The last match of what has been a very exciting Week 17 in the NFL 2021 season comes from Heinz Field as the Pittsburgh Steelers host their AFC North rivals Cleveland Browns in the final Monday Night Football of the regular campaign.
There was the potential for there to be nothing on this match but that isn’t the case as the Pittsburgh Steelers still have outside hopes of reaching the playoffs. For that to remain the case they have to win here. The Browns know their season will end next week whatever happens here.
Pittsburgh Steelers
It has to be said that the chances of the Pittsburgh Steelers making the postseason are slim with them going into this match with a 7-7-1 record but while there is life there is hope as they say. They will need to win both of their remaining matches and then cross everything they have and hope that the Indianapolis Colts are beaten in Jacksonville next week. First thing is first they have to win here else next week won’t matter and they’ll be pleased to be at home for this one.
That is because you have to go back to September for the last time the Steelers lost in front of their own fans and if this is going to be Ben Roethlisberger’s last dance at Heinz Field, as looks likely, then he is sure to want to go out with a bang. If that is going to happen he and his passing game will need to be on point because for whatever reason the Steelers offense can’t seem to get Najee Harris free in the running back position.
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Cleveland Browns
What had the makings of a positive season for the Cleveland Browns has fizzled out into something of a damp squib. They are now 7-8 for their campaign after three losses in their last four having been well placed when they were 6-5 to reach the playoffs. They were actually in with a chance of winning the AFC North at that point but then Covid hit and the inevitable struggles followed. They do finish the campaign with two divisional matches which offer them a chance to lay an early marker down for next season.
If they are going to get anything out of this game then they are going to need to produce a better balance on offense. It might be that they can run all over the Steelers here, but you would be surprised if Pittsburgh aren’t prepared for that and don’t look to make Baker Mayfield beat them in the air. Cleveland have shown competence defensive during their struggles with their Christmas Day trip to Green Bay the only time in five weeks that they have conceded more than 22pts but none of that matters much with the offense not delivering.
Betting
Here we are with another of those must win teams vs playing for pride outfit type matches and as is so often the case the odds shorten on the team who need to be competitive here as a result. I would probably still go for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the match, as much for their motivation to send Roethlisberger off on a high than anything else, but the price doesn’t really interest me, neither does a spread when winning is the ultimate aim.
Instead I’ll side with the under in this match. Cleveland have struggled with their passing game for a while and if they are going to win this you would think it would be by charging the Nick Chubb batteries and letting him go. That only serves to eat up the clock though. Pittsburgh could get the job done in their passing game, although Myles Garrett is likely to cause havoc within that, but they lack the real deep play option with Roethlisberger’s arm not what it was. That all being mixed together I’m expecting a low scoring battle here. The reverse meeting between the two came when their offenses were in better nick and that ended 15-10 to Pittsburgh. I don’t expect 20 more points here so under 44.5 will do for me.
Tips
Back Under 44.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
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