Despite coming off their biggest win of the season last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn't have a ton of confidence going into this game. They are banged up, and it will be interesting to see if some of their players working their way back from injury are able to play in this short week. Their lack of participation in this AFC North divisional battle could become a massive factor in its outcome.
History shows us that playing on Thursday night is not the greatest advantage for the Steelers.
The odds only become more stacked against them, considering they haven't won a game in Cleveland since 2021. It has been an ugly go of things for the road team in this effort. Knowing how hard it has been for the Black and Gold to win on the road in this rivalry won't make things easy for them.
Their performance against Cincinnati should give Steelers Nation a ton of hope to finally end their struggles in Cleveland. With that all being said, the Browns enter this contest on a two-game winning streak. They have some talent throughout their lineup and will try to force this game into a rock fight. Pittsburgh cannot afford to revert to past habits and overlook an opponent following a big win.
Still Curtain contributors predict a game that comes down to the wire
"The Steelers have been historically terrible on the road on Thursday Night Football—especially when facing AFC North rivals. The short week won't do Pittsburgh any favors, and the Browns look better than most expected. Still, this is a new regime under Mike McCarthy, and I'm choosing to believe that he will have his team better prepared for the short turnaround on TNF than Mike Tomlin did." - Tommy Jaggi (Steelers 20-17)
"The Steelers finally showed signs of life, but typically when they play a lifeless Cleveland team on a short week on the road, the results aren't pretty. Cleveland is also, somehow, playing a good brand of football. Pittsburgh regresses slightly and loses." - Andrew Falce (Browns 21-20)
"The Pittsburgh Steelers will be motivated to gain traction atop the AFC North with a divisional win. And they will not let Deshaun Watson stand in the way. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith keep Watson on the run while Asante Samuel Jr. reminds fans of his dominance after a shaky Week 3. Rodgers sprinkles his magic with help from Jaylen Warren. In the end, the Steelers edge out the Browns." - Loyal Ricks Jr. (Steelers 28-10)
"The 2-1 Steelers head to Cleveland on Thursday after Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and three scores and Jaylen Warren piled up 176 total yards in a 30-27 win over Cincinnati; the 2-1 Browns beat Carolina 21-18, but Deshaun Watson managed only 144 passing yards. Cleveland’s 24th-ranked scoring offense faces a Pittsburgh defense ranked sixth in interceptions, and the Browns’ banged-up offensive line gives the Steelers the edge." - Allison Koehler (Steelers 23-17)
Final prediction has Steelers struggling to overcome their TNF curse
Score Prediction: Steelers 16, Browns 21
On paper, this game should be one the Steelers emerge from with a relatively easy win, but as shown in our picks, that won't be the case. Odds are, Pittsburgh is going to get into a rough AFC North division battle that comes down to the wire. You cannot deny the recent struggles the team has had over the past five years in Cleveland.
Factor in that this is on Thursday night, and it gets bleaker for the road club.
There were some positives shown against Cincinnati, but if it wasn't for the Bengals special teams' gaffes, they probably would've won the game. The Steelers offense should be able to move the ball rather effectively against Cleveland, but it will all come down to whether they can cash in when their opportunities arise. In this prediction, Pittsburgh struggles to get into the end zone consistently.
Although Deshawn Watson and the Browns' offense are still a work in progress, they will take advantage of every poor step the Steelers take in this contest. Cleveland will find ways to score touchdowns rather than settle for field goals, which will end up being the difference-maker in the outcome.
It should be a tight score no matter who wins the game, but the odds are more stacked against the Steelers than you'd like to admit.
Expect Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense to struggle in the red zone this week and be forced into too many field goals to reach victory. On the flip side of the ball, their defense won't play a poor game, but potential turnovers from their offensive counterparts could put them into a bind. Losing this divisional game would be a sobering outcome, but it's one fans shouldn't be shocked by if it happens.
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