Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas
The Pittsburgh Steelers play host to the Cleveland Browns in a crucial AFC North showdown on Sunday afternoon from Acrisure Stadium. Only one game separates these two in the standings but they both have far different things to play for in this one. The Browns have already been eliminated from playoff contention but after last week's win, will be looking to play spoiler again. For Pittsburgh, three wins in a row have them primed for the final playoff spot if things fall the right way. Cleveland won the first matchup this season between the two and a season sweep would be detrimental to their rival's chances, though the Browns would love nothing more than to do that.
The Browns hit the weekend not only looking for a season sweep over their divisional rivals but also knowing that a win will knock Pittsburgh out of the playoffs themselves. With nothing else to play for besides pride in this one, the idea of being the team to knock the Steelers out of the playoffs might be enough for this group. Cleveland took the first meeting by 12 points, all the way back in September, giving them quite a bit of confidence, even though they'll be hitting the road in the rematch. Whether home or away, it hasn't seemed to matter to the Browns, though losses in all but one of their last five games in Pittsburgh show a clear struggle for this group in this stadium. Cleveland had a similar game last week against Washington, where their win helped shape the playoff picture, and they'll be looking to replicate making that happen again in this one.
The Browns also have one of the lengthiest injury reports in football and with the season winding down anyway, it'll be interesting to see how they handle their questionable players. On the offensive side, their running back depth continues to be tested, while Amari Cooper (hip) is questionable for the finale. On the defensive side of things, the injuries are nearing double-digit figures and their depth is sure to be tested on the road in this one.
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— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 6, 2023
Cleveland's offense has been predicated on finding success on the ground this season and it expects that they'll continue their mindset in this one. They rank sixth in the league in rushing yards per game but with how strong Pittsburgh has been against the run, it might not come as easy as it has over the last few weeks. Deshaun Watson has struggled since taking over as the starting quarterback and potentially being without Cooper, could make it challenging for him. Nick Chubb is having a remarkable season, sitting at nearly 1500 rushing yards on the season, but it also remains to be seen how many carries he'll get with nothing necessaily riding on this game.
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