Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns 1/3/21 - NFL Picks & Predictions

Two AFC North teams will go to battle when the Steelers travel on the road to First Energy Stadium to take on the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh has already clinched a division title and their second overall seed in the playoffs and will be resting starters in this game after snapping a three-game losing streak and improving to 12-3 on the year. The Browns, following a loss to the Jets, dropped to 10-5 on the year and could still miss the playoffs with a loss.

Apart from those resting starters is still up in the air, we know veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In replacement will be Mason Rudolph, he’s thrown just 4 passes this year but a lifetime is completing 62.4% of his passes for 1,774 yards and 13 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. The Steelers will also likely use running backs, Benny Snell, over starter James Connor, Snell is averaging 3.3 yards per carrying and has found the endzone 4 times.

The Browns still control their own destiny and are in a win and they’re in situation. Coming off one of the worst losses of the season after falling to the winless Jets. Cleveland has done a great job of taking the pressure off of Baker Mayfield by establishing the run and is averaging 145.5 yards per game on the ground, the 4th most in the NFL this season. 

Mayfield has been solid this season completing 62.7% of his passes throwing for 3,367 yards and 35 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. He’s played especially great over his last 5 games, throwing 10 TDs to 1 interception. The Browns had dealt with a catastrophic injury to star Odell Beckham Jr., they’ve been forced to look to Jarvis Landry he’s reeled 67 passes for 789 yards and 3 touchdowns this year. 

It’s unclear what the Steelers defense is going to look like but it’s assumed they’ll rest their star players and will not be the same caliber as their #1 ranked scoring defense. Pittsburgh is allowing 302.3 yards and 19.2 points per game and is considered one of the best defenses in the NFL. Without key stars, who knows how they’re going to perform. Cleveland is a middle of the pack defensive unit allowing 356.1 yards and 26.5 points per game but should have no problems shutting down the Steelers second team.