The Browns’ season has hit a critical point. After a gut-punch loss in Minnesota, Cleveland now faces a rested Pittsburgh team coming off its bye. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has shown poise and flashes of mobility, but the matchup against the Steelers’ opportunistic defense is his toughest test yet. For a team searching for rhythm, discipline, and confidence, this AFC North showdown will reveal whether the Browns can stabilize or slide deeper into the standings.
Here are five bold predictions for Sunday’s Browns-Steelers matchup.
1. Myles Garrett Disrupts Aaron Rodgers Early
Myles Garrett has dominated this rivalry for years, totaling 9.5 sacks and 18 QB hits against Pittsburgh since 2020. His pass-rush win rate of 28.7 percent ranks second in the NFL, trailing only Micah Parsons. Against a Steelers offensive line that has already allowed 11 sacks in four games, Garrett is positioned to feast on rookie left tackle Broderick Jones, who owns a 48.9 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade.
Rodgers has thrown just three passes of 20-plus yards in his past two games, relying on short, quick releases to avoid pressure. If Cleveland forces him off script, his accuracy drops to 54 percent with a 68.3 rating when pressured, per Next Gen Stats. Look for Garrett to record at least two sacks and create a turnover opportunity that sets up early points for Cleveland.
2. Gabriel Protects the Football in His Toughest Test
Gabriel’s rookie season has been a study in composure. Despite facing constant pressure, his turnover-worthy play rate (2.3 percent) ranks top 10 among qualified quarterbacks. Against Minnesota, Gabriel avoided interceptions while completing 65 percent of his throws under duress. That discipline will be tested by a Steelers defense that leads the NFL with 12 takeaways and 8 interceptions through four games.
Gabriel’s ability to neutralize T.J. Watt’s edge rush by getting the ball out quickly will decide Cleveland’s fate. Watt has generated pressure on 19 percent of his pass-rush snaps this season, while Pittsburgh’s blitz packages have forced opposing QBs into a 45 percent completion rate. If Gabriel continues to limit turnovers and lean on quick throws, he can keep Cleveland in control of field position and prevent the short-field collapses that doomed them in earlier losses.
3. David Njoku Becomes the Passing Game
Cleveland’s wide receiver group has been one of the least efficient in football. The Browns rank 30th in yards per reception (8.9), 30th in touchdowns (five), and have not recorded a single 40-yard completion. According to Next Gen Stats, Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman are tied for 102nd out of 113 qualified receivers in average separation per route (2.1 yards). Jeudy also leads the NFL in dropped passes (five) and has converted only 39 percent of third-down targets into first downs. These struggles have forced Gabriel to rely on his tight ends for consistency.
That has elevated David Njoku into the centerpiece of the passing attack. He leads the team in targets, receptions, and yards after catch, producing a 120 passer rating when targeted inside the hashes. Njoku’s 76 percent catch rate dwarfs that of Cleveland’s receivers, and Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed 6.8 yards per attempt to tight ends this season. Expect Njoku to again lead the team in catches and yards, serving as Gabriel’s primary outlet while the wideouts combine for fewer than 100 yards.
4. Browns’ Front Bottles Up Jaylen Warren
The Steelers’ offense leans on running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell to keep Rodgers balanced, but Cleveland’s run defense is built to smother interior runs. The Browns rank third in defensive success rate against the run (64 percent) and have allowed only 3.4 yards per carry up the middle. Linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jordan Hicks have combined for 41 run stops, while rookie tackle Mason Graham owns the team’s best run-stop win rate (38 percent).
Warren’s production has slipped against physical fronts. In two games versus top-10 run defenses, he’s averaged 3.2 yards per attempt with a 29 percent success rate. The Steelers’ interior trio has also given up 12 pressures in four weeks, leaving minimal space for cutbacks. Look for Cleveland to hold Warren under 60 total yards and force Rodgers into longer passing downs.
5. Judkins Carries Cleveland Past Pittsburgh
Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has become Cleveland’s offensive heartbeat. He rushed for 110 yards in London behind a line missing two starters and leads all rookie backs with 4.7 yards per carry on 60-plus touches. He has forced 18 missed tackles, fourth-most in the AFC, and ranks 12th in yards after contact per attempt (3.4). Against a Steelers front that gives up 4.5 yards per carry between the guards, Cleveland will ride Judkins to control tempo and clock.
With Gabriel managing turnovers and Njoku winning the middle of the field, Judkins will finish with 110 total yards and two touchdowns, including a late fourth-quarter score that seals the upset. Cleveland’s defense limits Rodgers to under 220 yards with two takeaways, and the Browns finally snap their losing streak in Pittsburgh.
