Week Two of the NFL season concludes tonight with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting an AFC North battle with the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers are hoping to reverse a disastrous season-opening loss to the 49ers while the Browns crushed the Bengals in Week One, but they may have a bit of history on their side. they’ve not lost at home on a Monday night since 1991. That’s twenty straight wins.
But it won’t be easy. Compounding the Steelers’ plight tonight is the loss of defensive stalwart Cam Heyward and top receiver Diontae Johnson.
Linebacker TJ Watt says the defense, which had a terrible game against the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, will have to step up without Heyward against the Browns’ star, Nick Chubb.
Offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. will again have to face Browns’ star pass rusher Myles Garrett. Moore says Garrett is a handful.
Second-year tight end Connor Heyward says the Steelers will try to keep Chubb off the field.
The injury report for the Steelers isn’t good…in addition to Cam Heyward and Diontae Johnson being out, wide receiver George Pickens was limited at practice on Saturday with a hamstring issue. Tackle Chuks Okorafor has been limited this week because of concussion symptoms. Running back Anthony McFarland is out with a knee injury. For the Browns, wide receiver Amari Cooper, safety Juan Thornhill, and defensive tackle Siaki Ika are all listed as questionable.
You’ll hear tonight’s game on WDAD, FM 100.3 and AM 1450. The pregame begins at 6:15.
Steelers/Browns is one of two games on tonight’s schedule. The Saints and Panthers meet in Charlotte, kicking off at 7:15, one hour earlier than the Steelers.
NFL
The Steelers other two AFC North rivals both played yesterday. The Ravens stopped the Bengals, 27-24. Preseason favorite Cincinnati is 0-2 while Baltimore is 2-0.
