The Cleveland Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. Both teams enter with the same record, but Cleveland has the division edge after beating Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football earlier this season. The Steelers are undefeated at home, so are they looking to give medicine back to the Browns?
Here is what the national media is saying about the Week 8 game between the Browns and Steelers:
NFL.com (Various)
Why Brooke picked the Steelers: In their first meeting, the Browns’ defense controlled the line of
scrimmage, sacking Aaron Rodgers five times while piling up 10 total QB hits and keeping the veteran signal-caller all out of sorts. Things have turned a corner for the Steelers’ offense in the last three weeks, with Rodgers playing in rhythm, limiting the giveaways and accurately finding his targets — though there’s still a lot of pressure on rookie right tackle Max Iheanachor, who allowed two sacks and seven pressures (per NGS) against the Browns in Week 4. Everything about the 42-year-old quarterback’s play has trended upward since their last meeting, and the rushing attack should flex its muscle more this time around with the return of Rico Dowdle. The Browns have rightfully earned their place at the top of the division through two months, but how long can they end up on the winning side of close games? We’ve seen this type of playing-with-fire approach before, and it rarely lasts. That said, watching this team get meaningful contributions from young players (Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Spencer Fano, Carson Schwesinger) has been enjoyable and should keep Cleveland competitive should they maintain that level. But this Sunday, playing the steadily improving, veteran-laden Steelers within confines of Acrisure Stadium could be the Browns’ toughest matchup to date. Pittsburgh improves to 4-0 at home and takes over first place in the AFC North at midseason.
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) – Steelers 24, Browns 20
This is a big game for the division lead in the AFC North. The Browns beat the Steelers earlier this year, but this will be a bigger challenge on the road. They are also playing consecutive road games, which will be a challenge. Look for Aaron Rodgers to play well as the Steelers take it.
CBS Sports (John Breech) – Browns 23, Steelers 20
The Browns have already beaten the Steelers once this season, and if they win this game, that would give them their first season sweep of Pittsburgh since 1988. That’s right, it has somehow been 38 years since the Browns have swept the Steelers. The NFL should have flexed this game to Sunday night and asked everyone at the stadium to dress up like their favorite character from 1988. I would have definitely been John McClane from Die Hard, or maybe AC Slater. You know what? I’m not sure and we don’t have time to talk about this. … (read more on CBS)
Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer) – Steelers 24, Browns 20
The Browns have all their five wins thanks to Deshaun Watson snatching victory from the jaws of defeat late in the fourth quarter. That’s a feel-good development for rookie coach Todd Monken, but not sustainable as a first-place team. Aaron Rodgers is feeling it since the last Cleveland matchup and will outduel Watson with superior weapons.
Sporting News (Bill Bender) – Steelers 23, Browns 16
The Browns are 5-1 in one-score games – and their last six games have been decided by six points or less. Cleveland beat Pittsburgh in the first matchup, too. This time, Pittsburgh will build off the running game. The Steelers are 3-0 S/U at home, and Aaron Rodgers has a 101.6 passer rating.
Below are our Week 8 NFL staff picks:
