An AFC North rivalry concludes Wild Card weekend when the Cleveland Browns (11-5) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) on Sunday, January 10, 2021. Pittsburgh won the AFC North and are the third seed in the playoffs. Cleveland clinched the sixth seed with a win over these Steelers in Week 17. This game will air live on NBC at 8:15 p.m. EST.
Nick Chubb leads Cleveland with 1,067 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and Jarvis Landry has a team high 72 receptions for 840 yards and three touchdowns. Cleveland ended one of the longest playoff droughts in professional sports as they are in the postseason for the first time since 2002. The Browns last playoff win was in 1994.
James Conner leads Pittsburgh with 721 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and Dionte Johnson has a team high 88 receptions for 923 yards and seven touchdowns. Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs after missing out for two straight seasons. The Steelers last won a playoff game in 2016 when they advanced to the AFC Championship game.
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Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5): O/U 46.5 (-113/-108)
These two teams just played in Week 17 with Cleveland winning 24-22 at home and ending their long playoff drought. Pittsburgh did sit some key players in this one, including QB Ben Roethlisberger, but the Steelers were just a two-point conversion away from forcing overtime. Cleveland jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but Pittsburgh made it 10-9 midway through the third quarter. The Browns scored 14 unanswered points to take a 24-9 lead early in the fourth quarter, but, again, the Steelers fought back and were a failed two-point conversion away from tying the game with 1:23 remaining. Ultimately, Baker Mayfield took a QB keeper past the first down marker and clinched the Browns playoff spot.
For Pittsburgh, Mason Rudolph went 22/39 for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception on the day. The Steelers struggled to run the ball as five different players combined to run for 85 yards and 20 carries. Chase Claypool showed out with five receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, the Steelers allowed 358 total yards on the day.
Baker Mayfield went 17/27 for 196 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions, and added 44 rushing yards in this one. Nick Chubb balled with 108 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, a 7.7 average. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry also added a rushing touchdown to go along with his five receptions for 51 yards. Defensively, the Browns allowed 394 total yards and forced one Steelers interception.
Series History: Despite the loss in Week 17, Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 77-60-1.
Game Prediction: I like Pittsburgh -4 to win this game by 7-10 points.
2020-2021 NFL Season Picks Results: 62-46-2