Tag: Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Opinion: Browns should end Jadeveon Clowney’s season today

Clowney’s season should end today.

As the Cleveland Browns get set to close out their disappointing 2022 campaign against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they now have a new distraction to work through. Speaking with Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland dot com, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney thought it was a wise idea to throw haymakers at his coaches, the defensive scheme, and even teammate Myles Garrett as he prepares to exit the organization at the beginning of next week.

Clowney seemed to have been lamenting his production and usage in a scheme that saw him reach heights in both sacks and quarterback hits that he had not seen since 2018. After willingly signing back up to play across from Garrett, and in the same scheme that he thrived in a year ago, Clowney’s production has plummeted. And he is seemingly pointing fingers everywhere but at himself.

The Browns should not wait until after the Steelers game. There is little shot he even dresses now after his tantrum with one game to go, and with nothing to play for in Week 18, there is no reason for Clowney to return to Berea at all.

They have two rookie pass rushers that could use the reps in Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas. Two young players who will appreciate the reps they are getting as well. And with no playoffs to play for, the Browns would be wise to allow themselves another full game to evaluate those players.

The Browns cannot let Jadeveon Clowney dress against the Steelers and should send him home for an early vacation.

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Best NFL underdog picks and predictions for Week 18

Analyzing NFL Week 18 betting odds and lines, with expert predictions and picks of the 3 best underdogs to cash in on.

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We have reached the final week of the 2022 NFL season with games only on Saturday and Sunday in Week 18. In Week 17, only 4 underdogs won their games outright, but 8 dogs covered the spread.

Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s NFL odds and lines, and tab the best NFL Week 18 underdog bets to cash in on among SportbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.

Of my 3 best underdog picks last week, 2 were correct. The Denver Broncos covered the spread against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns beat the Washington Commanders outright. The Tennessee Titans did not cover against the Dallas Cowboys. 

With last week, my picks are 24-27 on the season.

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NFL underdog predictions: Week 18

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at Friday at 6:19 a.m. ET. All games Sunday and ET unless noted.

NEW YORK JETS (+115) at Miami Dolphins – 1 p.m. (FOX)

In a battle of 2 teams with 5-game losing streaks, I like the Jets. QB Mike White starts for the Jets, but the Dolphins aren’t sure who will start for them. QB Tua Tagovailoa is still recovering from a concussion and backup QB Teddy Bridgewater hurt his finger and couldn’t throw the ball to start the week.

The Dolphins have allowed 27.4 points per game in their losing streak. But that is paired with a Jets team that has averaged only 12 in their losing streak.

Something has to give and the New York defense will take advantage of the quarterback issues for Miami.

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CLEVELAND BROWNS (+120) at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 p.m. (CBS)

The Browns have won 4 of their last 6 games and the defense has allowed only 14.0 points per game in that stretch.

The Steelers only average 17.5 points per game. They have won 3 straight and 5 of 6 but are only averaging 18.3 points per game in that stretch.

The Browns can spoil the Steelers streak of consecutive seasons without a losing record.

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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS +4 (-109) Atlanta Falcons – 1 p.m. (FOX)

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles is not planning on resting his starters although they could get pulled early. They have the No. 4 seed locked up but need to play better before the playoffs start and likely don’t want to end the regular season with a losing record.

The Falcons have only 2 wins in their last 8 games and those 2 wins came against a 3-win Chicago Bears team and a 4-win Arizona Cardinals team. They beat the Cardinals 20-19 last week on a last-second field goal and have not won a game by more than 3 points since Week 6.

More NFL Week 18 picks and predictions

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Amari Cooper has his eyes on a career-high vs. Steelers

Amari Cooper has his eyes set on his personal goals.

The Cleveland Browns are set to close out their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers (although Jadeveon Clowney may not join them). And wide receiver Amari Cooper is just 80 yards away from hitting his personal best in career yards. Cooper was asked if reaching a new career-high in receiving yards was an important mark for him, and he did not deny it. Coming off of a two-touchdown performance against the Washington Commanders, Cooper had this to say about eclipsing his career-high in receiving yards:

“Of course. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. Every year you want to get better because like they say, if you are not getting better, you are getting worse. You don’t work real hard in the offseason and the preseason, to get worse. Yeah, it is something that is very important to me.”

