Cleveland Browns Win and They are In
No AFC rivalry is older than the one between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The squads have met 136 times since 1950. The Browns won 31 of the first 40 meetings. Since then, it has largely been the Steelers dominating the rivalry. The Steelers have won 17 of the 21 meetings since the 2010 season. The Browns have won three and one ending in a tie.
The Steelers, who are 12-3, clinched the AFC North last week. They came back from a 17-point deficit to beat Indianapolis. The 10-5 Browns lost to the lowly New York Jets. They had difficulty getting their offense going in the absence of four wide receivers due to COVID-19 contact tracing.
The Browns need to win in order to get a playoff spot, but can they beat one of their nemeses? Don’t miss our preview.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (Sunday, January 3)
When: Sunday, January 3, 2020, 1:00 pm ET
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
TV: CBS
Radio: WBGG 970 AM Pittsburgh / ESPN 850 AM Cleveland
JAZZSports Odds: Browns -10 / Total 42.5*
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Why the Steelers Will Win
The Steelers finally looked like the team that won 11 in a row in the second half against Indianapolis. They turned a 24-7 deficit into a 28-24 win.
What was the difference?
Ben Roethlisberger finally had time from his offensive line and he decided to throw the ball down the field. That in turn opened up things for the running game and the play-action scheme. That is what the Steelers were missing during their three-game losing streak. If the Steelers can keep that up in the playoffs, they are a dangerous team.
Pittsburgh has only covered the spread once in their last five games. The Browns have only covered once in their last eight games against AFC opponents. The home team has covered in five straight games in this rivalry. The Browns opened as a seven-point favorite. That seems high given their difficulties in clutch situations and against the Steelers.
Why the Browns Will Win
The Browns have prevailed in five of their last seven home games. Baker Mayfield seemed to have found his stride before that debacle against the Jets.
He has thrown for 10 touchdown passes in his last five games, and he will have Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones back in the lineup this week. Mayfield has fumbled at crucial times this season, including on a fourth-down quarterback sneak against the Jets that proved devastating.
The Browns’ defense has improved but still allows 26.5 points and 356.1 yards per week. Myles Garrett is having a monster season with a dozen sacks. B.J. Goodson leads the team with 91 tackles.
If you like the Browns here, you see the Steelers resting a lot of their starters. We already know that Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback in place of Ben Roethlisberger. The Browns should be playing with a lot of motivation.
The Final Word
I think the Browns can find a way to eke out a win and get into the playoffs, bouncing back from that loss to the Jets. Keep an eye on that line, though, as I expect it to slide down from seven points as bettors understand that the Browns have not yet learned what to do with prosperity.
*Odds are subject to change.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns Betting Odds & Trends
| Cleveland Browns |
|---|
| Cleveland is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games |
| Cleveland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games |
| Cleveland is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games at home |
| Cleveland is 1-9-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing Pittsburgh |
| The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Cleveland’s last 16 games when playing Pittsburgh |
| Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh |
| Cleveland is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cleveland’s last 7 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh |
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|
| Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games |
| Pittsburgh is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games |
| Pittsburgh is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Pittsburgh’s last 21 games on the road |
| Pittsburgh is 9-1-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing Cleveland |
| The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Pittsburgh’s last 16 games when playing Cleveland |
| Pittsburgh is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Cleveland |
| Pittsburgh is 14-4-1 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Cleveland |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Cleveland |
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