Steelers suddenly need to treat the Browns game as a must-win following result that could ruin their recent momentum
The pressure is back on the Steelers against the Browns.
There was a chance that the Pittsburgh Steelers woke up on Sunday morning, went down for breakfast at the team hotel, and went back up to their rooms with a hat and T-shirt that said: “2025 AFC North Champions.”
But following a dominant offensive performance from Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens, that is no longer the case. The Ravens kept their season alive on Saturday night in Green Bay, but it can come to a screeching halt in just a few hours. All that’s required is the Steelers winning a game that, on paper, should be no problem.
Steelers feeling the pressure against the Browns on Sunday
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a 79 percent chance of making the playoffs ahead of the Browns game, per NFL.com. If they win, the Ravens game in Week 18 no longer matters as the team wins the AFC North outright and hosts a home playoff game for the first time in half a decade.
However, if the Steelers lose to the Browns, their playoff chances drop to just 45 percent, and they face a winner-take-all matchup in Week 18 without DK Metcalf, who had his best game as a Steeler against the Ravens just a few weeks ago, catalyzing the offensive run that the team has been on as of late.
If you think Sunday will be a walk in the park in Cleveland, think again. Mike Tomlin has an all-time negative record against the spread when favored. On top of that, the game is in Cleveland, Myles Garrett is out to set the NFL’s single-season sack record, and this is the most injured the Steelers have been all season.
T.J. Watt remains out, Isaac Seumalo can’t play, the Steelers are down their top two WRs, and above all, it’s an AFC North matchup. These games can always get off the rails. Especially when the Browns’ sole purpose is to make sure their rival misses the playoffs.
“Yeah, man, it sounds like it’s an amazing opportunity that we have, you know, we’re still playing for something,” Browns corner Denzel Ward said. “So we’re playing to ruin their hopes of getting into the playoffs, and so that’s what we’re going in there to try to do, and to the best way we can, but still something to play for.”
Well, the Steelers have a division crown to play for, and Sunday will be their best chance to win it.
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