The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) host the Cleveland Browns (3-9). The teams met on Nov. 21 in frigid Cleveland during a snowstorm with the home team prevailing in a 24-19 upset. Our Browns vs Steelers prediction is for underdog Cleveland to cover the 7-point spread.
Head-to-head, Pittsburgh leads with a record of 81-64-1.
Offshore Odds: Pittsburgh is Favored by a Touchdown
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | +7 (-118) | +260 | O 43.5 (-110) |
| Steelers | -7 (-102) | -310 | U 43.5 (-110) |
Cleveland’s Struggles Continue
Injured quarterback Deshaun Watson is getting much of the blame for Cleveland’s woeful season. They accrued a 1-6 record with Watson under center. Since he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 7 against Cincinnati and was replaced by Jameis Winston, the Browns are 2-3.
The offense has functioned better with Winston. They scored two major upsets of AFC North rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Still, a 3-9 record is difficult to explain away. It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is. In their previous game on Monday Night Football, they accrued 552 yards of offense against Denver…and lost 41-32.
As unproductive as the offense was under Watson, the defense has also been disappointing. The secondary was supposed to be a strength, but it is ranked 20th in the NFL in passing yards surrendered per game. As a team, they are ranked 28th in takeaway differential.
The Browns’ win over the Steelers earlier in the season looks more like a weather-related fluke than a real snapshot of what they were supposed to be.
Presumably, the final month will determine head coach Kevin Stefanski’s fate. Sweeping the season series against the hated Steelers will not hurt his case.
Pittsburgh Must Shore Up Its Division Lead
Pittsburgh’s 44-38 win over Cincinnati and Baltimore’s loss to Philadelphia gave the Steelers a 1.5-game lead in the division. While that might seem difficult to overcome, the Steelers’ remaining schedule is tougher than the Ravens’. The teams meet in Baltimore in Week 16 in a matchup that will likely decide the division.
Russell Wilson had his best game of the season against the Bengals with 414 yards passing, three touchdowns, and a 126.4 passer rating. He is peaking at just the right time. The division title could be key to Pittsburgh’s hopes for a deep playoff run. A home playoff game could be crucial, particularly if they play a warm-weather team like the Los Angeles Chargers.
They are evolving into a classic Steelers team with a punishing defense, a solid running game, a high takeaway ratio, and winning close games. Beating Cleveland in their rematch is vital to achieving their Super Bowl aspirations.
Browns vs Steelers Prediction: Cleveland Will Battle, but Lose
Pittsburgh’s games tend to be close and Cleveland has been battling — often unsuccessfully — all season. This matchup will be no different. Cleveland will keep the game within seven points.
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Pick
Browns +7 (-118)
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