The AFC North is ultra competitive sending three teams to last season’s playoffs. It’s dropped off somewhat in 2024 but more times than not the games are grinders. The Pittsburgh Steelers went the first 10 weeks of the season without playing a divisional matchup, but they’ll make up for that the rest of the season with all six division games in their final eight. A run of four straight contests against AFC North foes started last week and continues with the Week 12 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Handicapping games between these rivals at your Crypto Sportsbook isn’t easy since you never know what can happen. The Browns earned their second win of the season in Week 8 defeating Baltimore 29-24 as a 7-point underdog. The early line has Cleveland catching 3.5-points.
NFL Betting Lines
Steelers at Browns Betting Lines
Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5
Cleveland Browns +3.5
Over / Under 41.5
I over estimated the offenses, or underestimated the defenses, in last week’s TNF matchup losing my NFL same game parlay when the Commanders and Eagles failed to go OVER the total of 49.5. I did back Philadelphia, which was a winner, as the Eagles covered the 3.5-point line in their 26-18 victory. At least the teams made it interesting combining for 28 points in the fourth quarter with the Eagles overcoming a touchdown deficit in the third quarter to get the win.
There are no secrets between the teams, but the Browns might be unpredictable since they have nothing to lose. One season after winning 11 games and qualifying for the playoffs, they are up to their old tricks. They won just two of their first nine games essentially playing themselves out of a return trip to the postseason with a shaky offense. And this is nothing new for them. The last three times the Browns won at least 10 games in a season they followed up the next year with a losing record. Without a serious second-half run they’ll stretch that streak to four.
Cleveland’s offense never got going under Deshaun Watson. In his seven starts before a season-ending Achilles injury, the team went just 1-6 and failed to reach the 20-point mark in any game. It’s hard to say but the Browns may be better off in the long run without him since his baggage was too much. The hard part now is finding a competent QB to take the reins. Jameis Winston came aboard and ignited a stunning win over the Ravens in Week 8 throwing for 334 yards and three TDs. The Browns scored a season-high in the 29-24 upset. However, consistency hasn’t been a strong point for the former No. 1 overall draft pick, who tossed three picks in his next start, a 27-10 loss to the Chargers.
It looks like the Steelers got a version of Russell Wilson folks in Denver never saw. Making his debut in Week 7, Wilson threw for 264 yards and two TDs with an additional rushing score as the Steelers routed the Jets, 37-15, with a season-high point total. While his numbers aren’t staggering in his first three starts, Wilson has been efficient with six TD passes and a 105.9 rating.
Defense has been the key to Pittsburgh’s success, though. They entered last week’s game against Baltimore second in the NFL in fewest points allowed holding seven of their first nine opponents to 20 points or less. T.J. Watt is making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year with 6.5 sacks and a league-leading four forced fumbles. They’re allow opponents to convert on third down less than 35 percent of the time and boast the No. 3 ranked red zone defense. Given Cleveland’s inability to do anything consistently on offense this could be another tight divisional battle like we saw when the teams last met, a 13-10 Browns victory. However, I don’t think the Browns have enough to cover the early line giving me confidence to back the Steelers and the UNDER on the road.
Steelers at Browns Same Game Parlay Picks
Steelers -3.5
Steelers / Browns UNDER 41.5
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