The NFL’s Week 12 kicks off with an intriguing AFC North matchup featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers facing off against the Cleveland Browns. While the Steelers have exceeded expectations with a remarkable five-game winning streak, bringing their record to 8-2, the Browns find themselves struggling at 2-8 after a heavy loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The game, set to take place at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, sees the Steelers entering as 3.5-point road favorites, with the over-under set at a meager 36.5 points—the lowest in the league for this week.
Fans can tune in to the action via Amazon Prime. The kickoff is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. MT/7:15 p.m. CT. Announcing duties will be handled by Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit, with Kaylee Hartung providing sideline reports.
In terms of injuries, the Steelers list linebacker Alex Highsmith and tight end MyCole Pruitt as questionable, while cornerbacks C.J. Henders and Cory Trice Jr. and receiver Roman Wilson will not be participating. For the Browns, tight end Geoff Swaim and offensive tackle Dewand Jones are out, and cornerback Greg Newsome II along with offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Denzel Ward are dealing with questionable statuses.
Predictions for the game lean heavily toward the Steelers, with various analysts projecting a narrow victory. For instance, Sportsnaut forecasts a score of 23-13 in favor of Pittsburgh, while other sources suggest tighter margins closer to 20-16 or 20-17.
Sports Betting Dime offers an interesting numerical perspective, predicting a dominant performance from the Steelers with a score of 23.2 to 4.7 against the beleaguered Browns. ESPN gives the Steelers a 53.6% chance of victory, while Dimers paints a slightly more optimistic picture for the Browns, suggesting a 58% chance for a win.
Despite struggling seasons for both teams, this matchup has the potential to be a pivotal moment, surrounded by fierce rivalry and history. The Steelers, under head coach Mike Tomlin, have shown resilience and adaptability, which could serve them well as they look to maintain their top spot in the division.
As fans prepare for what promises to be an exciting and highly competitive game, there is hope that the Browns can find a way to rally and turn their season around in front of their home crowd, adding an element of unpredictability to an already dynamic matchup.