Dawgs By Nature
This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
The final home game of the season is this week for the Browns, and there are a lot of variables at play heading into the game:
1. Will the game matter for Pittsburgh? On Saturday, the Ravens play the Green Bay Packers, and will be without Lamar Jackson. If the Ravens lose, they are eliminated from playoff contention, which means Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North. So, we will know Saturday night whether the Steelers will have motivation to win this game.
2. Mike Tomlin previously said that the outcome of that game might impact whether players rest for these final two weeks. If Baltimore wins, what incentive is there for Aaron Rodgers to play meaningless reps, especially when much of their success this season should be attributed to him? If the Steelers rest players, that figures to shift the advantage to Cleveland.
3. The Giants and Raiders are currently the No. 1 and No. 2 teams for the 2026 NFL Draft, and they play each other this week. Assuming they don’t tie each other, that means Cleveland would move up to No. 2 in the draft for a loss. So, are we rooting for Baltimore to win, so that Pittsburgh doesn’t give the Browns a pity win that impacts their draft position? I know some may see that as a loser’s mentality, but I don’t: the season has already been long lost, and I think you can have a game like last week where you see a few nice things, but ultimately still see an addition to the loss column.
4. Cleveland is getting at least one reinforcement back defensively this week in CB Denzel Ward, and that also coincides with WR DK Metcalf being suspended. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any other go-to wide receivers really, but Rodgers still loves throwing to his running backs and tight ends.
5. The forecast is currently calling for rain during the game, which impacts things as well. That might assist Myles Garrett in getting a sack on a type of play that is aborted due to someone slipping. On top of that, other factors — like it Pittsburgh rests players — figures to increase his odds. Either way, this is the Browns’ final home game of the season, and it feels like the most important thing we need to see this week is Garrett making history.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was asked about the tale of two halves against Buffalo, and he talked at length about it:
“Yeah, I don’t think it was limited to the run game. I mean, those first three series were just awful, awful football. We sucked in about every facet, not just run game. Missed tackles, dropped coverage, lost contain on the quarterback. And I think...
