The Browns play the Steelers in Week 6, traveling to Pittsburgh with a chance to pick up their first divisional win and gain a game on the division leaders.
Cleveland has already played the Bengals and Ravens this season and will finish the first half of AFC North games on Oct. 12 at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North standings at 3-1 and are coming off a bye in Week 5.
"Pleased with how this group worked all week, and then obviously understand the challenge that we have this week- in the division, on the road, good football team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "So, have to play our best, got to play your best when your best is required. And obviously that's what our focus has been on offense, defense and on special teams this week. I'm so excited about the opportunity."
As the Browns prepare to face the Steelers, here are three keys to the game.
Stop T.J. Watt
There are a handful of players that QB Aaron Rodgers said every NFL team has had a game plan for during his career. Rodgers named DE Myles Garrett, J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald and now teammate, Steelers LB T.J. Watt, to the list.
While J.J. Watt and Donald are retired, Garrett and T.J. Watt will try to be game-breakers on Oct. 12. The Steelers will deal with stopping Garrett and the Browns will come up with their own game plan to slow down T.J. Watt.
T.J. Watt is one of four players in the NFL with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in 2025. T.J. Watt can also impact the game with his pass-rushing ability, sacking the quarterback three times in the last two games. As a result, the Browns' offensive line will have its hands full.
Last season, the Browns held T.J. Watt without a sack in the division rivals' two meetings, but he managed to record a tackle for loss in each game. This season, the tackles have rotated due to injury, leading to the Browns trading for T KT Leveston and T Cam Robinson. While starting T Jack Conklin returned in Week 5, the line is still building chemistry and stacking reps together.
"We were happy to have (Jack Conklin) back," G Joel Bitonio said. "It was a little tough stretch there for him, but he came back and he played well, and he fought and he knows he has a big battle this week. It was just great to have him out there."
However, no matter what five guys on the line, they have one assignment as T.J. Watt and the other Steelers pass rushers try to sack QB Dillon Gabriel.
"The offensive line has to cover down to make sure we're there for them," offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. "Then we have to – our whole group, protect the quarterback, and part of that's playing on time, part of it is doing a good job with the edge players and the pushing side."
Limit yards after the catch
The Steelers are a part of a group of four teams in the NFL to have two players in the top 20 in yards after the catch.
WR DK Metcalf is sixth in the league with 189 yards after the catch, one of three players in the top six who have played four games this season. RB Jaylen Warren is tied for 18th in the league in the statistical category, getting 154 yards after the catch.
Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Metcalf leads the NFL in yards after catch per reception, recording 13.3 yards. Metcalf is 6-foot-4 and has the speed and size to run past defenders and, if needed, through defenders to get more yards.
In Week 4 against the Vikings, Metcalf caught the ball 15 yards past the line of scrimmage and gained 60 yards with his speed before trucking a Minnesota defender inside the 5-yard line to score. While Metcalf's athleticism helps get yards after the catch, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz emphasized Rodgers' role.
"(Aaron Rodgers) is throwing accurate passes that allow them to run after the catch and just knowing where to go and just put the ball in your playmaker's hands," Schwartz said. "Anytime the ball is in a playmaker's hands, it's a good play, and he uses all the guys."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) and Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and Cornerback Dom Jones (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Tight Ends Coach Christian Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Tight end Sal Cannella (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) and Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Tight end Sal Cannella (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Bill Willis Coaching Fellow Michael Bearden during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Offensive Line Coach Mike Bloomgren during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Defensive Assistant Zach Dunn during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) and Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Offensive guard LaDarius Henderson (67) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 8, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2025.
Win the turnover battle
In four games, Pittsburgh's defense has been a vital asset to its offense getting extra possessions. The Steelers own the second-best turnover differential and have the second-most turnovers in the NFL, recovering five fumbles and intercepting five passes.
Players like CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Nick Herbig on the Steelers' defense have been efficient in forcing takeaways. With all three of Pittsburgh's wins coming in one-possession games, getting takeaways like the two the team had against Minnesota in a 24-21 win in Week 4 have come in handy.
In Gabriel's first NFL start, the Browns didn't fumble the ball or throw an interception for the first time in the 2025 season. Gabriel managed to throw the ball to safe routes and when there was tight coverage, he threw the ball away rather than forcing the pass.
While Gabriel will look to improve upon his 19 for 33 passing clip, keeping the same approach of making the smart play is crucial against a Pittsburgh team that has a knack to force teams into turnovers.
"He has got that confidence to him, so definitely with the other position groups, you can feel that from him, feel him kind of stepping into his own and being comfortable doing so," Rees said. "Look, when you're a quarterback like that, you've done that your whole life, that's just what's natural for you."
On the other side of the ball for Cleveland, the defense has forced takeaways for three consecutive weeks. Cleveland intercepted passes from Green Bay and Detroit in Week 3 and 4 before forcing two fumbles against the Vikings in Week 5.
Pittsburgh has protected the ball well, only giving away the ball three times on interceptions from Rodgers. In his 21st NFL season, Rodgers is only four seasons removed from his fourth MVP award. While he isn't throwing the ball at the same rate he did in 2021, he still impacts the game.
Rodgers is throwing for 196.5 yards per game this season, 51.7 less yards per game compared to his first five weeks into the 2021 season. However, Rodgers has been able to guide the Steelers to the three one-possession wins through his game management. His quick throw capability and ability to lead pass catchers create a safer, yet potentially just as explosive play as showcased by Metcalf. Explosive play or not, the quick, short passes move the ball past the first down marker and keep drives alive.
"(Aaron Rodgers) is commanding the offense efficiently, getting out smoothly and quickly," Garrett said. "Not allowing any penalties, nothing post-snap, nothing pre-snap, and just slowly marching their way downfield, taking up time of possession, and just getting it out to their playmakers."
