Week 12 of the NFL kicks off on Thursday Night Football with a clash of AFC North teams. The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Cleveland to face the Browns for the first of the teams’ two matchups on the season. They will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime. Let’s dive in and take a look at this Steelers-Browns preview and predictions.
Pittsburgh has been one of the bigger surprises this season. They currently sit at 8-2 and holding the #3 seed in the AFC playoffs if they started today. They’ve won five games in a row with Russell Wilson at quarterback, including a huge victory over divisional foe Baltimore Ravens last week at home. Overall the teams injury report is light, linebacker Alex Highsmith and defensive back Cory Trice Jr have already been ruled out of Thursday’s game.
It’s been the opposite story for the Cleveland Browns. At just 2-8, there was some hope when Jameis Winston took over he could right the ship that Deshaun Watson was sinking. Winston lit it up in Week 8 as they also beat the Baltimore Ravens. However, in the last two games the team got blown out by the Chargers and a bad team the New Orleans Saints. Even after their Week 10 bye, the team looked flat against the Saints last week. The Browns also have just two players ruled out in Geoff Swain, and Jed Wills Jr., everyone else appears ready to play.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Preview and Predictions Video
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Preview and Predictions
George Pickens Over 58.5 Yards Receiving (-137)
Since Russell Wilson took over at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers it’s no secret who his favorite target has been. He will feed and force the ball into George Pickens, even when he maybe shouldn’t at times. In their last four games together Pickens is averaging over eight targets per game and over 5 catches per game. He’s cleared this number of 58.5 in all four of those games, three of which went over 89 yards.
The Browns passing defense isn’t anything special, they are literally middle of the road in average pass yards allowed (211.0) which ranks 16th out of 32 teams. In their last five games, the Browns have allowed over 80 yards to the opposing team’s leading wide receiver. I will be laddering Pickens receiving yards to 110+ at +520.
Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5 (-105)
Low-scoring divisional games on a Thursday night, especially in the AFC North may lead you to think this game could be a close one. However, I don’t particularly think it will be that close, and even if it is, Pittsburgh will put the Browns away late. The Steelers are one of the best teams against the spread in 2024 with an 8-2 record. The Browns are the opposite at just 3-7. On top of that, Pittsburgh is 7-3 ATS against Cleveland over the last 10 games in this matchup. Give me Mike Tomlin ATS all day and Twice on Thursday.
