Five Steelers players the Browns must focus on in Week 6:

The Browns are gearing up to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, with some key opposing playmakers ready to hand them another loss in 2025.

After an unsuccessful trip to London, the Browns are now headed to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers and their new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers currently hold first place in the AFC North with an impressive 3-1 record. Their most recent victory came during their trip to Dublin, Ireland, where they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-21. Their offensive showing against Minnesota was their best of the 2025 season, and they don’t plan on slowing down against Cleveland this Sunday.

Coming off a bye week, Pittsburgh appears ready for its AFC North homestand against the Cleveland Browns. It's no secret that the franchises don't favor each other, and the Browns would love nothing more than to put a stop to Pittsburgh's solid start to the season.

Let’s now take a look at the five Pittsburgh Steelers players the Browns must focus on to secure a victory in Week 6:

QB Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh has had a strong start with its new veteran and former MVP quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. After a disastrous stint with the New York Jets, Rodgers’ final stop in Pittsburgh before retirement has gone very well so far this season. This year, he’s thrown for eight touchdowns and 786 passing yards along with three interceptions. For his age, he’s playing about as well as can be expected in what is possibly his last NFL season.

Rodgers has had plenty of success against the Browns, posting a 3-0 record during his time with the Green Bay Packers. He’s also managed to avoid throwing a single interception in those three games while recording nine touchdowns—performances Browns fans remember quite well. Earning one victory against Rodgers would be a meaningful franchise win for Cleveland, and Week 6 might be one of their last chances to do so. We’ll see if he can find holes in this stellar Cleveland Browns defense during their matchup this Sunday.

S Jalen Ramsey

The acquisition of Jalen Ramsey has gone very well for Pittsburgh and defensive-minded head coach Mike Tomlin. Along with former Browns safety Juan Thornhill, they’ve had a solid start to 2025 with their new team. This season, Ramsey has posted a ____ overall PFF grade, which ranks ___ out of ___ safeties. Now, he looks to improve that score against a Browns receiving corps with a poor reputation around the NFL. Hopefully, the second start of rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel will not be a negative factor for the Browns’ passing offense against Ramsey and company.

It’s been a rough start to the year for the Browns’ top wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy, and he needs to change that trend in Week 6 against Pittsburgh. With poor quarterback play being a factor early on, he now has better opportunities for improvement with new quarterback Dillon Gabriel. If Gabriel manages to make smart decisions once again, he should find his top target early and often against Jalen Ramsey, who will try to shut down any potential catches the Browns’ receivers attempt on Sunday.

WR DK Metcalf

After being traded from the Seattle Seahawks to Pittsburgh this offseason, Metcalf has had a rollercoaster start with his new squad. He’s been held back by the lack of aggressiveness and consistency from the Steelers’ offense—something that must continue if Cleveland wants a chance to win this Sunday’s matchup. In 2025, he’s recorded 15 receptions for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Despite limited opportunities, Metcalf has displayed the ability to turn routine pass plays into game-changing moments.

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and company have had a rocky start to 2025 that is expected to get even more interesting. The Browns traded former first-round pick, cornerback Greg Newsome II, to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In return, they received draft compensation along with cornerback Tyson Campbell, who is expected to play for Cleveland against the Steelers this Sunday. The secondary will have to re-establish itself without Newsome II, and they can’t afford to take long doing so before Metcalf makes a big play for Pittsburgh in Week 6.

LB Patrick Queen

In his second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Patrick Queen has continued to be one of the better defenders in Pittsburgh and across the NFL. He currently has one sack and 35 total tackles in 2025, which ranks 44th among all NFL defenders. Uncharacteristically, Queen has produced a 52.7 overall PFF grade this season. Identifying his weaknesses will be vital for the Browns’ offensive success this Sunday.

Among Queen’s shaky PFF grades, he’s also posted a poor 31.5 coverage grade. This ranks 123rd out of 137 NFL linebackers and could be a key opportunity for the Browns’ offense. With tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. playing key roles as of late, this could be a prime opportunity if head coach Kevin Stefanski can exploit Queen’s struggles in coverage. If he sets up quarterback Dillon Gabriel to execute efficiently, the Browns’ defense should be able to handle the rest of the work needed to secure a win.

DE T.J. Watt

After a slower start than usual, T.J. Watt will have an extra chip on his shoulder for many reasons against the Browns this Sunday. In 2025, he’s collected three sacks along with a 74.5 overall PFF grade, lower than expected for a star defender. The debate over who is better between Watt and Myles Garrett is still alive among Steelers fans. While the national media seems to believe Garrett is the superior defender, Watt will look to change that narrative against the Browns’ shaky offensive tackle situation.

The Browns are currently expected to start both Jack Conklin and KT Leveston against the Pittsburgh defensive front in Week 6. Conklin delivered a solid performance in his return, but Leveston struggled early and often with both penalties and the Minnesota Vikings’ pass rush. As Browns fans know well, the offense cannot afford to let Watt and company disrupt any rhythm they might find this Sunday. Keeping the pressure off rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel could be the difference-maker in his success, and limiting Watt’s playmaking ability will be critical to Cleveland’s offensive rhythm.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Five Steelers players the Browns must focus on in Week 6