The last three times the Steelers have come to Cleveland to play the Browns, they have lost.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said it has been a struggle at times for Pittsburgh to overcome the Browns at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns outscored the Steelers 16-3 in the second half of a 29-17 win in 2022. Cleveland's 13-10 victory in 2023 was won with a last-second field goal from former K Dustin Hopkins. Last season, the Browns outlasted the Steelers amid snowy conditions to win 24-19.

"We've had our issues in recent years in Cleveland, so with that understanding, we're preparing and preparing with an edge," Tomlin said. "The environmental component I'm sure will be something to combat. It always is going to Cleveland, so we have to put together a thoughtful plan."

Tomlin said one factor has remained consistent in the struggles the Steelers have had against the Browns – Myles Garrett. Pittsburgh is trying to stop Garrett from disrupting the game plan the Steelers have implemented for the Week 17 AFC North matchup, hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive loss in Cleveland.

Garrett has 22 sacks this season and is one away from breaking the NFL single-season sack record. He has notched 13 sacks against Pittsburgh in 15 games over the course of his career, including the five sacks he tallied against the Steelers in their last two trips to Cleveland.

"I outlined it. Five sacks the last two times we've been there. He's a game wrecker," Tomlin said. "He provides the wave that others ride, and particularly in that environment when you're working on sideline counts and one-dimensional passing circumstances, etc., it is significant."

Pittsburgh's offensive line has allowed five sacks in the last two games, accounting for 20 percent of the 25 sacks QB Aaron Rodgers has taken this year.

T Dylan Cook will be called upon by Tomlin to stop both the trend of sacks allowed by the Steelers and the season that Garrett has compiled through 16 weeks.

Tomlin said Cook will receive help to aid him in blocking Garrett but mentioned that no matter the caliber of offensive linemen that have tried to block him, they have all had help. He brought up three-time First-Team All-Pro 49ers T Trent Williams receiving support from other San Francisco players in Week 13, a game where Garrett notched a sack.

"He has still had 22 sacks. I imagine most of those are not one-on-one plays," Tomlin said. "So, we're going to do our due diligence, but we're not going to act like or pretend that we're reinventing the wheel here. We better put schematics around him, better play well, better stay out of one-dimensional passing circumstances, and you still might not stop the bomb from going off. That's been how impactful this guy's play has been this year."

Tomlin attributed some of Garrett's success to being in year three of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's aggressive defensive scheme. That scheme has helped Garrett not only record a career-high in sacks and push towards history but also has allowed Cleveland to give up an average of just 277.8 yards per game, the second fewest in the NFL. The Browns have also been successful at rushing the passer with teams focusing on Garrett in combination with Schwartz's scheme. Cleveland has recorded 49 sacks, the third-most in the NFL.

"It's reasonable to expect people to get better from year one to three, whether it's an individual or the collective," Tomlin said. "Certainly, Jim has been doing it a long time and doing it at a high level. I imagine I know there is an uptick in not only him, but everybody in terms of just being in year three in this system. What you're watching is probably the benefit of that."

Within the Browns' defense is LB Carson Schwesinger, who Tomlin called a "slam dunk Defensive Rookie of the Year." Schwesinger has 147 total tackles and two interceptions, as well as 2.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. LB Devin Bush has been a key piece of Cleveland's linebacker core alongside Schwesinger. Bush has recorded 102 total tackles and two interceptions, including a pick-six in Week 11 against the Ravens.

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith mentioned the respect that Pittsburgh has for Garrett but also noted Cleveland's other defensive pieces like Bush and Schwesinger that they have to account for.

"Our job is to block (Garrett) and there are 10 other guys out there that do a heck of a job too," Smith said. "They rush really well. They cover. They're aggressive. We enjoy the challenge just like it was the first game, and we have to play our best football."

While Pittsburgh's offense will have its hands full with Cleveland's defense, the Steelers' defense is preparing for their own challenge. After facing QB Dillon Gabriel in Week 6, they are now preparing for QB Shedeur Sanders. Sanders has thrown for 1,103 yards and six touchdowns while also being a threat on the ground with 123 rushing yards and a touchdown in six games.

Sanders has leaned on TE Harold Fannin Jr., connecting 26 times for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Gabriel also used Fannin heavily in the Week 6 matchup, as Fannin caught seven passes for 81 yards. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Pittsburgh's defense are putting a spotlight on Fannin as a result of his production.

"The challenge is he has basically become their go-to option. He can do a lot of things," Austin said. "He's really good after the catch. He's a strong runner. He can get into pockets in the zones. He's a hard matchup for linebackers and safeties. So, he does a lot of really good things. I think he and the quarterbacks – the young quarterbacks in [Dillon] Gabriel and now Shedeur [Sanders] – but those youngsters a lot of times, you work together a lot, so you develop a rapport, and I think you can see that."

With Garrett aiming to continue his historic season and Fannin providing a multi-threat weapon option for Sanders, both teams are preparing for a physical AFC North matchup in Week 17.