The Browns sacked Aaron Rodgers five times and intercepted him twice, yet he threw three touchdown passes in their first meeting. That contrast gives Cleveland's Steelers rematch its edge: disruption alone didn't contain Pittsburgh.

Cleveland visits Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, November 1.

DK Metcalf makes coverage the unfinished business. He turned five catches into 115 yards, including a 43-yard reception, in the first meeting. Another productive pass rush would help, but Metcalf's afternoon shows why the secondary has its own problem to solve.

Rodgers completed 22 of 40 passes for 299 yards. Cleveland won the disruptive plays without shutting down the passing game; those are different accomplishments, and the rematch turns on closing that gap.

The ending captured both sides of that performance. Andre Szmyt's 56-yard field goal left 10 seconds remaining in Cleveland's 27-24 Week 4 victory, before Grant Delpit supplied the game-sealing interception in the final 10 seconds.

Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburgh, so Cleveland brought passing production of its own. That makes limiting Pittsburgh's gains through the air a chance to give the Browns' offense more breathing room than it had in the first meeting.

The broader concern is how early Cleveland starts playing from behind. The Browns have been outscored in the first quarter in six of seven games. Todd Monken identified inconsistent coaching and execution while discussing faster starts ahead of Pittsburgh. Improving that opening stretch would take some urgency out of another late defensive stand.

A win would give Cleveland a season sweep of Pittsburgh.

Image: AI-generated image.