Steelers Run D Nearing Historic Mark; Can They Shut Down the Browns Sunday?

ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker points out about the historical impact the Steelers defense is having this season, stating that the run D is on pace to break some pretty big records Sunday in Cleveland.

With one game remaining, Pittsburgh is on a historic pace for stuffing running backs. The Steelers are allowing just 64.1 yards rushing per game, the fifth-best figure all time according to the NFL. Pittsburgh’s run defense is third all time since the Super Bowl era in 1966, trailing only the 2000 Baltimore Ravens (60.6 yards) and 2006 Minnesota Vikings (61.6 yards).

This week the Steelers take on Peyton Hillis and the Browns, a team that last time they met rushed for 69 yards on the Steelers in the Steelers 28-10 win in Pittsburgh back on October 17th. Hillis, who has over 1200 yards rushing for Cleveland this season, including a 144-yard game early in the year vs the Ravens, had just 41 yards on 12 carries that day.

The Browns last year in the win over the Steelers in Cleveland ran for a staggering 171 yards on 37 carries, a 4.6 yards per carry average. Some guy named Chris Jennings had 73 yards on 20 carries and a score, and a score, and Josh Cribbs out of the ‘wildcat’ had 87 yards on 8 carries.

Against the Ravens Sunday, Hillis was hit hard on his second carry by safety Ed Reed, and for the most part was a non-factor the rest of the way. The Steelers should make sure to do that again Sunday in Cleveland, and from there they can tee off against rookie QB Colt McCoy, who the Steelers have already seen once this season.