This is Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada's 3rd season leading the Steelers' offense. Unfortunately, the offense hasn't shown any improvement over the years, with predictable play calls, a weak offensive line, and an almost non-existent ground game, despite the overrated Najee Harris averaging just 3.9 yards per carry since his rookie season in 2021. In addition to the poor offensive performance, the Steelers lost Cameron Heyward on defense and had problems containing the ground game in the opener. This happens to be a strength of Cleveland's offense, while the secondary, although exposed due to the constant blitz calls from Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, also had a weak performance in the opener.
On the Browns' side, Deshaun Watson performed just as poorly as he did towards the end of the last season, but the ground game still worked well, with Nick Chubb surpassing 100 yards in Week 01. Defensively, the secondary remained strong, and the front-seven was able to pressure quarterback Joe Burrow.
Perhaps a better team could capitalize on the favorable situational aspect of this game, but I am not a fan of this Steelers team. They have a weaker secondary than last season and are still ineffective on offense. Watson might face challenges against a pass rush that, despite Heyward's absence, still features one of the best edge rushers in the league in T.J. Watt. However, it's likely that the Browns can move the ball on the ground, while I don't see the Steelers producing against what is expected to be a strong Cleveland defense.
The Steelers' absences, including Cameron Heyward and Diontae Johnson, are more significant than those of the Browns, although less in number. The -2.5 handicap holds significant weight, especially considering that the 49ers, theoretically better than the Browns, were also favored by the same 2.5 points last week against Pittsburgh. This indicates that oddmakers' expectations for the Steelers have decreased after just one week of games.