Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)
at
Cleveland Browns (3-6)
Pittsburgh (5-4) at Cleveland (3-6)
Another division rivalry game, although this one will feature one team that regularly suffers through dismal seasons n Cleveland. This was supposed to be the season when the Browns finally turned a corner. They indeed do appear to have more talent than they usually do, particularly on offense. Yet, they enter this game with a depressingly familiar feeling 3-6 record, and it feels like they are treading dangerously close to irrelevancy.
They take on the Steelers, who are on the opposite end of the spectrum, as they usually are one of the more successful teams year after year. That was tested earlier this season, when they stumbled to an 0-3 start. But they have now won five of their last six games, and appear to be clawing their way back into playoff contention.
The three losses that Pittsburgh opened up with are, however, all fairly elite teams this season: New England, Seattle, and San Francisco. The Steelers also lost to the Ravens later on, but they have won every other game that they have played, including a potentially important one against the Colts, which means that they would win the tiebreaker if the playoff spot comes down to those two teams, which it very well might.
Indeed the Steelers are rolling, having now won four straight, and finally gotten to a winning record. This will not be an easy game for them this time in Cleveland, as it largely ha been in recent years past. Again, the Browns are more talented, and they should be motivated, having finally earned an impressive win last weekend against Buffalo. But that snapped a four game losing streak, and it still is not clear if Cleveland will even be able to mount an even somewhat impressive run back into playoff contention. All talk of them being division champs, or potentially AFC title contenders, is now long gone.
The Browns have some talent on offense, but have had a hard time finding their rhythm. Pittsburgh’s defense, which is quite familiar with Cleveland, should more or less give them some problems, as well. As for the Steelers on offense, they have been a bit erratic, and a far cry from the eplosive offenses that the Steelers have fielded in recent season. Yet, they should probably be able to get enough done to come away with the win.
In sports, momentum counts for a lot. Pittsburgh has a ton of it at the moment, while Cleveland really is still trying to find a toehold to build some momentum. There is little to indicate that the Browns will suddenly right all of the wrongs that have fallen for them thus far this season, and so I have to predict a win for the road team.
My pick: Pittsburgh
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