Odds: Steelers Open as Road Favorites against Browns

Steelers Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris stiff arms Cleveland Browns defensive back Grant Delpit on Sept. 18, 2023. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Pittsburgh Steelers open as 4.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns for Thursday night’s matchup at Huntington Bank Field, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under point total is currently set at 39.5 points.

The Steelers are 8-2 against the spread this season and 4-2 as favorites. The Steelers turned three Baltimore Ravens turnovers into three Chris Boswell field goals on Sunday, as the kicker did it all in an 18-16 rivalry victory to put the Steelers a game and a half up in the AFC North. The Steelers are on a five-game winning streak and appear to be legitimate contenders in the AFC.

The same can’t be said for the Browns, who are in last place in the division at 2-8. Cleveland is coming off a 35-14 loss to the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday. It has been an abysmal year for Cleveland, but the Browns would love nothing more than to play spoiler on Thursday night against the Steelers.

Steelers Jaylen Warren

Cleveland has been a tough place for the Steelers in recent years, too. Since 2017, the Steelers are 2-4-1 against the Browns on the road. Thursday Night Football games against the Browns on the shores of Lake Erie have also been a kryptonite for the Steelers, as they are 0-3 in games on TNF in Cleveland (losses in 2009, 2019 and 2022).

To say the least, the Browns are a bad football team right now, but one thing that could be in their favor is that the Steelers are coming off an emotional and physical win against the Ravens. Since 2012, the Steelers are 5-7 in the week following a game against Baltimore. The Steelers are a relatively healthy unit right now, however. Nose tackle Keeanu Benton (knee) was the only player to leave Sunday’s game with an injury.

“We had some bumps and bruises associated with play. I think went most went back. Joey Porter went back, shin contusion. Keeanu Benton is a guy who probably needs further evaluation,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game. “We have a short week this week. We got another AFC North battle waiting on us. We respect that, we won’t waste too much time patting ourselves on the back because that next challenge is right around the corner, man. This is what we signed up for. This is what we live for. This is the ultimate competitor’s league and we’re swimming in these waters. And it’s good. It’s good to get to know ourselves, it’s good to smile in the face of adversity that the game and life presents, and come through the other side of it.”

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