One of the least predictable Thursday Night games of the year is set for this week as the Pittsburgh Steelers, 5-4 despite having backup quarterback Mason Rudolph at the helm (and even third-stringer Devlin Hodges running things for a week), head to take on the Cleveland Browns (3-6). The Browns come in having beaten Buffalo at home last week, thanks to just enough Josh Allen miscues, while the Steelers beat the Rams, 17-12, despite giving up a touchdown when a snap went over Rudolph’s head, bounced nicely, and the Rams caught it in the air and took it to the house for an early score. Pittsburgh and Cleveland have both played terrific ball at times this season — and they have also played dreadfully at times. Which version of each team will show up in prime time? We have your sports betting preview right here.
Steelers vs Brwons 2019 NFL Week 11 Odds & Game Preview
🗣@Bud_Dupree: "We go about the preparation like it's a regular week and just try and do as much as possible."
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 12, 2019
Cameron Heyward, Bud Dupree, and David DeCastro speak about Thursday night's matchup with the Browns. pic.twitter.com/MhiE9JghqD
- When: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 8:20 pm ET
- Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
- TV: FOX / NFL Network
- Radio: Westwood One
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- NFL Week 11 Odds: Cleveland -3
Why should you bet on the Steelers?
Mason Rudolph has shown us why Pittsburgh drafted him out of Oklahoma State. At the time, the move irked starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who said the team didn’t need to look for a long-term replacement yet, but with Roethlisberger out for the season, the move looks wise. Against the Rams, Rudolph went 22 for 38 for 242 yards and a score, with six of those completions going to James Washington for 90 yards. Tailback Jaylen Samuels struggled to move the ball in place of James Conner, but the Steelers got enough points to win.
The real heroes of the win came on the defensive side of the ball, as the Rams did not get an offensive touchdown and only gained 306 yards for the game (88 on the ground). Pittsburgh has now won four games in a row, a dramatic turnaround for a team that started 0-3. The Steelers’ defense will have a different challenge on their hands this week, as the Browns have moved to a more run-first approach behind Nick Chubb as opposed to relying on quarterback Baker Mayfield to do all of the heavy lifting. If you like the Steelers, you see them locking down that Browns’ offense as well.
Why should you put your money on the Browns?
Cleveland ended a four-game skid by beating the Bills, but they need to keep winning if they have a shot at meeting those postseason expectations that so many (including this writer) had at the beginning of the season. Baker Mayfield has struggled with ball security, throwing a dozen picks against just nine touchdowns. Tailback Nick Chubb has emerged as a star, running for 919 yards through nine games and scoring six touchdowns. Despite the big-time signing of Odell Beckham Jr to the offense, Jarvis Landry is the top receiver with 45 catches for 652 yards and a pair of scores.
If you like Cleveland, then you see them turning around a rivalry that has been extremely one-sided for years. Since 1990, the Steelers have won 43 of the meetings between the teams, while the Browns have won just nine. One reason for this has had to do with instability at starting quarterback for the Browns, and the arrival of Mayfield has provided some order at that position. However, now he needs to follow that up by improving his decision-making when he is running the offense — and the Browns also need to upgrade that offensive line, as Mayfield spends a lot of time running for his life.
Final Score Prediction
I was way too optimistic about the Browns this season — at least on the basis of how they are playing right now. Yes, they picked up a tough win over the Bills, but that was more of a result of Buffalo losing the game than the Browns winning it. However, the Browns also have a stout defense, and I could see them pressuring Rudolph into a mistake or two. I see Pittsburgh winning, 16-13, and putting the Browns’ postseason hopes in dire straits.
