How do the Browns react to the previous week’s humiliation?

Hardship versus adversity in the Thursday Night Game of NFL Week 3, with both the Browns and Steelers starting the season with a 1-1 record. Still, both are on fire after Week 2 – for different reasons.

The Browns were booed mercilessly by their own crowd after their game against the Jets, which was quite understandable after the avoidable home defeat against one of the weakest teams in the league. Cleveland could hardly have been more unlucky.

For the Steelers, on the other hand, only one player was booed recently and that was Mitch Trubisky. There were also Kenny Pickett chants from the stands, which isn’t likely to make things any calmer around the Steelers’ current quarterback.

Accordingly, whoever loses on Thursday will have a very unsettled, long week ahead of them, which makes the upcoming game very interesting. For Browns vs. Steelers, our prediction is therefore also an extremely contested matchup, in which Cleveland is likely to come out on top in the end due to the better running game.

Kickoff of the Thursday Night Game in NFL Week 3 is on Friday night at 02:15 in Cleveland. The game can be watched live on DAZN.

Cleveland Browns – Statistics & current form

There was talk of embarrassment the day after the Browns loss to the Jets – but also of incompetence and stupidity. With just over two minutes left in the game, running back Nick Chubb marched into New York’s end zone for a 30-17 lead and what followed was slapstick and carelessness pure and simple.

First, kicker Cade York failed on the extra point, then the defence failed on the coverage of Corey Davis, who was easily found over 60 yards. Then the Jets’ onside kick was also given away.

How does the team react?

So they gave away a 13-point lead in the final two minutes at home against one of the worst teams in the NFL, missing out on a 2-0 start to the season that would have finally brought some calm to the franchise after all the Watson talk.

Now the team is under intense pressure again against the Steelers. This is all the more annoying because the Browns had delivered a very controlled and good performance until two minutes before the end. First and foremost, Nick Chubb shone with three touchdowns, Jacoby Brissett with 22 of 27 passes completed and Amari Cooper with 101 yards + touchdown.

Defense needs to be more focused

Just these three anchors of the offense should be challenged again on Thursday and also deliver. Whether it will be enough for success will be decided by their defence, which collapsed at the end against New York.

If they manage to keep the Steelers under 20 points in the end, then we strongly expect a home win. But since the Steelers defence is not to be underestimated even without T.J. Watt, kicker Cade York could also play an important role again.

Since Pittsburgh has also had problems scoring touchdowns so far this season, a bet on the first point being scored by a field goal is interesting for Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh. Alternatively, however, bets on the Browns are also in the draw, which we see as slight favourites.

Key Players:
QB: Jacoby Brissett
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Amari Cooper
TE: David Njoku
K: Cade York

Pittsburgh Steelers – stats & current form

The Steelers just can’t find their game. Mitch Trubisky only scores 168 yards + interception, Olszewski drops a point and the defence doesn’t generate a single sack. Just three points why it wasn’t enough against the Pats in the end.

Above all, Trubisky’s tired performance inevitably leads the fans and probably also the officials to ask how long they want to play with him. The fans already acknowledged the performance on Sunday with loud Kenny Pickett chants.

Will Trubisky remain the starting quarterback?

Yes, T.J. Watt was sorely missed by the Steelers, on and off the field. But the offense was supposed to be unimpressed, after all, Watt is a defensive player. All the more incomprehensible is their once again weak offensive performance.

Only 168 yards through the air – and that is not only Trubisky’s fault. A few drops and a weak play calling certainly played their part as well. So the question is whether it would immediately improve under a different quarterback (Pickett or Rudolph).

By Thursday, the coaches will definitely have to decide whether to give in to the fans and start Pickett or give Trubisky another chance. Since we rarely see fan opinion being the deciding factor, we expect Mitch Trubisky to make another appearance.

Running game needs to be incorporated more

It’s quite surprising that they don’t put more emphasis on their running game in Pittsburgh then. It’s been ailing for years and now would be the perfect time to integrate it and strengthen it. But only 22 runs in the entire game speak against it and Head Coach Mike Tomlin has to take criticism for that.

4.1 yards per rush is not a bad number. It’s all the more incomprehensible that the running game continues to be so ignored. If that happens again on Thursday, we’ll see Pittsburgh clearly behind. But if they run for more than 100 yards for the first time this season, there’s definitely something in it for Cleveland.

For Browns vs Steelers, however, the odds on Pittsburgh are not good enough to speculate on an upset here. Picks on few total points or on some field goals are more recommended for betting.

Key Players:
QB: Mitch Trubisky
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Deontae Johnson
TE: Pat Freiermuth
K: Chris Boswell

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

The previous year, both head-to-head meetings went to the Steelers. However, Big Ben was still at the helm for Pittsburgh and Baker Mayfield for Cleveland. Without those two, the teams have changed a lot.

But since the defenses still look pretty similar (except for the loss of Watt), the point totals from the two games might be a clue. 32.5 points were scored on average in these games – under-points, as so often in the last ten years.

In the last seven duels, the 40 total points were exceeded only three times. For Cleveland against Pittsburgh, a bet on under 40.0 total points is therefore once again an interesting betting alternative for Thursday.

Cleveland Browns – Pittsburgh Steelers betting tips

How do the Browns handle the Jets game? Who will play quarterback for the Steelers? Just two of the questions that matter a lot for Thursday’s outcome. With both teams reeling right now, it could well be a choppy game.

In such games, field goals often prevail, which brings us to our betting recommendation. For Browns vs. Steelers, a bet on the first score being a field goal is recommended at great odds.

Alternatively, we have already mentioned the under 40.0 total points as a bet. However, there is always the risk that the Browns will be so hot after their humiliation against New York that they will run over the Steelers and score high.