— Monday, January 03rd Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 17 ends with an AFC North showdown where the loser will be eliminated from the playoff race, and a win may not be enough for either team. In what could be the final home game for Ben Roethlisberger, the 7-7-1 Pittsburgh Steelers host their 7-8 rival Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. The kickoff at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh is set for 8:15 pm. ET and the game will air on ESPN.
These teams played on Halloween, with the Steelers winning 15-10 in Cleveland. Last year the Browns swept the series, but the Steelers lead 40-9-1 since Cleveland returned to the NFL in 1999. Overall the series belongs to Pittsburgh 78-61-1, and they have won 17 of the last 18 at home.
Bounce Back Time for Baker
The Browns are 7-8 ATS, and the under is 8-7 in their 15 games. They have scored less than 25 points in six straight games but haven’t allowed more than 25 since a 45-7 loss at New England on November 14. Cleveland is 2-5 on the road with three straight losses bus by a combined 46 points.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw four interceptions on Christmas Day, sealing the Browns loss at Green Bay with the final throw. On the season, he has 2,825 yards in 13 games with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Mayfield threw for 225 yards in the first game against Pittsburgh and was sacked four times.
Nick Chubb leads the Browns with 1,143 rushing yards on the season and eight touchdowns. Kareem Hunt is questionable to return from an ankle injury, and Chubb ran for 126 yards on Christmas. Chubb also ran for 61 yards on 16 carries in the first game against the Steelers but didn’t find the end zone.
Wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones leads Cleveland in yards with 483 and is one of three players with three touchdowns. Jarvis Landry has a team-high 42 receptions for 452 yards and one score. Tight ends David Njoku and Austin Hooper have three touchdowns each and have combined for 66 catches and 584 yards.
Defensive end Myles Garrett is tied for third in the NFL with 15 sacks and also ranks sixth in tackles for loss. He had one sack and two TFL in the first game against Pittsburgh.
Last Chance for Big Ben
The Steelers are 6-9 ATS this season, and the under is 9-6 in their 15 games. At Heinz Field, they are 5-0-1 since losing their first two home games of the season. Pittsburgh has allowed less than 20 points in three straight home games but have allowed over 35 in each of their last four road games.
It sounds more and more like Roethlisberger is going to retire after this season, meaning Monday night sets up as his last game in front of the Steelers fans. On the season, he has 3,373 yards in 14 games with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Against Cleveland, in October, he was 22-for-34 for 266 yards with a touchdown pass.
Rookie Najee Harris needs 16 yards for the 1,000-yard mark on the season, and he has scored six touchdowns. No other Steelers player has rushed for more than 75 yards on the season, and Roethlisberger is the only other active player with a rushing score. Harris ran for 91 yards on 26 carries in the first game against Pittsburgh while scoring a touchdown and catching three passes for 29 yards.
Diontae Johnson is enjoying a breakout season with 92 catches for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns. Chase Claypool has 51 catches for 806 yards and one touchdown, while rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth has 49 catches for 422 yards and seven touchdowns.
Linebacker T.J. Watt has 17.5 sacks on the season, a half-sack behind Chicago’s Robert Quinn for the league lead. He’s also in the top five in the league in tackles for loss and forced fumbles. Watt recovered a fumble and had 1.5 sacks against Mayfield and the Browns in October.
Betting Analysis
- Cleveland Browns -3 (-110). Money Line -150
- Pittsburgh Steelers +3 (-110). Money Line +130
- Total: 42 points. Over -110. Under -110
The Steelers are 25-5 at home on Monday Night Football with 19 straight wins dating back to 1991. The last spot in the AFC sits at nine wins, so the winner will also have to win in Week 18 and get some help.
The Steelers have been really good at home, especially on defense, while Cleveland has struggled on the road, so look for Pittsburgh to send Big Ben out in style.
Betting Pick: Steelers Money Line (+130)
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