The first few weeks of the NFL season saw plenty of questions directed toward the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was having an underwhelming season, the often-brutal defense couldn’t stop much of anything, and the heartbreaking losses were mounting. Things have since turned around, making today’s 1pm EST / 10am PST game on CBS between the Steelers and Cleveland Browns a surprisingly intriguing matchup of 4-6 teams. Pittsburgh, which had its most impressive win of the season over the Detroit Lions last week, has traditionally owned the Browns, but Cleveland’s defense should present some challenges for Pittsburgh’s rejuvenated offense. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can watch Steelers vs Browns online free live using one of several different methods.
The Cleveland Browns have struggled mightily to make hay in the AFC North, and no team has historically been a bigger thorn in their side than the Steelers. What’s more, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger continually makes the Browns’ life hell, perhaps as a “told you so” payback for the Browns passing on him in the 2004 NFL Draft. Combine that history with the Steelers’ recent record of having won four of their last six games, and today’s AFC North showdown seems pointed staunchly in the Steelers’ favor.
But if you watch Steelers vs Browns online free live you’ll see a different Browns team than in years past, even if their 4-6 record might not indicate it. The difference won’t be because of quarterback Jason Campbell, who’s the latest victim in the QB carousel known as the Browns play-caller. Campbell is the kind of immobile, long-windup quarterback the Steelers’ defense feasts on, even though Pittsburgh’s defense has just 18 sacks this season. Instead, it’s the Browns’ defense that may turn the tides of their AFC North fate this year, or at least give Cleveland a shot.
Other than the number of third-down conversions allowed, the Browns defense is more highly ranked than the Steelers in every possible category. They allow 34 fewer total yards per game (306 vs. 340), they allow 26 fewer yards on the ground (99 vs. 125), and they’re ranked fourth overall in the NFL compared to the Steelers’ 14th-ranked D. The Browns also have a cornerback, Joe Haden, developing into a Pro Bowler, and his assignment today against the Steelers will be Antonio Brown. That matchup will be key to whether the Browns can really go after Steelers QB Roethlisberger aggressively. If they can’t effectively pressure or sack Big Ben, look for Roethlisberger to find the favorable matchups all day long.
In spite of his early season troubles, Roethlisberger has turned it on in recent weeks. Through 11 weeks, Big Ben has gone 24-383 for 2,901 yards and 17 touchdowns. Those are good numbers, and although he’s got just the 19th overall quarterback ranking according to ESPN, he’s led his team to wins in 75% of its past six games and is playing on the road in Cleveland, a place Roethlisberger has lost only once in his entire NFL starting-QB career. Technically today’s game between the Steelers and Browns is a rivalry, but with dominance like that, it’s hard to call it a competitive one.
You can watch Steelers vs Browns online free live on DirecTV’s website if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket with MAX Package. The package requires a subscription, but anyone who has one can watch the live streaming version free of any game, including today’s 1pm EST / 10am PST broadcast on CBS between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.