Steelers at Browns: Game preview, odds, prediction

The 0-10 Cleveland Browns will welcome their old enemies, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to FirstEnergy Stadium in Week 10. Here’s a preview, prediction and odds for the game.

This is one of the NFL‘s fiercest rivalries, albeit not its most competitive. After all, the Browns have only won three of their last 12 meetings with the Steelers, per the Football Database.

Talk about being the poorer half.

So it’s little wonder the Steelers are the favorites among the oddsmakers for the latest installment this Sunday. Eight and a half-point favorites to be exact, according to Odds Shark.

Normally, teams on a four-game losing skid like the one the Steelers are on wouldn’t merit such healthy odds. Yet these Browns are winless in 10 games this season.

Odds

Line: PIT (-8.5)

Over/Under: 49.5

It’s tough to know what to make of first-year Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson amid all this losing. A generous assessment would include the myriad of injuries at the quarterback position. The Browns have started six different players under center since opening day.

Jackson is noted as an imaginative designer of offense. He’s just been hamstrung by the merry-go-round at football’s most important position.

That’s the generous view.

The harsher, perhaps more accurate, judgment would say the Browns have enough talent on both sides of the ball to still have won a few games this season. It’s a strong argument when the defense features cornerback Joe Haden, nose tackle Danny Shelton and linebackers Demario Davis, Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins.

Then there’s an offense boasting two talented running backs in Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. Cast an eye over the rest of the skill positions and you’ll see clutch tight end Gary Barnidge and dynamic deep threats Terrelle Pryor and rookie Corey Coleman at wide receiver.

There’s even a capable pair of hands from the slot in the form of veteran Andrew Hawkins, not to mention that any O-line featuring accomplished left tackle Joe Thomas should be at least competent.

A lauded, offensive-minded coach like Jackson ought to have manufactured a few wins out of this loaded a supporting cast. He just needs to play quarterback whisperer with one member of the motley crew who can throw the passes.

The problem is Jackson hasn’t committed to a signal-caller of choice. Even last week, he took rookie Cody Kessler out of the game just to give graybeard backup Josh McCown a few snaps.

As NFL Research points out, it wasn’t as if Kessler’s play prompted the switch, or that McCown made the Browns better against the Baltimore Ravens:

Jackson’s had enough time to decide which QB he trusts the most, or at least which one he loathes the least. The unofficial depth chart has Kessler back in at No. 1, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:

It’s time for Jackson to stick with one gunslinger, shut his eyes and hope.

Of course, the Steelers don’t have any such worries at the quarterback position. Ben Roethlisberger is back and on form. He confirmed the latter fact by throwing for 408 yards and three touchdowns in a losing cause during the instant classic against the Dallas Cowboys last week.

Rothlisberger couldn’t contain his disappointment after the 35-30 reversal against Dallas. He wouldn’t mince words when asked what’s been going wrong, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN:

"We are undisciplined and not accountable. That’s why (the Cowboys) are one of the best in the business and we’re not right now.Is it players? Is it coaches? I don’t know, but we need to get there quick."

Big Ben’s right to be hopping mad. No team with the Steelers’ talent should be 4-5. Roethlisberger and weapons like dual-threat running back Le’Veon Bell and wideout Antonio Brown must stop the rot this week.

Sadly for members of Steeler Nation, Pittsburgh’s cause won’t be helped by the large hole that’s opened on their defensive line. A Cameron Heyward-shaped hole, to be precise.

The Steelers’ best D-lineman could be out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. An already feeble run defense will be weaker still without Heyward.

Crowell and Johnson just jumped for joy.

Next: 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Trio of quarterbacks land in top 10

Despite any injuries, though, the wounded and struggling Steelers should still have enough to frustrate the lowly Browns once more.

Pick: Steelers 28, Browns 20