- The big AFC North matchup comes up, where the Steelers meet the Browns.
- Both teams are in the playoff hunt, and a win in this one is extremely important.
- The Steelers won the first matchup this year.
There isn’t a better matchup for the opening Monday Night Football in 2022 than to witness a clash between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. These two hated rivals are going to meet in a matchup that decides which one of them ends its playoff dreams and which has one more chance to fulfill them.
Browns vs. Steelers Schedule
- Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- When: Monday, January 3, 2022, 8:15 PM ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Browns vs. Steelers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread |
|---|---|---|
| Browns | -135 | -3.5 |
| Steelers | +150 | +3.5 |
Mayfield is a Fluke… Until Proving Otherwise
After his rookie season, Baker Mayfield was pretty much the hottest star in the NFL. At that point, the Cleveland Browns were creating enormous hype, and it seemed after the previous season that the franchise from Ohio is going to become a Super Bowl contender.
Fast forward one year, and Mayfield is nothing more than Jimmy Garoppolo or Kirk Cousins. Inflated. Yes, he was injured, yes Kevin Stefanski had his share of the blame, but still, Baker didn’t show any superstar potential. Mayfield threw four picks against the Packers, and practically lost the game himself.
The rushing game was again fantastic, with Nick Chubb running 17 times for 126 yards one TD, David Johnson added 58. Chubb is the leading receiver with 58 yards in three catches.
Big Ben’s Last Dance?
Will it be? Or will the two-time Super Bowl champion extend his career for at least one more playoff game? It is a pity to see Big Ben struggling like this and slowing down the whole Steelers’ team. It hurts us to say, but with any other decent QB in the league (even Mayfield) this team would be topping the AFC North without any problems.
Pittsburg suffered one very nasty loss at the Arrowhead, where the Chiefs rolled over the Steelers, 36-10. Big Ben’s inability to play at the high level was far too obvious here, as he threw for 159 yards, one pick, and one TD. We say again, Roethlisberger’s retirement comes at least two years later than it should be.
A positive thing in that game was Njaee Hariss, who carried the football 19 times and won 93 yards. Even though he isn’t recording some notable stats this year, the young RB indicates that he might soon become a reliable weapon for Mike Tomlin.
Head to Head Games
The first meeting of the season took place on October 31. Pittsburgh was better on the road, 15-10, with Big Ben having 266 passing yards for a TD, Harris ran 91 yards and added a TD too. Meanwhile, Mayfield had 225 yards for no scores or picks.
NFL Picks Today
The Browns are favorites here and we are going to take this gift and bet on the Steelers without thinking one second. Mayfield doesn’t have a winning mentality, Chubb will face one of the best defenses in the NFL, and because of these factors, we are betting on the hosts to clinch this event.
Pick: Steelers win +150
