Thursday Night Football is kicking off Week 4 with an absolute firecracker: an AFC North showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. Both these teams are sitting at 2-1, so yeah, this isn’t just another game. This is an important early-season battle that could really set the tone for the division. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers are coming in hot, looking for their second straight divisional win, and trust me, after last Sunday, the Browns’ run defense is probably having nightmares.
Warren’s Unleashed: Can Cleveland Even Stop This Guy?
If you didn’t watch last Sunday, you missed a show. The Steelers’ backfield workload has officially shifted to Warren, and man, did he deliver against Cincinnati. He ripped off 127 rushing yards on just 17 carries. Then he snagged 3 catches for another 49 yards. That’s a mind-blowing 176 total yards in one afternoon! Rico Dowdle is still sidelined with a toe injury, missing Monday’s walkthrough, so you know Warren is gonna carry that heavy load straight into Huntington Bank Field on Thursday night. Cleveland’s defense has to make stopping the run its absolute first priority. Good luck with that, seriously.
And it’s not just Warren. Pittsburgh’s got another weapon ready to feast if Cleveland’s secondary isn’t at full strength. Pittman only caught 2 of 5 targets for 16 yards against Cincinnati, but he was out there for 45 of 62 offensive snaps. That’s 72.3 percent, second among Pittsburgh wide receivers behind DK Metcalf. He’s questionable for Thursday with a foot injury after a limited practice week, but if he plays, he could be huge. Cleveland’s secondary might be without Grant Delpit and Tyson Campbell, which is a massive hole. The Steelers already lead the NFL in yards after catch with 409, and Pittman’s snap share tells you he’s in prime position to add to that total if those defensive backs are out.
Browns’ Uneven Offense Needs Its Playmakers to Step Up
Cleveland’s offense has been a bit of a rollercoaster through the first month. They’ve had their moments, but consistency? Not so much. That’s where guys like Boston come in, especially when it’s crunch time. This dude’s ability to create in the fourth quarter is legit. Against Carolina, he pulled in 2 passes for 41 yards and added a two-point conversion, with both receptions coming after halftime. Through 3 games, he’s got 9 catches for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 targets. Every single possession against Pittsburgh is gonna be a dogfight for field position, and Boston’s chunk-play ability is going to be absolutely critical in a game like this.
But creating big plays isn’t enough; someone needs to finish drives. And Fannin? He’s become that guy for Deshaun Watson 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. The Browns’ receiving numbers aren’t exactly lighting up the league with only 587 receiving yards through 3 games, which is the sixth fewest, and 46 first downs, the fourth fewest. So yeah, Fannin is one of the few consistent answers this offense has got heading into Pittsburgh. They’ll need him big time.
This isn’t just a Thursday night game; this is a battle for early control in the AFC North. Both teams are 2-1 and hungry. Can Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers keep their divisional win streak going, or will the Browns’ playmakers finally get consistent? Get ready, because this is gonna be wild.
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.
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