Cleveland Browns score predictions: Going for the knockout in Pittsburgh Week 13

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Joe Schobert #53 of the Cleveland Browns intercepts a pass during the fourth quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh 21-7. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Joe Schobert #53 of the Cleveland Browns intercepts a pass during the fourth quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh 21-7. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 14: Linebacker Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 14: Linebacker Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Writer: Elliot Kennel

The Steelers flat out do not match up well in this contest. As of Wednesday, neither James Conner or JuJu Smith-Schuster are practicing. Last week they struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals, which is embarrassing enough, and coach Mike Tomline replaced Mason Rudolph with rookie Devlin Hodges who played at the FBS level last year.

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The Steelers are good at unearthing quarterback prospects, but this feels like a desperation move.   Even if Hodges is a real quarterback, after only one previous NFL start he is not likely to star.

The Browns are weakest against the run, but the Steelers are not equipped to exploit that weakness.  They are averaging only 3.6 yards per carry this year as a team, and if James Conner is not able to go, it is not clear who is going to get them yards on the ground.

Freddie Kitchens can help the team by staying out of the way and not calling any risky trick plays, but he cannot resist the temptation.

Last week he tried to set up Jarvis Landry against his former team, and that resulted in a fumble.  Will he do it again? Probably. That will likely hurt the team, but the Browns have enough of a talent advantage that they will get away with it again.

Prediction: Cleveland 21, Pittsburgh 17