Thursday Night Football kicked off Week 4 with an absolute slugfest in the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers rolling into Huntington Bank Field to face off against the Cleveland Browns. Both these squads came in hot, sitting pretty at 2-1. Pittsburgh just dropped a W on Cincinnati, and Cleveland was riding a two-game winning streak, setting up a massive divisional showdown with serious implications right at the top of the standings.
Pittsburgh’s Ground Game Is Gaining Serious Momentum
Man, if you didn’t know Jaylen Warren’s name before, you sure do now. Pittsburgh’s backfield workload has officially shifted to him, and he put on a clinic against Cincinnati. We’re talking 17 carries for a ridiculous 127 rushing yards, plus he snagged 3 catches for another 49. That’s a whopping 176 total yards in one afternoon! And with Rico Dowdle still sidelined with a toe injury after missing Monday’s walkthrough, it looks like Warren’s gonna keep carrying that load. Aaron Rodgers is at the helm, and having a threat like Warren in the backfield just opens up everything. George Pittman caught just 2 of 5 targets for 16 yards against Cincy, but he still played 72.3 percent of the offensive snaps, second only to DK Metcalf among Pittsburgh’s wideouts. The Steelers already lead the entire NFL with 409 yards after catch, and Warren’s volume combined with those YAC numbers? That’s a problem for defenses. Now, Pittman is questionable for Thursday night with a foot injury after a limited practice week, which is a watchout.
Cleveland’s Fight for Field Position and Finishing Drives
The Browns’ defense is already signaling their top priority for Thursday night: stopping that run game. Good luck with Warren, fellas. They might be playing without some key pieces in their secondary too, with Grant Delpit and Tyson Campbell both potentially out. That’s a huge blow when you’re trying to contain an offense with a guy like Rodgers slinging it and receivers ready to make plays after the catch. On offense, Cleveland’s been a bit uneven through the first month of the season, but certain guys are stepping up big time. Boston, for example, has been clutch in the fourth quarter. He caught 2 passes for 41 yards and added a two-point conversion against Carolina, with both receptions coming after halftime. Through three games, he’s got 9 catches for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 targets. That chunk-play ability is gonna be huge in a game that feels like every single possession is a fight for field position. And when it comes to finishing drives, Fannin has become Deshaun Watson’s go-to guy in the red zone. He hauled in 7 of 9 targets for 51 yards and 2 touchdowns against Carolina. Over his last two games, he’s stacked up 12 catches for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 targets. Watson is leaning on him, and Fannin is delivering. The Browns have managed just 587 receiving yards th
Man, what a way to kick off Week 4! Both these 2-1 teams brought the heat, locked in an AFC North battle. With the standings tied up, every single play in this game counts. We just saw some serious early season statements made, and it sets the tone for both the Steelers and the Browns as they look to build on their records going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply