NFL Breakdown - Steelers Offense vs Browns Defense / PREDICTION

Time For The Steelers To Get Jonathan "Baby Bus"
Dwyer Going Early and Often vs the Browns

For my loyal followers, I apologize for the lack of content this week, but when I'm off work it is family time.  I haven't gotten to do all of the game "lead ups" that I normally do, but I'll still give you the biggest two.  The Steelers Offense vs the Browns Defense might be the most interesting of the story lines heading into this game for the Steelers.  I give you my top 5 story lines below. 

- Charlie Batch Still Get The Job Done? - The Steelers organization has overlooked Charlie Batch year after year saying he might get cut or not make the 53 man roster.  More often than not they end up needing him.  SteelerNation is used to seeing him go out there and perform at a level that is capable of the Steelers winning the football game.  The question is now, can Batch still get the job done at age 75?!  Okay, he isn't 75, but as he gets near 40 those questions start to get brought up "Can he make all the passes?" "Can he escape pressure?" I think he can make enough plays through the air to get the Steelers a victory in Cleveland.

- Plaxico Immediate Help? - The signing of Plaxico Burress was a shock on several levels for me.  The first is simply the Steelers don't typically go after the high priced free agents in the off-season and especially during the season.  The second was that Plaxico left the Steelers with some no so nice feelings towards the staff and organization.  Its a new staff and a new president in Art Rooney Jr., and Plaxico is back in the 'burgh.  Can he help the team immediately?  Sure he can...especially in the red zone.  So what if he has become more of a posession receiver and not a deep threat?!  The Steelers can use the 6'5" frame in the redzone and on key 3rd down situations.  The Steelers can USE HIM, but is Plax able to PERFORM?!  That is the ultimate question that will be answered today at 1:00pm.

- Get Back To The Running Game - Remember the Steelers 3 game winning streak against the Bengals, Redskins, and Giants?  Remember how nasty the OLine was and how well the Steelers were running the ball??  Seems like a long time ago after 2 consecutive poor running games against the Chiefs and Ravens.  The best thing the Steelers can do with Batch at QB is to get the running game going early and often.  Grind out the clock by moving the chains on the ground.  Don't force Batch into throwing over 30 times vs the Browns.  If the Steelers rush for over 150yds as a group and don't turn the ball over I don't think there is a way they lose this football game. 

- Offensive Line Improvements - The Steelers OLine has been under some pressure the last few games without their starting QB in the lineup.  They are used to having Ben get rid of the ball quickly, but with Leftwich you saw how the line just couldn't hold up long enough on several occasions.  Charlie Batch has a much quicker release than Byron, but its the running game where the OLine needs to improve.  Things will be interesting with this group in the next few weeks as David DeCastro continues to practice and when Marcus Gilbert returns to full health.  TODAY, they simply need to win the battle in the trenches vs the Browns.

- Win A MUST WIN Game - It isn't very often when the Steelers play the Browns that the words MUST WIN and possible loss get brought up, but when you are as decimated with injuries as the Steelers are, then there is a chance that anything can happen.  This is truly a MUST WIN game for the Steelers as another matchup with the Ravens awaits next Sunday.  The Steelers won't overlook this game as its a divisional game, but if they want to keep pace with the Ravens they certainly need to win this game and hope the Chargers can beat the Ravens on the west coast.  SteelerNation is clamoring for the Ravens' opponents to win, but the Steelers can only control who they play, and this week its the Brownies.

- PREDICTION - This is tough to gauge considering I don't know what the offense is going to look like for the 2nd straight week, but here goes nothing.

STEELERS - 20
Browns - 13

ENJOY THE GAME STEELERNATION!!  Be sure to follow me on Twitter during the game (@BnGBlitz)!!