Once again, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season is hanging in the balance as they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens for a Sunday Night Football matchup with their playoff fate on the line.
STEELERS GAMEDAY INFO
Week 18, Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) vs Cleveland Browns (7-9)
Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, 1 p.m.
Acrisure Stadium (68,400, Natural Grass)
Broadcast
TV: CBS (KDKA-TV), Greg Gumble, Adam Archuleta, A.J. Ross (TV Map)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network, 102.5 WDVE-FM (Bill Hillgrove, Craig Wolfley, Missi Mathews, Max Starks)
SN Coverage: Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 40 degrees, wind E 6 mph.
Line: Steelers -2.5, -152 over/under 40.5 DraftKings Promo
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AT STAKE
For the third consecutive week, the Steelers’ playoff hopes hang in the balance of yet another must-win game. In addition to beating the Browns, the Steelers need two other game to break their way in order to make it to the 2022 NFL Playoffs.
RELATED: What Needs to Happen for Steelers to Make Playoffs
The Steelers also need a win or a tie to continue the franchise’s 18-year streak of not having a losing season, which dates back to 2003.
INJURY REPORT
Steelers DB Tre Norwood is out with a hamstring injury and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick and ILB Myles Jack are questionable. Expect Damontae Kazee to start at free safety and Robert Spillane and Devin Bush at inside linebacker if they can’t play.
CB William Jackson III (back) and CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) have both returned to practice, but were not activated from the injured reserve list for this game. DT Chris Wormley (torn ACL) is out for the season. ILB Marcus Allen (bicep) had surgery and is out for the year.
Browns RT Jack Conklin (ankle) and DE Isaiah Thomas (foot) are both out with injuries. CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) is questionable. Steelers OLB T.J. Watt feasted against backup tackle James Hudson last year.
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
The Browns have vowed to knock the Steelers out of the playoffs, but also have a bunch of their own problems to sort through. DE Jadaveon Clowney won’t play after essentially quitting on the team. QB Deshaun Watson, who the Browns spent $230 million on, is averaging 174 yards per game.
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs 14-3 (Clinched AFC East, No. 1 seed)
No. 2 Buffalo Bills 12-3 (Clinched AFC East)
No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals 11-4 (Clinched AFC North)
No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8 (Clinched AFC South, No. 4 seed)
No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers 10-6 (Clinched Wild Card)
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens 10-6 (Clinched Wild Card)
No. 7 New England Patriots 8-8
In the hunt:
Miami Dolphins 8-8
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-8
Eliminated:
Houston Texans 2-13-1
Denver Broncos 4-12
Indianapolis Colts 4-11-1
Las Vegas Raiders 6-11
Tennessee Titans 7-10
Cleveland Browns 7-9
New York Jets 7-9