The Pittsburgh Steelers have secured their place in the playoff with a win in Week 16, but it would also feel nice for them to get a win in their last game before heading into the postseason. The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, need a win to get in the playoffs and avoid putting their fate in the hands of others. Check out our preview of this game below.
At last, the Steelers clinched the AFC North division title while at the same time stopping their bleeding with a 28-24 come-from-behind victory over the Indianapolis Colts at home last Sunday. The Steelers looked like they were headed to their fourth straight loss when they were down by 17 points at the half, but Ben Roethlisberger rallied the Steelers in the second half. He finished with 342 passing yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions on 34-of-49 completions. The Steelers will look to close out the regular season with a victory in Cleveland this coming Sunday, but they might rest Big Ben and some of the other starters in Week 17 since there’s not much on the line for the playoff-bound Pittsburgh unit. What’s certain is that the Steelers don’t like the Browns, and that burning hatred for its rivals should ease any concern about Pittsburgh’s interest to beat Cleveland – even with just a bunch of backups on the field in Week 17.
The Steelers, who defeated the Browns earlier this season at home to the tune of a 38-7 score, are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 road games.
Minus all of their starting wide receivers and other starters, the Browns wasted a golden opportunity to book a sure spot in the playoffs in a 23-16 road loss to the New York Jets. It was still a game the Browns should have won, but they will have to move on from that and start planning for an all-important match against the Steelers in Week 17. Baker Mayfield went 28 of 53 for 285 passing yards with zero touchdowns in the Jets game, but once Jarvis Landry and company are back, the Browns’ quarterback should be able to have more success under center. Mayfield has 3,367 passing yards and 25 touchdowns along with eight interceptions on the season. Mayfield needs better protection this time around, as he was sacked four times by the Steelers back in Week 6, though he might also face a lighter Pittsburgh pass rush if Mike Tomlin decides to sit his key defensive players.
The under is 3-1 in the Browns’ last four home games.
