The Pittsburgh Steelers put a 3-game winning streak and an unbeaten home record on the line Sunday when the Cleveland Browns visit Acrisure Stadium at 1:00 p.m. ET. The two teams have identical splits, perfect at home and even on the road. That makes venue the cleanest separator in this matchup, and it favors Pittsburgh.
The Matchup
Records: Cleveland Browns 5-2 (home 3-0, road 2-2); Pittsburgh Steelers 5-2 (home 3-0, road 2-2)
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: Sunday, November 1, 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Line (DraftKings): PIT -3.5, O/U 38.5
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers tickets
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What Decides It
Home field is the tiebreaker between two identical teams. Both clubs are unbeaten at home and break even on the road. Cleveland brings none of its home edge to Pittsburgh, while the Steelers keep all of theirs.
Pittsburgh's recent home results back that up. The Steelers beat their last three visitors 16-10, 34-22 and 30-27. Cleveland's two most recent road trips split, a 27-24 win last week and a 12-17 loss before that.
Pittsburgh's run defense should keep Judkins quiet and put the game on Watson's arm. The Steelers allow just 91 rushing yards a game, fewer than the nearly 107 Cleveland gains on the ground. Quinshon Judkins has 317 yards on 90 carries, which leaves him little margin against that front.
That shifts the load to Deshaun Watson, who has thrown 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. That is where Cleveland's opening lies. Pittsburgh's pass defense gives up more yards than Cleveland's, and the Steelers will be without cornerbacks Doneiko Slaughter and Brandin Echols.
Denzel Boston is the receiver built to exploit that. He has turned 20 catches into 372 yards, a big-play profile against a secondary missing two corners.
Pittsburgh is rolling while Cleveland lives on the edge. The Steelers have won 3 straight, including a 26-19 overtime win on the road. Aaron Rodgers has 13 touchdowns against 5 interceptions, and the Pittsburgh offense outgains Cleveland's by about 30 yards a game.
The Browns have won close game after close game. Every one of their last five was decided by one score, and all four wins came by 3 points. A 38.5 total says this one should be tight too, and teams that keep winning coin flips eventually lose one on the road.
Players to Watch
Cleveland Browns
Passing: Deshaun Watson – 136-210, 1,482 YDS, 7-3 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Quinshon Judkins – 90 ATT, 317 YDS, 3 TD
Receiving: Denzel Boston – 20 REC, 372 YDS, 3 TD
Pittsburgh Steelers
Passing: Aaron Rodgers – 162-263, 1,699 YDS, 13-5 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Jaylen Warren – 102 ATT, 561 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving: DK Metcalf – 32 REC, 374 YDS, 1 TD
Warren is the matchup to circle. He faces a Cleveland run defense allowing more than 116 yards a game, a softer front than the one Judkins sees on the other side.
Injury Report
Pittsburgh Steelers
Doneiko Slaughter (CB): Out – Hamstring
Brandin Echols (CB): Out – Hamstring
Ben Skowronek (WR): Questionable – Calf
Sebastian Joseph-Day (DT): Injured Reserve – Triceps
Roman Wilson (WR): Injured Reserve – Finger
Cleveland Browns
Daniel Thomas (S): Questionable – Ankle
Myles Harden (CB): Questionable – Hamstring
Tytus Howard (OT): Questionable – Concussion
Kalia Davis (DT): Injured Reserve – Quadriceps
Teven Jenkins (G): Injured Reserve – Back
Prediction
The pick is Pittsburgh. The Steelers' run defense should keep Judkins in check, and Warren should find more room against the Browns' front than Judkins finds against Pittsburgh's. Boston can make it close against a depleted secondary, but Cleveland's run of one-score escapes ends in a building where the Steelers haven't lost.
Steelers 20, Browns 16.
