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It will be a nervous Sunday for the Cleveland Browns as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers with a playoff berth on the road. Merely put, a win or an Indy loss will get them into the postseason. Nevertheless, there are a few more complicated scenarios, comparable to a Browns and Titans loss and Colts, Ravens, and Dolphins win or a Browns tie and loss from one of many different groups.
Standing in Cleveland’s manner is Mason Rudolph and a Pittsburgh staff that can function a number of backups. The Steelers technically may transfer from the AFC’s No. 3 to No. 2 seed with a win if the Payments lose or tie (or a tie of their very own if the Payments lose), however with no bye on the road, head coach Mike Tomlin decided his staff’s well being to be extra essential than seeding.
These groups performed again in Week 5 with the Steelers profitable 38-7 at house in a recreation that noticed James Conner run for over 100 yards whereas the protection held Baker Mayfield to simply 119 passing yards. In fact, the larger matchup of word was final 12 months when Rudolph was underneath heart and Myles Garrett hit him within the head together with his helmet.
The Steelers are coming off an enormous second-half effort wherein they outscored the Colts 21-3 on their solution to a 28-24 victory that allowed them to relaxation gamers this week. Large Ben threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns within the victory because the protection pressured two turnovers within the victory. It halted a three-game shedding streak that made the staff and their followers anxious concerning the future. JuJu Smith-Schuster was the main receiver with 9 receptions.
The Browns will simply be joyful to have broad receivers obtainable for this recreation after taking part in the Jets with out a single non-practice squad WR on the roster that. Nick Chubb managed simply 28 yards dashing whereas Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, and David Njoku mixed for 14 receptions within the loss. The protection gave up 333 yards and could not drive a turnover towards a New York staff that was seemingly attempting to lose.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Kickoff: Sunday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Unfold: Browns -10
Three Issues to Watch
1. Intangibles
In my view, it was a somewhat simple resolution to take a seat Ben Roethlisberger because the Steelers have had a messed-up schedule and had been due for a while off that they burned early on within the season. That is their sixth recreation in simply over a month, and there is a probability if issues line up correctly that they may see this similar Browns staff within the Wild Card Spherical, so why not maintain some issues hidden?
In the meantime, for Cleveland, the place is their head at in a recreation they basically must win — and will win — contemplating who’s within the lineup? This should not have been a problem with a win over the lowly Jets. As a substitute, they’d no broad receivers and performed flat within the course of. It is simply the Browns’ second house recreation since Nov. 29. Cleveland is also coping with its personal COVID-19 outbreak. The Browns are anticipated to get some gamers again they did not have final week (the broad receivers), however there have been a number of new positives this week, so it is attainable that they will not be at full energy this Sunday both.
2. Get the Browns’ offense again on observe
Mayfield threw the ball greater than he had all season in December as he put it up 165 instances. He had his finest completion proportion at 65.5 p.c, however the Browns have essentially the most success after they favor their run recreation greater than the passing assault. Chubb has not run for over 100 yards because the win over Jacksonville when he put up 144. Kareem Hunt has additionally struggled down the stretch on the bottom, so it is essential to get each these guys going getting into January.
It is a bit of a thriller how nicely the Steelers will gradual them down contemplating resting starters and accidents amassed over the season. They rank second in cross protection and eighth in rush protection, and so they’re tied for essentially the most takeaways within the NFL. The Browns need to be relieved to not face T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward this week.
3. Steelers’ resistance
Sure, that query of who can be within the Steelers’ lineup looms massive. Tomlin already introduced that What a time to be alive and Heyward will not play, however different stars could sit out fully or after just a few sequence. How about Stephon Tuitt (10.0 sacks) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (team-leading 74 tackles, 4 interceptions)? Will Rudolph have the same old weapons to work with on offense like Conner, Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson?
Some individuals could say that it is a unhealthy transfer for the Steelers to not play their stars contemplating the latest shedding skid, however I am extra of a relaxation vs. rust man. Simply bear in mind final 12 months that the Ravens beat the Steelers in a must-win scenario final 12 months with Robert Griffin III underneath heart, so it is no assure the determined staff beats the resting staff.
Remaining Evaluation
Cleveland will win this one, however it will not be simple. The Browns have not accomplished themselves a ton of favors with their play as of late. They struggled to place away the Jaguars on the highway and, in fact, are coming off a loss to the Jets. Excellent news, although, because the margin of victory would not matter (other than to the gamblers). Cleveland is playoff-bound on Sunday.
Prediction: Browns 24, Steelers 17
— Written by Matt Josephs, who is part of the Athlon Sports activities Contributor Community. Observe him on Twitter @MidMajorMatt.
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