5 catches in Week 1. Had 72 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting. Has 70+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 vs. division. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 at home.
WR ALLEN ROBINSON had 5 catches for team-high 64 yards last week in Pit. debut. Has 60+ rec. yards in 4 of 6 career games on MNF.
WR CALVIN AUSTIN led team with 6 catches in NFL debut last week.
TE PAT FREIERMUTH had 10th-career TD catch in Week 1. Has 5 catches in 2 of 3 career games on MNF.
LB T.J. WATT had 3 sacks, 2 FFs, FR & PD last week, his 6thcareer game with 3+ sacks, most in NFL since 2017. Was 1 of 2 in NFL (Montez Sweat) with 2 FFs in Week 1. Has 80.5 sacks in 88 career games, surpassing brother J.J. Watt (92 games) as 2ndfastest player to reach 80 sacks since 1982 (HOFer Reggie White – 71 games). Has 6 sacks in his past 3 vs. Cle. Aims for his 9th in row vs. division with 0.5+ sacks. Has 8 sacks in his past 4 on MNF.
LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had 7 tackles & TFL last week. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Cle. with 1.5+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with sack.
S MINKAH FITZPATRICK had 10 tackles in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row in primetime with INT.

Browns Notes

BROWNS can begin season 2-0 for 1st time since 1993.
QB DESHAUN WATSON had 199 total yards (154 pass, 45 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT last week. Has 225+ pass yards & 2 TD passes in each of 2 career starts vs. Pit. Had 274 total yards (230 pass, 44 rush) in last meeting.
RB NICK CHUBB led team with 127 scrimmage yards (106 rush, 21 rec.) in Week 1, his 20th-career game with 125+ scrimmage yards, tied 3rd-most in NFL since 2018. Had 100+ scrimmage yards & TD in both games vs. Pit. last season. Has 95+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7 vs. division.
WR AMARI COOPER had 37 rec. yards last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in each of 4 career games vs. Pit.
WR ELIJAH MOORE led team with 43 rec. yards in Week 1. Had 53 rec. yards in only career game vs. Pit. (10/2/22 w/ NYJ).
TE DAVID NJOKU aims for his 4th in row vs. Pit. with rec. TD. Had TD catch in 2 of final 3 road games last season.
TE HARRISON BRYANT had 8th-career TD catch last week.
DE MYLES GARRETT had sack last week & now has 75.5 career sacks, becoming 5th-fastest player (85 games) since 1982 to reach 75 sacks. Aims for his 7th in row vs. division & 4th in row overall with sack. Had 2 TFL & sack in last meeting.
DE ZA’DARIUS SMITH had PD in Cle. debut last week. Has 2 sacks in 3 career games at Pit.
DE OGBO OKORONKWO had sack last week in Cle. debut.
CB DENZEL WARD had 4 tackles & PD in Week 1. Had PD in both games vs. Pit. in 2022. Aims for 6th in row vs. division with PD.
CB GREG NEWSOME had PD last week. Had 2 PD in last meeting.
S GRANT DELPIT led team with 8 tackles & had TFL & PD last week. Has 5+ tackles in 3 of 4 career games vs. Pit.