Steelers Scouting Report: Cleveland Browns, Week 6

Steel City Underground scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents each week of the 2025 NFL regular season ahead of the games to preview the upcoming matchup with a focus on key players, potential outcomes, news, and the latest social media chatter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) will host the Cleveland Browns (1-4) at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday for a NFL Week 6 divisional matchup. We scout the Browns, as opponents, ahead of the game.

Recap of Browns in Week 5

On the road in London facing the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland – who has won just a single game – continued the slip-slide to the bottom of the proverbial division barrel, losing by a score of 21-17. It was rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel‘s first NFL start, wasted.

Cleveland was ahead, 10-7, at the halfway mark. After halftime, though, the offense stalled. With the loss, Browns quarterbacks have now gone 0-17 in their first career starts since 1995 per ESPN research; that is the league’s longest streak since 1950 (when that stat started to be officially recorded).

Despite Minnesota’s loss of Carson Wentz at quarterback in the first half due to injury, he did return to play hurt with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer as the backup option. Wentz found Jordan Addison for a 12-yard touchdown with just 25 seconds left in the game for the win.

Gabriel now QB1, Flacco departed for Cincy

Gabriel will get his second start in as many weeks, but the quarterback situation in Cleveland is tenuous. Veteran Joe Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week, leaving the Browns with Shedeur Sanders potential backup due to Deshaun Watson being on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Kenny Pickett was traded away previously.

The backup QB situation could change come gametime, however. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke on Wednesday saying he’d “let the week play out… make a decision later.” Enter the possibility that Bailey Zappe – a member of Cleveland’s practice squad – gets activated to play behind Gabriel, instead.

“I always have to be mindful of our players and our players’ development,” Stefanski told the media. “I want to make sure that I’m always doing what’s best for our players and, of course, our team.”

Are the players on the Browns offense ready for Dillon to lead them? That’s uncertain. With the way they played last week, they’ll need to work better together early in the game to defeat a surging Pittsburgh defense.