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NFL Week 17: Trends which will decide each game

By Russell S. Baxter

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 27: Wide receiver Diontae Johnson #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 after Johnson made a touchdown reception against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter of their game at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 27: Wide receiver Diontae Johnson #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 after Johnson made a touchdown reception against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter of their game at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) at Cleveland Browns (10-5), 1:00 pm

Steelers: Thanks to a rousing comeback victory last week against the Colts, Mike Tomlin’s club wrapped up its first division title since 2017. A stagnant Pittsburgh offense was an issue for four consecutive games and the first half vs. Indianapolis. But veteran Ben Roethlisberger threw three second-half TD passes and the Steelers’ defense limited the Colts to a field goal in the final two quarters. This week (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Mason Rudolph will get the starting nod behind center and the team will rest other starters as well. That includes relentless T.J. Watt and his NFL-best 15 sacks. All told, Pittsburgh has totaled a league-high 52 quarterback traps.

Browns: The club needs a win to secure its first playoff berth since 2002. But off an unexpected loss to the Jets, the team is dealing with some issues in terms of COVID-19 (via ESPN’s Jake Trotter). The club needs to get back to running the football, which has been its bread-and-butter all season. But in the 23-16 loss to New York, Kevin Stefanski’s club finished with season-lows in running plays (18) and rushing yards (45). Still, the Browns rank fourth in the league in rushing, averaging a brisk 145.5 yards per game on the ground, and the Pittsburgh defense has shown a little vulnerability to the run at times. In Week 6 at Heinz Field, Stefanski’s club was rolled by a 38-7 score.

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