Low-scoring game

Now that Ben Roethlisberger has retired from professional football, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is beginning to see what life is like without his Hall of Fame-bound quarterback. It hasn't been pretty thus far. Far from it.

And Thursday night, Browns fans and a national television audience will see first hand just how mediocre the Steelers' offense is when they visit Cleveland as an underdog in this long-time rivalry for the first time since 2003, the season before Big Ben embarked on his sensational career.

Tomlin, who has never experienced a losing season in Pittsburgh, enters this one with a 24-6-1 record against Cleveland in the last 15 seasons. Not quite as sparkling as Roethlisberger's spectacular 26-2-1 mark, but outstanding nevertheless on its own merit. 

Mitch (Mitchell) Trubisky is the new Roethlisberger in position only. The former Mentor High School star, who experienced moderate success with the Chicago Bears for a few seasons before sitting behind Josh Allen last season in Buffalo, beat out rookie Kenny Pickett for the job. But for how long?

Those in the know believe it is only a matter of time before the former University of Pittsburgh quarterback and native Pittsburgher will be elevated in the hope he can come close to duplicating Roethlisberger's career.

The Cleveland defense, which plays fairly spectacularly for the first three quarters of games thus far (21 total points) before collapsing even more spectacularly in the final 15 minutes (34 points), will be at a slight disadvantage against the Steelers with the pass rush. Ankle miseries will sideline Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett will start despite a neck problem.

As long as Trubisky has the huddle, the Steelers will not be a big threat. He has thrown for just 362 yards and a pair of touchdowns with one interception as they split their first two games. The ground game has struggled, second-year running back Najee Harris gaining just 72 yards and looking for his first score.. 

That Tomlin is sticking with Trubisky this long, especially with the offense in general putting unnecessary pressure on the defense, is a bit of a surprise. The Steelers are already without All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt for at least a month with a partially torn pectoral muscle.

In nine career games against the Browns, the reigning National Football League defensive player of the year has 52 tackles (38 solo), 14.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interceptions. The equal opportunity disturber is arguably the best player on that side of the football in the league.

The effect of his loss was felt in last Sunday's home setback against New England, the Steelers registering no sacks. A rarity like that bodes well for the Cleveland offensive line, which will welcome back right tackle Jack Conklin after major knee surgery last season.

The Steelers' defense has not forgotten how to play opportunistic football. They already have six takeaways this season with the dangerous Minkah Fitzpatrick, arguably the best free safety in the league, hauling in a pair of picks, including his fourth career pick six. Overall, he has swiped 15 passes in four plus seasons.

The Browns, meanwhile, haven't had enough time to mentally and psychologically recover from last Sunday's brutal 31-30 loss to the New York Jets. This season has seen them win the season opener they deserved to lose and lose the home opener they deserved to win.

The Browns have played on Thursday night 20 times over the years -- seven times from 1966 to 1994 --winning. nine. They are 7-6 since 2006, winning the last four in a row, including the infamous helmet-wielding incident involving Garrett and Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph in 2019. The two teams have split four games on TNF, each winning twice at home.

Don't be surprised if this one is a carbon copy of the Jets game from a statistical standpoint for the Browns. That means lots and lots of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on the ground with Jacoby Brissett once again distributing short- to medium-range passes to keep the chains moving and game clock ticking.

Based on what happened in the first two games, the Cleveland defense needs to rebound not just in general but in a decisive enough way for no other reason than to reestablish the notion it ranks as one of the best in the NFL.

Despite all this, it's tempting to think that despite all the negatives, the Steelers somehow will find a way to emerge victorious because, well, because they are the Steelers and beating the Browns is what they -- and Tomlin -- do. 

But . . . 

Trubisky is not Roethlisberger. Watt will not be in uniform. The game-changing events of the Jets game are still fresh in the Browns' minds. Right now, they are the better team. This clearly qualifies as a must-win game. The final result will tell you all you need to know about this team and the direction it's headed. 

The offense will be fine as long as head coach Kevin Stefanski allows them to play within their talents. The defense, with a strong comeback, will make life miserable for Trubisky badly enough, Tomlin summons Pickett to begin his NFL career in the second half. It won't go well. Make it:

Browns 20, Steelers 10