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Records: Cleveland (3-9) at Pittsburgh (9-3)
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
BetMGM NFL odds: Steelers by 6.5
Against the spread: Browns 4-8; Steelers 9-3
Series record: Steelers lead 81-64-1
Last meeting: Browns beat Steelers 24-19 on Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland
Last week: Browns lost to Broncos 41-32; Steelers beat Bengals 44-38
Browns offense: overall (22), rush (30), pass (13), scoring (29)
Browns defense: overall (24), rush (23), pass (20), scoring (26)
Steelers offense: overall (14), rush (9), pass (20), scoring (10)
Steelers defense: overall (6), rush (4), pass (19), scoring (6)
Turnover differential: Browns minus-8; Steelers: plus-15
Browns player to watch: QB Jameis Winston. He's coming off a career-game (497 yards, 4 TDs) on Monday that he spoiled by throwing a pair of pick-6s at Denver. Winston has revived Cleveland's offense and perhaps become a legitimate option for the team to consider as its starter in 2025. Another solid performance or win against a division rival could make it harder for the Browns to move on without him.
Steelers player to watch: LB Nick Herbig. The 2023 fourth-round pick is coming into his own. Herbig's strip-sack of Joe Burrow last week was scooped up by teammate Pauton Wilson, who raced in for a clinching touchdown. Herbig has had at least a half-sack in three of his past four games and with starting OLB Alex Highsmith's expected return, Herbig should be even fresher when he comes on the field in passing situations.
Key matchup: Browns CB Greg Newsome II vs. Steelers WR George Pickens. Grab your popcorn anytime these two face off or are in each other's vicinity. They fought on the final play when the Browns upset the Steelers two weeks ago with their tussle spilling off the field after a Hail Mary pass got batted down in the end zone. Afterward, Newsome called the fiery Pickens "a fake tough guy."
Key injuries: Browns: WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) has been out since being hurt on a hard hit in the third quarter against the Steelers last month. He missed practice time this week along with LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), S Juan Thornhill (calf) and rookie WR Jamari Thrash (shoulder). Steelers: LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) should return after missing each of Pittsburgh's past four games. DT Montravius Adams (knee) could also be available for the first time since getting hurt in a win over the New York Jets on Oct. 20.
Series notes: Cleveland has lost 20 straight regular-season games in Pittsburgh. Tim Couch was the Browns' starting QB when they beat the Steelers 33-13 on Oct. 5, 2003. … The Browns haven't swept the season series since 1988. Pittsburgh has taken the two-game set from the Browns 16 times over that span. The Browns are 1-22 in the regular season at Acrisure Stadium, though they did beat the Steelers in the first round of the 2020 playoffs.
Stats and stuff: Cleveland is guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the 22nd time since 1999. … Winston is averaging a league-leading 336 yards passing per game since becoming the full-time starter in Week 8. … DE Myles Garrett needs 1.5 sacks to reach 100 in his career. … Cleveland's defense has been susceptible to big plays. The Browns gave up a 93-yard TD pass to the Broncos. Overall, they've allowed 48 plays of at least 20 yards and 12 of 40 or better. … The Steelers have won 5 of 6 since Wilson took over as quarterback in Week 7, the lone loss in the snow to Cleveland last month.