Steelers vs Browns Week 17 Picks and Predictions
Jan 3, 2021 |
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The Browns will look to shrug off last week s stunning loss to the Jets, and pounce on a playoff berth against the short-handed Pittsburgh Steelers.
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It might be Week 17 in the NFL, but there are still plenty of NFL betting matchups that matter, including an AFC North battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
Not only are the Browns looking to win and end the NFL s longest active playoff drought, but they ll get to do it against Mason Rudolph in a heated rematch of last year s infamous helmet-gate.
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UPDATE: On Saturday, Dec. 26, the Steelers downgraded kicker Chris Boswell and linebackers Marcus Allen and Ola Adeniyi to out for Sunday s game against the Colts.
FRIDAY REPORT: The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Sunday s game against the Colts, working inside at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex because of a cold, white Christmas.
The team will be without linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III on Sunday, who was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Linebackers Marcus Allen (stinger) and Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) are questionable. Allen didn t practice for the third straight day, while Adeniyi was limited after missing the last two days.
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers were in need of some defensive help at the inside linebacker position. After losing Devin Bush for the year with a torn ACL, and primary backup Robert Spillane with a knee injury of his own, the team was going to lean on the veteran leadership of Vince Williams.
However, when Williams contracted COVID-19, putting him on the Reserve List, the defense had to rely on trade acquisition Avery Williamson and hybrid linebacker Marcus Allen in Week 14 vs. the Buffalo Bills, and again in Week 15 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.
Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
The Steelers lost their 3rd game of the 2020 season, falling to a two win Bengals team. Snapping an eleven game win streak that survived Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges in 2019 doesn’t just happen, and the snap counts show the amount of turnover involved in the Steelers’ losing streak.
Offense
The Steelers had four of their offensive lineman healthy and playing the full game this week. Matt Feiler’s absence led to J.C. Hassenauer making his first career start at guard, and setting a career high for snaps playing somewhere other than center. The Steelers rotated Derwin Gray in for Hassenauer on 16 plays, setting a career snap count high for Gray. While the Steelers have seen worse offensive line situations, it was clear from the start of the game that Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t comfortable in the pocket.
By WILL GRAVES - Dec. 22, 2020 02:52 PM EST Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley (5) scrambles to throw during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
PITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Tomlin, to borrow a phrase, trusts the process. So does Ben Roethlisberger and everyone else on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yet trusting the reeling AFC North leaders will get things turned around following a third straight loss this one a 27-17 clunker in Cincinnati on Monday night in which the Steelers (11-3) never led against a team that hadn t won since before Election Day and actually doing it are two different matters entirely.