Many closed the door on the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ season after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury.
When they slipped to 1-4, a second-straight season without a playoff birth seemed inevitable. Now, they are on a four-game winning streak. It’s been ignited by their defense which over the course of the four games has surrendered an average of less than 17 points. Newly acquired safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and rookie Devin Bush are behind the 2019 version of the Steel Curtain.
The Steelers are two games ahead of AFC North rival Cleveland Browns who have failed to live up to preseason expectations. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is the subject of more memes than MVP discussions.
The Steelers head to Cleveland for a Thursday Night Football Football showdown. Then, the division foes will meet again in two weeks on Dec. 1.
Most online sports betting sites in Pennsylvania have the Steelers at 2.5-point underdogs when they visit the Browns for Thursday Night Football.
PA betting lines for Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Ready to bet on the Steelers? Here is a look at the available spreads, moneylines, and totals at Pennsylvania betting sites SugarHouse, BetRivers, FOX Bet, DraftKings, and FanDuel. (Last updated Nov. 13):
| Spread | Total | Moneyline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlaySugarHouse | PIT +2.5 | 40.5 | PIT +125 CLE -155 |
| BetRivers | PIT +2.5 | 40.5 | PIT +125 CLE -155 |
| FanDuel | PIT +2.5 | 40 | PIT +105 CLE -125 |
| Fox Bet | PIT +3 | 40 | PIT +125 CLE -150 |
| DraftKings | PIT +2.5 | 40 | PIT +125 CLE -155 |
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns preview
Last week, the Steelers relied on their defense to rattle Rams quarterback Jared Goff and they will be looking to do the same against Mayfield. The defense has 26 takeaways this season. It already surpasses last season’s total of 15.
Running back James Conner who missed the last week’s game expects to be ready by Thursday. It’s uncertain if fellow running back Bennie Snell Jr. will be a ‘go.’
Currently, the Steelers hold the sixth and final spot in the AFC playoffs thanks to a head-to-head win over the Colts and a better conference record than the Raiders.
A late touchdown gave the Browns a 19-16 win over Buffalo last week. If the Browns have any hope of salvaging a season that once seemed so promising, it should start by winning back-t0-back games.
Expect to see more of running back Kareem Hunt who returned against Buffalo from serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s domestic violence policy. The Browns best chance to crack the Steelers defense might be to keep the ball in the hands of Hunt and running back Nick Chubb.
The game might very well be decided by the Browns offensive line. Can they open up holes for Chubb and Hunt? Will they be able to limit the impact of the Steelers defense, which averages among the league best in sacks per game (3.7)?
Rams vs. Steelers: A look back
The Steelers were home underdogs against the Rams (-3.5). Despite the absence of James Conner and the limited production of JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers pulled out a 17-12 win. They held the once-potent Rams offense to a field goal and forced four turnovers.
Fitzpatrick is proving he is worth the high price of the first-round pick. In the second quarter, he returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown and sealed the game in the final seconds with an interception.
Pittsburgh Steelers Week 11 betting numbers to know
Here are some numbers on the Steelers to consider:
- The Steelers are 7-0-1 in their last eight games against Cleveland
- 5-1-1 ATS in last seven games
- The total has gone UNDER in five of Pittsburgh’s last seven games
Cleveland Browns Week 1 betting numbers to know
Here are some numbers on the Browns to consider:
- 0-4-1 ATS in last five games
- 0-3-1 ATS at home this season.
- The total has gone OVER in the last three Browns/Steelers matchups
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