Every offensive coordinator starts game week by identifying the one player on the other side who can wreck the plan. Sometimes it is an elite edge rusher, and sometimes it is a cornerback who can erase a top receiver. For Pittsburgh this week, the answer sits right in the middle of Cleveland’s defensive line. A national analyst believes the Steelers have a real puzzle to solve before Thursday night.
Dan Orlovsky broke down the matchup on ESPN’s NFL Live and believes Mason Graham will be a problem for the Steelers.
“Mason Graham, for Cleveland, is starting to play really good football. Pittsburgh, we’ve talked about their offensive line was so good against a player like Dexter Lawrence. I think two specific areas: One, how do they handle Mason Graham’s quickness in the run game? The second thing is, can we single-block him in the pass game, or do we have to devote two people? He was a game-wrecker in many ways. He’s a different player than Dexter Lawrence. Mason Graham, much more laterally quick and getting skinny off of that. It’s a different challenge for Pittsburgh,” Orlovsky said.
Mason Graham is a problem@Browns pic.twitter.com/L4GZUokg29
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) September 30, 2026
Graham is a different type of problem. He beats blockers with quickness, slipping through gaps before linemen can get their hands on him.
That shows up in the run game first. Graham knifed through the backside A-gap to drop Chuba Hubbard for a loss on Sunday, part of a first half in which Carolina’s lead back managed just 18 yards on 10 carries. The Steelers will also be without running back Rico Dowdle, which puts even more pressure on their blocking up front.
The pass rush question might be the bigger dilemma. Graham has 4 sacks through 3 games, has recorded at least 1 in every contest and generated 7 pressures on 34 pass rush snaps against the Panthers. Leaving him one-on-one is a risk few offensive lines can afford to take.
Sending 2 blockers his way creates its own issues, though. The Browns had 7 different players record at least 3 pressures on Sunday, and doubling Graham would leave Isaiah McGuire, Jared Verse and the rest of the front with more favorable matchups on the edge.
That is a tough spot for Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old pushed the ball downfield against Cincinnati last week, averaging 10.2 air yards per attempt, the highest mark of his time in Pittsburgh. Those deep shots require time, and interior pressure is the fastest way to take it away from a quarterback who no longer escapes the pocket like he once did.
Mike Rutenberg also saw Rodgers up close during their time together with the Jets, and he will know exactly where to send pressure to make the veteran uncomfortable.
Graham is quickly becoming the centerpiece Cleveland needed after trading Myles Garrett. The 5th overall pick in 2025 is still only in his 2nd season, and his combination of quickness and strength has made him one of the most disruptive interior players in the league through 3 weeks.
Thursday night gives him a national stage to prove it. If Graham wins his matchups the way Orlovsky expects, the Browns will have a strong chance to take control of the AFC North race.
NEXT: Browns-Steelers Trend Should Fire Up Cleveland Fans
