Published Oct 7, 9:03pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 7, 9:03pm ET
Grok AI
Updated Oct 8, 12:24pm ET
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| HOME | -110 |
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The Browns were so pleased with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel's performance against Minnesota in his first pro start that two days later, they traded veteran Joe Flacco to the Bengals. They also sent a 6th-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and will receive a 2026 5th-rounder in return.
Against Minnesota, Gabriel completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards and 2 TDs. He was poised and confident. However, the main concern about him and the likely reason he fell to the 3rd round in the 2025 draft was encapsulated in the postgame handshake photo with Vikings QB Carson Wentz.
Carson Wentz meeting Dillon Gabriel 😳 pic.twitter.com/6KjNPB6zkx
— Whistle (@WhistleSports) October 5, 2025
Gabriel is listed as 5'11", believe it or not.
By process of elimination, the Flacco trade elevates Shedeur Sanders to the number two spot on the Browns QB depth chart. We will see Shedeur on the field before the season is over.
While the Browns search for a QB who can move the club, their defense is playing like a Super Bowl contender. They are ranked 4th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. They're leading the league in defensive rushing yards per game. If their offense was simply mediocre, they could easily be 3-2 instead of 1-4.
Is Gabriel the answer?
Is Shedeur?
The Steelers are an older team. After their Week 4, 24-21 win over the same Vikings team that beat the Browns in Week 5, they could rest. This is particularly important for QB Aaron Rodgers and DT Cam Heyward.
They have done just enough to win in their three victories. One win was against the winless Jets, and they came perilously close to losing.
Their Week 3 win over the Patriots is looking increasingly impressive with New England’s rapid improvement and sudden intrusion into the playoff picture.
Rodgers has a 102.6 passer rating. He has thrown 8 TD passes against 3 picks, and has posted a 68.5 completion percentage. He is generally immobile, putting him in jeopardy of the Browns’ pass rush led by Myles Garrett.
Aaron Rodgers BLOCKING!!!!!!! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/2bcCxgrpmA
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) September 28, 2025
Pittsburgh has had trouble running the ball and are next-to-last in the league in rushing yards per game.
Their pass defense has been just as bad, ranked 30th. However, they are 1st in takeaway differential at +7.
The Browns couldn’t move the ball or score enough with Flacco. They nearly scored enough in Gabriel’s first game, but a late comeback by the Vikings and a last-minute touchdown gave Minnesota the win.
It’s a big commitment for the Browns to hand the reins to Gabriel without a veteran safety net, especially when trading Flacco to a divisional foe in Cincinnati and leaving them open to the endless questions being asked to the nth degree about Shedeur and when he might play.
The Browns' defense has been so good that they will be competitive against Pittsburgh. The Steelers will try to rattle the rookie QB. This is a good test for Gabriel to see if he’s truly ready.
Cleveland will pressure the largely immobile Rodgers and stuff the Steelers’ run, which hasn’t been good at all.
The Browns will keep the score within 5.5 points.
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Cleveland Browns +5.5
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