The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be on a roll and in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals for their ninth victory of the season. A victory over the Cleveland Browns would almost ensure them a place in the dance, even though they are unable to secure a slot this week.
However, the stakes are far higher this week. A victory would allow the Steelers to mathematically permanently eliminate the Browns. Furthermore, since the first game, there has been a lot of verbal sparring between the Browns defensive backs and wide receiver George Pickens.
In light of that, the following are my predictions for their second meeting:
Players on the spot: It’s not difficult. It’s the pass rush of the Steelers. The Steelers must return to what they know they can do and attack this Browns offensive line after the previous time they let Jameis Winston run out of the pocket because of poor contain and dice them up with little pass rush up front. The Steelers will have Alex Highsmith back and have better talent overall, but it is a far more talented squad than they have shown.
The only real mark on the Steelers’ pass rush’s CV is their most recent time out against Cleveland. Therefore, it will be crucial to apply pressure to Winston from T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and the other defensive linemen in order to slow down an attack that has been more consistent in recent weeks.
In this one, don’t be shocked if the Steelers’ rushing offense starts to pick up steam. To be honest, the Steelers’ rushing offense is capable of exploding at any time, but their complex plan hasn’t yet fully developed into a consistently outstanding one. Teams have been able to exploit a predictable strategy and press down on them as a result, but offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is beginning to make some progress, as he did against the Bengals.
Hurstand, Maurice The Browns front is beaten and bruised, and Sam Kamara will not play against the Steelers. George Pickens and the defensive backs will be the center of attention, and perhaps they should be, but the Steelers have an opportunity to make a big impact here.
I like the following prop bets:
More than 43.5 points (FanDuel)
DraftKings: George Pickens touchdown at any moment
According to Bet365, Nick Chubb is under 39.5 rushing yards.
PREDICTION: Pickens and Newsome’s back-and-forth arguments are causing a lot of tension going into this game, but the Steelers should win it on paper. If they can slow down Myles Garrett this time, they should be able to take advantage of the Browns’ defense both on the ground and in the air. Even though it will be closer than it should be, the Steelers should win this game at home, but they will need to improve defensively.Browns 23, Steelers 27
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