Which crisis team catches better?

There have been some memorable games between the Steelers and Browns in recent years. The Myles Garrett freakout, the playoff shootout this January, but also the defensive battle this season produced some headlines.

This party gave us the first impressions of why both teams have stumbled so badly this year. Both offenses got very little going and ultimately it was a single touchdown pass from Big Ben to Harris that decided the game.

Now in the Monday Night Game, it’s down to the very last playoff chance for both. With only seven wins, the teams are third and fourth in the division and even two wins in the remaining games would not guarantee the postseason.

So this matchup should again hold a lot of frustration potential. The one or other scuffle or even harder fouls cannot be ruled out. Therefore, we do not expect a lot of points to be scored and our forecast for Steelers vs. Browns is a low-scoring game

Kickoff of the first Monday Night Game of the year is at 02:15 on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. It can be watched live on DAZN.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Statistics & current form

Against the Chiefs on Sunday, the Steelers were shown their limitations. It became clear that they simply don’t have the offensive firepower to threaten the good teams in the league. And every game can’t be won 15:10 or 19:13.

That’s where the Browns come in handy. They’re also just kind of trudging towards the end of the season and have averaged only 15 points in their last six games. There’s even a win in it for the Steelers.

20 point mark as a success factor?

With this matchup again expected to be a battle and low-scoring game like it was in late October, the team that breaks the 20-point mark could end up winning. Pittsburgh has done that three times in its last six games, after all, while Cleveland has only done it twice.

Still, we wouldn’t consider the Steelers the big favourites. We would therefore avoid betting on both them and the Browns. Rather, bets on subpar points or on few points of a team are worthwhile.

How motivated are the Steelers still?

Of course, the question will also be whether the team itself still believes in the postseason at all. If one or the other player has already written off the season, this could possibly lead to a percentage drop. However, this applies to both teams.

That would then also be the only chance for the offenses to get to many scores, if this slacking off also affects their defensive lines. However, since the rivalry is high, we don’t assume this and see Pittsburgh vs Cleveland as good betting odds on subpar points.

Key Players:
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Chase Claypool
TE: Pat Freiermuth
K: Chris Boswell

Cleveland Browns – stats & current form

The Browns are at least in a better position than in the previous weeks. So the quarterbacks Keenum and Mayfield are also ready to play again, although some Browns fans see that more as a further weakening.

Baker Mayfield in particular is now being singled out and sharply criticised as one of the main reasons for the weak season. The fact that he is Cleveland’s solution for the future at the QB position can now be safely put to rest.

Self-confidence is completely lacking

But why are Mayfield and his receivers in such a bad mood right now? On the one hand, of course, because almost everyone has been absent in the last few weeks due to Covid and so regular training could not take place.

On the other hand, all the players lack the necessary self-confidence. When we looked at Mayfield’s face last weekend, he couldn’t believe what he had done. There were four interceptions against the Packers, by the way.

Browns not a top team without good Mayfield

So the Browns only have a chance to win this season if Mayfield stops making mistakes. That’s what happened against the Bears or Bengals this season, for example. If Mayfield delivers, then we can even consider the Browns a top 10 team in the league.

But since that almost never happens in 2021, the likelihood of Monday is also slim. Since it is then still against the Steelers defence, which has been good lately, a bet on under 22.5 Browns points is our favoured betting option for Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland.

Key Players:
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE: David Njoku
K: Chase McLaughlin

Pittsburgh Steelers – Cleveland Browns Head-to-head comparison / H2H record

The first duel this season went to the Steelers with 15:10. Pittsburgh has generally been more successful in this matchup lately, winning ten of the last 14 meetings – with one tie.

For Monday, however, anything is possible. The two teams are virtually identical on offence (20.1 to 20.9 points) and defence (24.7 to 21.9 points conceded). They are also almost equal in the turnover differential (-1 to 0).

In this respect, betting on a winner would be a gamble. Betting on under-scoring, however, is not, as evidenced by the statistic alone that neither team averages over 21 points. So for Steelers vs Browns, betting on Under 22.5 Browns points is our bet of choice.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Cleveland Browns betting tips

The question on Monday will not be who scores more, but who scores at all. We think it is very unlikely that both teams will exceed the 20-point mark and since the oddsmakers have set the point total for the Browns a little higher, we have found our bet.

For Pittsburgh against Cleveland, the odds on Under 22.5 Browns points are recommended. Cleveland has only topped that number in two of their last four games – they even managed just ten points in their last meeting with the Steelers.

Alternatively, betting on few touchdowns is also an option. In an expected low-scoring game, the 5 TD mark should be very difficult to beat.