Week 12 is here and it comes early for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s everything you need to know about their matchup with the Cleveland Browns!
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 8-2 at Cleveland Browns 2-8
Where: Huntington Bank Field Cleveland, OH
When: Thursday November 21st, 2024
Weather: 39 degrees, Snow and Winds at 19mph with higher gusts
Surface: Natural grass
Wagering Information: Steelers -3.5 O/U 37
Last Week: Cleveland lost in New Orleans 35-14 while the Steelers defeated the Ravens in Pittsburgh 18-16.
TV: Amazon Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analysis), Kaylee Hartung (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): National TV game and yes, you need to have an Amazon subscription.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Rob King (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis)
Max Starks (field reporter)
Westwood One: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Mike Golic (analysis)
Head Official: Brad Allen. He is a non-profit CEO who graduated from Pembroke State. He is in his 11th season as the head official and most recently called a Steelers’ game in their season finale last year in Baltimore. His crew had seven accepted flags that day. Last week, Allen blew a few calls in the CIN vs LAC game including a ‘roughing the passer’ call that should not have been called.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: ** No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) – Out, No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) – Out CLE:No. 84 TE Geoff Swaim (Concussion) – Out, No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) – Out
Injury Notes: My understanding is that Highsmith is progressing well and could possibly play in Week 13 at Cincinnati… The Browns’ offensive line continues to be affected by injuries and that should factor positively for the Steelers.
2024 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 18th CLE 31st
Passing Offense: PIT 28th CLE 23rd
Rushing Offense: PIT 9th CLE 30th
Total Defense: PIT 2nd CLE 21st
Passing Defense: PIT 17th CLE 15th
Rushing Defense: PIT 4th CLE 20th
AFC North Standings:
Pittsburgh 8-2
Baltimore 7-4
Cincinnati 4-7
Cleveland 2-8
This Week in the AFC North: Cincinnati BYE, Baltimore at LA Chargers (MON) 815pmET
What You Need to Know: Pittsburgh is 12-14 all-time on Thursday Night Football… They are 3-11 in road games… The Steelers are 2-3 on TNF versus the Browns… Cleveland has the best winning percentage (.818) at home on TNF… The Steelers have played in 26 TNF contests which is the most since 1980… Pittsburgh is 100-69 all-time in primetime games since 1970 and they’re 8-6 against the Browns… The Steelers are 67-39-4 (.630) overall when facing a starting QB who was drafted No. 1 overall.
Tomlin Time: Mike Tomlin is 26-7-1 all-time versus the Browns… Browns’ Coach Kevin Stefanski is 3-5 versus the Steelers… A win would give Tomlin 18 straight non-losing seasons… Coach T is 71-31-1 versus the AFC North.
Cleveland Browns Names to Know: QB Jameis Winston, RB Nick Chubb, EDGE Myles Garrett, TE David Njoku, K Dustin Hopkins, CB Denzel Ward, S Grant Delpit, WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Cedric Tillman
What’s at Stake: For the Browns, it’s their entire season on the line. A loss doesn’t mathematically eliminate them but it brings them pretty damn close. For Pittsburgh, it’s a chance to remain atop the AFC North and go into a ‘mini-bye week’ with a second straight win over a rival.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead, 81-63-1
Last Meeting: November 2023 in Cleveland. Browns 13 Steelers 10
Postseason History: Steelers lead 2-1
Steelers Game Highs vs CLE:
PASSING: 501 yards Ben Roethlisberger 01/10/2021
RUSHING: 223 yards Willie Parker 12/07/2006
RECEIVING: 187 yards Antonio Brown 01/03/2016
SACKS: 4.0 Jerrol Williams 12/22/1991 and T.J. Watt 01/03/2022
INTERCEPTIONS:3 Darren Perry 09/11/1994, Richard Shelton 12/22/1991
Donnie Shell 11/22/1981
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. Find It! There are enough veterans on this roster that know how these weeks work. It’s Week 12, no one is 100% healthy at this point in the season either way, but especially with just three days rest. Therefore, the Steelers have to find and use every ounce of what is left in the tank. Maybe it’s asking too much, but I also think getting a win in this game, no matter how it comes, will prove to fans that this team is built differently.
2. Do the Small Things. Whenever you’re on short rest and playing in less than ideal conditions, you are going to be challenged mentally. Yes, this is true every week, but it’s especially true now. Taking care of the football, not committing mental penalties and knowing what your job is each play can go a long way towards getting a victory. The Browns are also on a short week and had to travel back from New Orleans Sunday night. They face similar issues. The team that can avoid the big mistakes and do the little things to win will do just that.
3. It’s Time Muth. Cleveland enters this game ranked in the bottom third at giving up fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Pat Freiermuth is more than due for a big game and this could be the perfect spot for him. Running the ball will be job one if the poor weather holds. Russell Wilson throwing ‘moon balls’ is probably not a good idea. Therefore, it would seem that short and underneath throws would provide Freiermuth with plenty of opportunities.
The ‘X’ Factor: Each week I will select a player from each team who I believe will need to play above and beyond in order for his team to win.
X-Factor Steelers: Nick Herbig. The young outside linebacker did a lot of nice things in his return from injury last week and now, believe it or not, the challenge goes higher. Why? Because of Nick Chubb. The Browns will commit to the run in hopes of getting him going and they’ll target Herbig. No one questions Herbig’s ability to get after the passer or pursue ball carriers. Being able to set the edge however is something he must get better at and that starts now.
X-Factor Browns: Dustin Hopkins. The Browns’ place kicker is making just 70% of his field goal attempts (14/20) a year after hitting at a rate of 91.7% (33/36). Now he has to deal with potentially brutal weather conditions in what is likely to be a low-scoring affair. He has to be even or better than Chris Boswell for the Browns to win.
Prediction: The weather will likely be the star of this game. I won’t be surprised to see missed PATs and FGs due to the winds and surface conditions. We should all expect both teams to focus heavily on the run in order to limit putting the ball in the snowy and windy air. The majority of trends ahead of this game favors the Browns but I just believe – or maybe want to believe – that this Steelers’ team is different. Therefore, they’ll find a way.
Steelers 16 Browns 13
Season Prediction Record: 6-4
