Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers January 8 Betting Preview

The Cleveland Browns take the short trip across the state border to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a classic AFC North rivalry. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm this upcoming Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Both teams have some extra motivation heading into this rivalry matchup, as playoffs and division placing are at the front of all things important. 

The Steelers have found some unexpected success in the second half of the season, as Mike Tomlin has found himself in a position to make the playoffs. This is part of the three-game win streak that the team has put together. Tomlin looks to continue his success and legacy as a coach as he looks to avoid his first losing season.

 The Browns, coached by Kevin Stefanski, need this game to simply gain some momentum heading into the offseason as well as play spoiler for the rival Steelers. Fans in Cleveland have been reactionary to the last fibe games, as some of them have been calling for another rebuild. Cooler heads have prevailed since the Brown's win over the Commanders last week (thank you Carson Wentz). 

The Favorite: Steelers

The Steelers' defense deserves a large share of the credit for the recent success the team have had. They were able to mount a comeback last week against the Baltimore Ravens in which Najee Harris found the endzone, and the two Pittsburgh defensive stars in Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J Watt shined. 

A win over the Browns, along with a loss/tie by the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins guarantees the Steelers a spot in the NFL Playoffs. The Steelers' defensive unit has been dangerously hot, so shutting down the Deshaun Watson-led offense could be in their sights. On offense, quarterback Kenny Pickett will have to ensure he avoids Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward at all costs. 

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The Underdog: Browns

After a win against the Commanders in which the Browns forced turnovers, it finally looked like Deshaun Watson clicked. 

It’s clear now that this Browns offense is going to open up their offense a bit more to let Watson make plays with his feet and through the air. Nick Chubb still looks like Nick Chubb and provides a nice uptick after some mellow weeks. Amari Cooper is looking to add a few more yards to his current total. 

The Browns' defense finally looks in sync despite the void at linebacker. Safety Grant Delpit has taken a larger load and produced instantly in the box against clear runs and over the top in passing situations. 

The Browns' defense will look to feast on the Steelers' offensive line. Myles Garrett wants to add to his sack total, and it would be nice to see how the Browns secondary trio of Ward, Newsome, and Emerson handle the Steelers' Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.

 If the Browns can stuff the run, they would love to have the ball in Kenny Picketts' small hands to win the game. Weather doesn't seem to be a factor in what will be a playoff-like atmosphere.