If there was ever a first week game that a Super Bowl champion-turned-chump-squad needed to get back in the groove after such a nasty hangover, it's this one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've got a new head coach, a new offensive scheme under Bruce Arians and some serious offensive weapons that can provide the quick hit that the defense needs to get its confidence back. The Browns, while boasting a couple promising young stars, don't quite have the sea legs they need to succeed in the ocean of football talent that is the AFC North. In the positions where they should have veterans, like QB and offensive line, they don't, instead relying on relative youngsters to carry the load. Meanwhile, their starting running back is Jamal Lewis, who's only had about four truly excellent fantasy starts in the past three seasons. With all factors considered, the Steelers should romp.
Predicted Score: Steelers 30, Browns 13
Fantasy Focus Pittsburgh: Just about everybody on this offense is looking forward to this game, I guarantee it. While it may not benefit any one player more than Roethlisberger, there will be plenty of numbers to go around by the time the second half is in full swing. I'm focusing a lot on how the Browns will struggle to move the ball against a tough veteran defense that really has something to prove this season, and it's making me like the possibilities of some long, sustained drives for the Steelers in the second half that will keep the defense fresh and turn into the vicious cycle of ball control into a W for the Steelers D and the offensive skill positions.
Start: Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Team Defense
Consider: Heath Miller, Jeff Reed
Sit: Nate Washington
Cleveland: Oh, no, Romeo. You might get some garbage catches from Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, but it's not looking good for Week 1 against a solid defense that's out for blood in its division. Jamal's too old and the QBs just are not NFL-ready.
Start: Kellen Winslow
Consider: Braylon Edwards
Sit: Charlie Frye, Jamal Lewis, Joe Jurevicius, Phil Dawson and Team Defense
Note: Team statistics are shown as the average per game
through Weeks 12 to 17 of the 2006 season after deducting the best
and worst value from the data set. The exception is yards per rush attempt, completion %, yards per
pass completion, yards per pass attempt and the NFL averages, which are each calculated based on
totals through Weeks 12 to 17 with no adjustment.
Defense Stats Comparison
PIT Defense
CLE Defense
NFL Average
Points against
13.5
26.0
21.1
Rushing yards
75.0
129.5
123.7
Rushing yards per attempt
3.18
4.08
4.30
Completion %
61.6%
65.4%
60.0%
Passing yards
216.3
236.8
201.8
Passing yards per completion
10.12
13.23
10.67
Passing yards per attempt
6.24
8.65
6.40
INT return
1.3
1.0
1.1
Fumble recoveries
0.5
0.8
0.7
Sacks
1.3
1.8
2.2
Weather
Check the current weather forecast for Cleveland from Weather.com.
Team vs. Team History
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Season
Week
Date
Vis
Home
Score
Winner
2000
3
2000-09-17
PIT
CLE
20-23
CLE
2000
8
2000-10-22
CLE
PIT
0-22
PIT
2001
9
2001-11-11
PIT
CLE
15-12
PIT
2001
17
2002-01-06
CLE
PIT
7-28
PIT
2002
4
2002-09-29
CLE
PIT
13-16
PIT
2002
9
2002-11-03
PIT
CLE
23-20
PIT
2003
5
2003-10-05
CLE
PIT
33-13
CLE
2003
12
2003-11-23
PIT
CLE
13-6
PIT
2004
5
2004-10-10
CLE
PIT
23-34
PIT
2004
10
2004-11-14
PIT
CLE
24-10
PIT
2005
10
2005-11-13
CLE
PIT
21-34
PIT
2005
16
2005-12-24
PIT
CLE
41-0
PIT
2006
11
2006-11-19
PIT
CLE
24-20
PIT
2006
14
2006-12-07
CLE
PIT
7-27
PIT
Note: Only playoff games from the
2004 and 2005 seasons are included in the team vs. team history.
Playoff games from seasons prior to 2004 are not currently included in the database.
