Here is some information to get you prepared for Sunday's Week 17 Steelers-Browns game in Cleveland. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) vs. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016
FirstEnergy Stadium
1 p.m.
CBS
SERIES HISTORY:Steelers lead, 67-58 (Steelers lead, 2-0, postseason)
LAST MEETING: Steelers 30, Browns 9, Nov. 15, 2015, Heinz Field: QB Ben Roethlisberger took over for Landry Jones (ankle) in the first quarter and wound up throwing for 379 yards the most by a non-starting QB in NFL history and three touchdowns. WR Antonio Brown had 10 receptions for 139 yards and two TDs, including nine for 131 yards and both scores on Roethlisberger throws. Browns QB Johnny Manziel lost a fumble on Cleveland's first offensive snap but recovered well enough to throw for 372 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers' defense had a season-high six sacks and allowed a season-low 15 yards rushing.
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LAST TIME OUT: **The Steelers ceded control of their playoff fate via a 20-17 loss at Baltimore. The Browns lost, 17-13, at Kansas City, Cleveland's ninth loss in 10 games since improving to 2-3 via a 33-30 overtime win on Oct. 11 at Baltimore.
WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL:Austin Davis is in line to make his second start at QB with the Browns and first since Dec. 6 against Cincinnati (a 37-3 loss) in place of Johnny Manziel (concussion). Davis, a 6-foot-2, 221-pound, fourth-year pro from Southern Mississippi, went 3-5 as a starter for St. Louis in 2014 and has completed 63.9 percent of his career passes, with 13 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a passer rating of 84.8. He has good arm strength but sometimes lacks touch and accuracy and isn't above taking chances on throws down the field. Davis is more apt to read through progressions and play from the pocket than Manziel.
One of Davis' problems against Cincinnati this season was dropped passes, a season-long issue in Cleveland. TE Gary Barnidge had six catches and a TD in the first meeting with the Steelers and has 71 catches, 977 yards and nine TDs on the season. Rookie Duke Johnson ranks second among AFC RBs with 57 catches and 500 receiving yards. WR Travis Benjamin usually scores from distance when he scores. He's crossed the goal line 13 times (10 receptions, three punt returns) and averages 44.8 yards per TD.
The offensive line is without starting OGs Joel Bitonio and John Greco. Rookie No. 1b pick Cameron Erving started at RG against Kansas City and started at LG against the Steelers on Nov. 15 and the Ravens on Nov. 30. Erving has struggled, especially after replacing Bitonio against Cincinnati. The Browns ran 14 times for 15 yards in their first meeting with the Steelers. Manziel had three rushes for 17 yards. The rest of the ball-carriers had 11 attempts that combined for minus 2 yards. Cleveland is No. 23 in total offense (19th rushing, 17th passing) and No. 31 in red-zone offense (the Browns score touchdowns 42.9 percent of the time).**
Here is a look at the statistical leaders for the both the Steelers and Browns heading into the Week 17 contest at FirstEnergy Stadium.
QB Ben Roethlisberger has completed 295 of 433 passes (68.1%) for 3,584 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions and enters the game with a quarterback rating of 93.7.
Browns QB Austin Davis enters the game having completed 32 of 48 passes (66.7%) for 307 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception and has a quarterback rating of 82.5.
Browns QB Johnny Manziel enters the game having completed 129 of 223 passes (57.8%) for 1,500 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions and has a quarterback rating of 79.4.
RB DeAngelo Williams leads the Steelers rushing attack with 899 yards on 195 carries (4.6 avg.) and has a team high 11 touchdowns this season.
RB Isaiah Crowell leads the Browns rushing game with 653 yards on 170 carried (3.8 avg.) and 4 touchdowns in 2015.
Browns RB Duke Johnson Jr. has carried the ball 100 times for 368 yards (3.7 avg.) in 2015.
WR Antonio Brown enters Week 17 with a team-high 123 receptions for a team-high 1,647 yards. Brown has also hauled in 9 receiving touchdowns this season.
In just 10 game this season, WR Martavis Bryant has caught 49 passes for 765 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns.
WR Markus Wheaton is averaging 16.9 yards per receptions this season (41 rec. for 692 yards) and has 4 receiving touchdowns.
TE Gary Barnidge leads all Browns pass catchers this season in receptions (71), receiving yards (977) and touchdowns (9).
Browns WR Travis Benjamin has recorded 63 receptions for 913 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2015.
LB Lawrence Timmons lead the Steelers defense with 110 total tackles (70 solo and 40 assists) on the season. Timmons also has 3.5 sack and one interception in 2015.
The Browns defense is led LB Karlos Dansby who has recorded 101 total tackles (57 solo and 44 assists) on the season. Dansby has also forced 5 quarterback hurries in 2015.
DE Cam Hayward's 7 quarterback sacks on the season currently leads the 2015 Steelers defense. Heyward has also accounted for 53 tackles and 13 quarterback hurries this season.
DL Desmond Bryant leads all Browns defenders with 6 quarterback sacks this season. Bryant also has 16 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble in 2015.
S Mike Mitchell leads the Steelers secondary with 3 interceptions this season. Mitchell has also accounted for 75 tackles and 8 passes defended.
Browns leading tackler, LB Karlos Dansby, also leads the team in interceptions with 3. Dansby has also defended 6 passes this season.
WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL: **They'll attack a Cleveland defense with three rookie draft picks starting (No. 1a NT Danny Shelton, OLB No. 2 Nate Orchard and No. 6a CB Charles Gaines).
Gaines had a rough afternoon against Brown in the first meeting between the teams. Pierre Desir was one of the starting CBs against the Steelers but hasn't started since. CB K'Waun Williams plays passing-downs nickel and S Jordan Poyer plays the run-pass downs "big nickel." Veteran CB Tramon Williams has been flagged for eight penalties, six since Week 10. CB Joe Haden (concussions) is on IR.
Run defense has been an even bigger problem all season long. The Browns are No. 32 in that department (there isn't a No. 33) and are allowing an average of 135.0 yards per game on the ground. MLB Karlos Dansby is the NFL's only player with 40 sacks (41) and 15 interceptions (19) since 2004. Dansby doesn't have a sack this season but two of his three INTs have been returned for touchdowns. OLB Armonty Bryant, second on the team with 5.5 sacks and perhaps Cleveland's best pass-rusher, was inactive against Kansas City.
*SPECIAL-TEAMS HEADLINERS: *The Browns have had a field-goal attempt blocked in four of their last five games and have also had a punt blocked this season. Benjamin has a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. Cleveland has also surrendered a punt return for a touchdown.
THE X-FACTOR:The Steelers know their playoff fate is tied to the result of the Jets-at-Bills game that will be playing out while the Steelers battle the Browns. Will the Steelers be able to focus on the task at hand they know they won't be going to the postseason if they don't win in Cleveland or, will they succumb to distraction based on what's taking place in Orchard Park, N.Y.?
THEY SAID IT:"That's the way we feel. And that's not meaning that you're going to score 30, 40 points every game. There are going to be different circumstances, different coverages, teams are going to play you differently. But I really believe this group believes, and they've seen it firsthand, when our side of the football is a factor in losing games, it's usually things we've done to ourselves." - offensive coordinator Todd Haley on whether anybody but the Steelers is capable of stopping the Steelers.
