By Browns Daily Dose
Updated: September 30, 2026
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The Cleveland Browns have a chance to make an early AFC North statement Thursday night.
Cleveland enters Week 4 at 2-1 after consecutive wins over Tampa Bay and Carolina. The Pittsburgh Steelers are also 2-1 after a 30-27 victory over Cincinnati last Sunday.
Now the division rivals meet under the lights at Huntington Bank Field.
For the Browns, beating Pittsburgh will require more than simply playing well in stretches. Cleveland will have to execute in several key areas — particularly against a Steelers defense featuring T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Here are 10 things the Browns must do to beat the Steelers on Thursday Night Football.
1. Protect Deshaun Watson
This may be the biggest priority of the night.
Pittsburgh’s pass rush is led by one of the NFL’s most dangerous edge combinations in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Through three games, Watt has recorded 3.5 sacks while Highsmith has three. (Cleveland Browns)
That creates a major challenge for a Browns offensive line that is still developing chemistry.
The Browns also entered Thursday with starting center Elgton Jenkins dealing with a concussion and listed as a non-participant in Monday and Tuesday’s estimated practice reports. (Cleveland Browns)
Cleveland cannot afford repeated free rushers or drive-killing sacks.
The goal: Give Watson enough time to make quick decisions and get the ball to his playmakers.
2. Get Quinshon Judkins and the running game going
The Browns have to establish some balance.
Cleveland is averaging just 87.7 rushing yards per game through three weeks, while Pittsburgh is allowing 113 rushing yards per game. (Behind the Steel Curtain)
That creates an opportunity.
Quinshon Judkins and Raheim Sanders need to help Cleveland consistently stay ahead of the chains. A productive running game would also force Pittsburgh to respect play-action and prevent the Steelers from simply attacking Watson on obvious passing downs.
The Browns don’t necessarily need a 150-yard rushing performance.
They need efficient carries that create manageable third downs.
3. Keep T.J. Watt from wrecking the game
You can’t completely eliminate Watt.
You can, however, make sure he doesn’t become the deciding factor.
Cleveland needs to use a combination of quick throws, chips, motion, play-action and protection adjustments to keep Watt from getting into a rhythm.
The worst-case scenario for Cleveland is allowing Watt to produce multiple negative plays early and turn the game into a pass-rushing showcase.
Know where No. 90 is on every important passing down.
4. Make Pittsburgh defend Harold Fannin Jr.
Fannin was a major factor in Cleveland’s Week 3 victory over Carolina, scoring two touchdowns.
He also gives Todd Monken another way to attack a Pittsburgh defense that has to account for Cleveland’s receivers and running game.
The Browns should find creative ways to get Fannin matched up against linebackers and safeties.
That could mean traditional tight-end routes, motion, play-action, screens and targets underneath that allow him to create yards after the catch.
If Pittsburgh starts dedicating extra attention to Fannin, that could open opportunities elsewhere.
5. Contain Jaylen Warren
The Browns’ defense has to account for Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren.
Warren leads the Steelers with 216 rushing yards on 38 carries through three games and is averaging 5.7 yards per carry. (Cleveland Browns)
Pittsburgh could lean heavily on him again, particularly with Rico Dowdle dealing with a toe injury and missing both Monday and Tuesday’s estimated practices. (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Cleveland’s run defense allowed 120.3 rushing yards per game entering Week 4, although the Browns held Carolina to 98 rushing yards in their last game. (Cleveland Browns)
The formula is simple:
Stop Warren from creating explosive runs and make Pittsburgh consistently win through the air.
6. Make Aaron Rodgers work underneath
The Browns don’t need to give Pittsburgh easy explosive plays.
Cleveland’s secondary has generally done a good job limiting yards after the catch, according to recent matchup analysis, and the Browns should make Pittsburgh sustain long drives rather than allowing quick chunk plays. (Behind the Steel Curtain)
That means disciplined coverage, good tackling and forcing the Steelers to execute repeatedly.
One missed tackle or blown coverage could completely change a drive.
7. Win the third-down battle
This sounds obvious, but Thursday’s game could come down to third downs.
The Browns need to avoid constantly facing third-and-long on offense.
On defense, Cleveland needs to create those difficult situations for Pittsburgh.
A successful formula would be:
- Run the ball effectively on early downs
- Stay out of obvious passing situations
- Convert manageable third downs
- Force Pittsburgh into third-and-long
- Get off the field
Field position becomes increasingly important in a divisional game played on a short week.
8. Avoid the self-inflicted mistakes
The Browns don’t need to give Pittsburgh extra opportunities.
That means:
No turnovers.
No unnecessary penalties.
No missed assignments.
No busted coverages.
No wasted timeouts.
No special-teams mistakes.
Cleveland has already shown it can win close games this season. The Browns defeated Carolina 21-18 in Week 3, while Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati 30-27. (Cleveland Browns)
Another close game could come down to one possession.
The team that makes fewer critical mistakes could have a major advantage.
9. Get healthy players back into the secondary
The Browns’ secondary could get an important boost if Tyson Campbell and Grant Delpit are able to play.
Both players were listed as limited participants Monday and Tuesday with knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. (Cleveland Browns)
Campbell missed Cleveland’s Week 3 game, so his availability would give the Browns another experienced option in the secondary.
Delpit’s availability would also matter against a Pittsburgh offense that can challenge defenses in multiple areas.
Cleveland needs as many of its defensive pieces available as possible against the Steelers.
10. Finish the game
This might be the biggest lesson from Cleveland’s first three weeks.
The Browns have already played several tight games, and Thursday presents another opportunity to show they can execute when the game reaches the fourth quarter.
If Cleveland has a lead late, the offense needs to keep moving the chains.
If the Browns are trailing, they need to remain composed and avoid turning one mistake into three.
And if the game comes down to a final possession, Cleveland needs its best players on the field making plays.
That’s what divisional football often comes down to.
The Bottom Line
The Browns don’t need to completely dominate Pittsburgh to win Thursday night.
They need to execute.
Protect Watson.
Run the football.
Limit Watt and Highsmith.
Contain Jaylen Warren.
Get the ball to Harold Fannin Jr.
Avoid turnovers.
Win third down.
And make Pittsburgh earn every yard.
Cleveland and Pittsburgh both enter the game at 2-1, making Thursday night’s matchup an important early-season AFC North showdown. (Cleveland Browns)
The Browns have an opportunity to improve to 3-1 and pick up a division victory in front of their home crowd.
Now they have to execute the plan.
Browns vs. Steelers kicks off Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Check out the Browns – Steelers Injury Report Here
