The Browns play their first home game in Cleveland since Sept. 21, hosting the Dolphins in Week 7 on Oct. 19.
The Browns lost to the Steelers 23-9 in Week 6 after being down six points at halftime and not making a comeback. Cleveland's offense had three red zone possessions against Pittsburgh but scored six points combined on the drives.
"Watched the tape this morning and watched it now with the players and a ton of areas that we just need to be better," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We need to be better in all aspects -- offense, defense, special teams, players, coaches, you name it. That'll be our focus. That's what we'll focus on moving forward so we can go play as a football team and find a way to win."
Here are the main pieces of news heading into Week 7 and another AFC clash.
Injury Updates
Following the Steelers game, Stefanski said that T Cam Robinson sustained a knee injury after leaving in the fourth quarter. He added that T Jack Conklin and WR Gage Larvadain were in the concussion protocol after hits suffered in the third and fourth quarter, respectively. DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was also ruled out of the game with a hip injury.
With Conklin and Robinson — both tackles that started against Pittsburgh — injured, Stefanski noted he will know later in the week the status of the two for their game against Miami. After the Browns offensive line lost T Dawand Jones to a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, the offensive line relied on players like T KT Leveston to step in. The offensive line will now have the same mentality if Conklin or Robinson can't play on Oct. 19.
"It's just part of football, so we have to have the next man up mentality," C Ethan Pocic said.
Doing the little things right on the offensive line
As the Browns tried to come back against the Steelers in the second half, they passed 34 times. The Steelers pressured QB Dillon Gabriel repeatedly as he stepped back to pass, allowing 16 completions. Gabriel finished the game with 52 pass attempts, but Pittsburgh made him feel their presence. In the second half, Pittsburgh sacked Gabriel four times and ended the game with 16 total quarterback hits.
"(Dillon Gabriel's) tough as nails," Pocic said. "I think he's getting better every day, and I love playing with him. You could just tell he's a good person and he's a good kid. He put so much into it and I'm glad he's on my team and I'm excited to see his growth. Like I said, we just have to do better as an offense."
After the game, G Joel Bitonio said there are 10 to 15 plays per game where a defender is unblocked or the offense commits a penalty, saying they kill the offense. Pocic said on all offensive plays, the margin for error is slim for the offensive line making errors. He noted that the offensive line getting better comes down to executing their assignments.
According to Pocic, the improvement begins on Wednesday when Cleveland starts to execute and practice the game plan for the Dolphins. The changes they make don't have to be anything monumental, though.
"It's just doing all the little things right," Pocic said. "It's doing practice and meetings and everything. I don't think it needs to be some big change or something. Wednesday is going to be a new day and just come in and really just be on it."
Putting in the work team-wide
Pocic acknowledged that despite the Browns' record, it's only Week 7, leaving the Browns 11 more chances to win.
While he believes the Browns have more talent than their opposition and can win games, he said that winning isn't being the most talented team – winning is being the best team that day.
"We just have to play better," Pocic said. "We have to play together. The team that plays the best on Sunday wins and we just have to do better. We have to focus on one play at a time."
LB Devin Bush sees the work ethic necessary to create change this season due to the work he sees his teammates putting in every day. He said the Browns believe in displaying that same work ethic on the field, playing their hardest from practice to in the game.
Cleveland is going into Week 7 looking for a second win to add to its resume. Bush believes they have the right personnel to do so in their locker room.
"Whatever moment we're in, whatever situation they're in, we have guys coming in and playing," Bush said. "That's a good sign because when you are in this situation, at least you have guys you know are going to fight for it."
