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3 Steelers X-factors for TNF match-up against Cleveland

By Brandon Kring

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 28: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers stretches past Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns for a 12 yard touchdown during the third quarter in the game at Heinz Field on October 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 28: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers stretches past Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns for a 12 yard touchdown during the third quarter in the game at Heinz Field on October 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big divisional game coming up on Thursday against the Cleveland Browns. winners of four straight, Pittsburgh looks to stay in the wildcard hunt during their improbable run.

The Steelers sat at 1-4 five weeks ago after losing to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime. Now, they currently hold the sixth playoff spot as a wild card team.

If you would have told me ahead of the season that the Steelers would get blown out by New England, lose Ben Roethlisberger, have to resort to an undrafted free-agent in Devlin Hodges on the road in Los Angeles, lose Stephon Tuitt and still be 5-4, I’d have laughed and walked off. Now, it has happened and I can only marvel at the job this team and coach Mike Tomlin have done to this point.

The Steelers have a very real chance of sneaking into the playoffs. This would have been unheard of just over a month ago but with their remaining schedule, (CLE twice, @ CIN, @ ARI, BUF, @ NYJ, @ BAL) they can absolutely get in.

The journey starts tonight in Cleveland on Thursday Night Football. The Browns are coming off a win against Buffalo to improve to 3-6 on the season.

Cleveland had a lot of preseason hype but has failed to live up to it so far in 2019. They looked to be figuring things out early on but have spiraled down over the last few weeks until their win against Buffalo.

The Steelers can not overlook them as an opponent on Thursday. They have a lot of talent on offense and defense both.

The Browns could figure it out any week and the Steelers must do what they can to make sure this game is not the one that Cleveland uses to right the ship. These next three players will be keys to the Steelers achieving that goal.

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