Who I like, Steelers at Browns
There’s nothing ailing the Steelers right now that a win won’t solve.
OK, there really are some issues, but a win would still solve a lot of things.
At 4-5, the Steelers aren’t anywhere near out of the race in the AFC North. In fact, they remain the odds-on favorites to win the division thanks to a schedule that eases up considerably for the final seven games.
How difficult has Pittsburgh’s schedule been?
If the playoffs began today – boy do I hate that phrase – Pittsburgh would have faced six teams in their first 10 games that would qualify for the postseason.
They have gone 2-4 against those teams thus far.
Division leading Baltimore, meanwhile, has played just three current playoff teams and lost all three of those games. And the Ravens have two more games remaining against such teams, starting with Dallas this week, in addition to having to face the Steelers once and Bengals twice.
And the Ravens have already played both of their games against the hapless Browns.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have just two more games remaining against teams that currently hold playoff spots and both games, against Baltimore and the Giants, are at home.
Cincinnati is sitting at 3-5-1 and has three games remaining against current playoff spot holders. The Bengals are 0-4-1 this season against current playoff teams.
So, there’s that.
The Steelers also still have both of their games against Cleveland remaining, which helps.
But they have to take care of business against the Browns first.
They’ll get their first chance Sunday in Cleveland, where they are 9-2 when Ben Roethlisberger starts at quarterback.
With a win Sunday, Roethlisberger will match Derek Anderson for the most wins of any quarterback in Cleveland since the team came back to the NFL in 1999.
The difference there, however, is that Anderson actually played for the Browns from 2006 through 2009. Roethlisberger just visits once per year.
In fact, Roethlisberger is 19-2 all-time against the Browns, with 5,323 yards, 35 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
His .905 winning percentage is the best of any quarterback against an opponent he’s faced at least 15 times since the 1970 NFL merger. And that doesn’t count his 379-yard, three touchdown game off the bench last season that set an NFL record for passing yards by a player who did not start the game.
In other words, he owns the Browns.
The Steelers, of course, will be without star defensive end Cameron Heyward, which is a big blow. He’s arguably the team’s best defensive player and undoubtably the team’s most vocal defensive leader.
Other players – on both sides of the ball – will need to increase their level of play to help make up for that.
In that respect, a game against the Browns could be just what the doctor ordered. The Steelers are the better team across the board here.
Cleveland’s defense allows a touchdown on 33 percent of opposing possessions, the worst percentage in the league.
The Browns allow 144 rushing yards per game and opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 105.8 against them, All the people who think the Steelers defense stinks haven’t seen anything yet. The Browns can’t stop the run or the pass.
Offensively, Cleveland has some weapons. Running back Isaiah Crowell has gained 551 yards and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry with five touchdowns. And Terrelle Pryor has 51 receptions for 627 yards and four scores.
But, as usual, Cleveland suffers because of inadequate quarterback play. Rookie Cody Kessler’s passer rating of 95.7 looks nice. But he doesn’t have the arm strength to push the ball down the field, something that will be on display in this game, which is expected to feature winds up to 35 mph.
Cleveland will do some gadget stuff in an effort to score some points in this game, but the Steelers have prepared for those things. And I just don’t see the Browns stopping Pittsburgh’s offense.
The Steelers are 9-point favorites in this game and I like them to get back on the winning track.
Take the Steelers, 31-17