The last time the Cleveland Browns were favored in a game in Pittsburgh, Bud Carson was making his debut as the head coach for the Browns. Clay Matthews returned a fumble for the Browns first touchdown and Tim Manoa ran for two scores in a 51-0 shellacking.
That was September 10th, 1989, the season opener for a Browns team that would eventually advance to the AFC Championship game. The Steelers were coming off a 5-11 season and trotted out Bubby Brister at QB. The Browns held him to 82 yards passing and five total first downs.
It’s been a very long time. Most of the Browns roster wasn’t even alive. Coach Freddie Kitchens was a high school freshman. And given how the Steelers still have a better record this year than the Browns, it’s a little odd to see. But here we are.
At BetMGM, the Browns are 1.5-point favorites in Pittsburgh. Some other books have the Browns favored by as many as 2.5 points, but the 1.5 figure is the standard.
Nobody is expecting 51-0, but the line in that game back in 1989 was just two points. Not saying, just sayin’…
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