Cleveland Browns vs Steelers Week 8 Predictions: Can the Browns get back in the North race?
By Randy Gurzi
Writer Matt McFatridge
Game: Cleveland Browns (2-4-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1)
Summary: The Cleveland Browns travel to Pittsburgh this week to take on a team they very well should have beaten in week 1. Only a kick away from a win and eliminating the tie in their record.
That seems like so long ago for Browns fans, but maybe that’s because they’ve seen this team play in four overtime games, all coming down to the very last second. That’s 40 extra minutes of Cleveland Browns football, which in previous years may have been unbearable. But this years team is different and is competitive in just about every game they play.
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Baker Mayfield gets his first action against the hated AFC North rivals, and he has the potential to have a field day. This defense in Pittsburgh isn’t that great. It’ll all come down to if his playmakers can do what they’re supposed to do.
That means David Njoku catch passes and actually block someone, his other receivers not drop balls, and Duke Johnson actually gets some touches.
Pittsburgh has fixed a lot of their early season woes, especially on offense. Big Ben has settled in, and they are clicking as a unit. Even with the constant drama surrounding this team, James Conner has settled in at the starting running back position and performed very well. It’ll be difficult for this Browns defense, as impressive as they’ve been, to stop the versatile offense the Steelers can throw at them.
The Brownies could very well win this game. They have the players and the schemes to compete and pull out the road victory. But the answer to if they will win comes to one question: is Hue Jackson still the head coach?
Yes? Oh. Then it’s a loss.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 36, Cleveland 24