Here are other highlights from Cooper’s press availability today

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Browns Injury Report: Ethan Pocic misses practice, joins Jack Conklin, Denzel Ward

Ethan Pocic joins the list of starters out of practice on Thursday

The Cleveland Browns have been without cornerback Denzel Ward and offensive tackle Jack Conklin all week after getting hurt in the 24-10 win against the Washington Commanders. Now as they look to close their season out on a high note against the Pittsburgh Steelers, another starting offensive lineman has joined the newly-extended Conklin on the sideline as center Ethan Pocic has missed Thursday’s practice with an illness.

All-in-all, six players missed practice while two were limited for the Browns on Thursday. Here is the full list of players who appeared on the injury report for the Browns as they prepare to take on the Steelers in this Week 18 showdown.

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Browns Injury Report: Denzel Ward, Jack Conklin miss practice during Steelers week

The Browns were without two starters in Wednesday’s practice.

The Cleveland Browns are coming off of a high after a second half beatdown against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Sitting at 7-9 on the season, the Browns are looking to end the season on a two-game win streak and a 5-2 run after starting the season 3-7. As the Pittsburgh Steelers and an opportunity to play spoilers yet again approaches, the Browns were without two starters in cornerback Denzel Ward and offensive tackle Jack Conklin in Wednesday’s practice.

They were not the only players who missed practice for the Browns, however. Here is the full list of players who did not take the field during Wednesday’s practice as the Steelers approach.

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Browns could be without Denzel Ward, Jack Conklin vs. Steelers

The Browns have the status of two starters up in the air this week against the Steelers

The Cleveland Browns got a great output from Denzel Ward against the Washington Commanders. On the day, Ward was targeted just once, coming away with an interception off of quarterback Carson Wentz. The Browns, however, may now be without him as they close the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ward is not the only starter who enters the final week banged up as right tackle Jack Conklin also has his status up in the air as well.

Fresh off of an extension and a season full of health, this is the last thing the Browns and Conklin want to see. Can they both suit up to end the season on a high note? Keep your eyes peeled for the weekly injury reports.

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By the numbers: Breaking down key stats and figures from the Browns win over the Steelers

Breaking down key stats and figures from the Cleveland Browns Week 3 win over the Steelers

The most important numbers from Thursday night’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium were 29 and 17. That’s the final score from the Cleveland Browns’ impressive triumph over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the primetime matchup.

A lot of other key numbers played into how the two teams arrived at that final outcome. Here’s a look at some of the important stats and figures that led to the Browns important home win.

0 – giveaways by the Browns offense

1 – third-down conversion by Pittsburgh’s offense, on 9 attempts

4 – passes defended by the Browns defense

4 – consecutive Steelers drives to start the second half that resulted in a punt, including three 3-and-outs

5 – Browns penalties, costing Cleveland 24 yards

5 – tackles-for-loss by the Steelers defense, all in the second half

6 – third-down conversions for the Browns offense, on 16 attempts

7 – first-half receptions by Browns TE David Njoku, netting 69 yards and a touchdown

16 – rushing yards by the Steelers in the second half, on six carries

18 – total return yards on punts and kicks allowed by the Browns special teams

22 – Browns first downs, to 20 for Pittsburgh’s offense

71 – total Browns offensive snaps, to 55 for Pittsburgh

92 – second-half rushing yards by the Browns offense, on 25 carries

101 – Amari Cooper receiving yards, the second week in a row he’s hit that exact number

109.6 – Browns QB Jacoby Brissett’s QB Rating

113 – Nick Chubb rushing yards

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Look: Top photos from the Browns win over the Steelers

Look: Top photos from the Cleveland Browns win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3

Cleveland rose up on Thursday night. A strong crowd in FirstEnergy Stadium helped fuel an efficient Browns team get back to the winning ways in a 29-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football.

Big games from QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Nick Chubb and CB Denzel Ward, among several others, helped Cleveland improve to 2-1 and surge to the top of the AFC North standings.

Here are some of the top photos captured from the Browns big win over the Steelers in Week 3.

Browns players praise QB Jacoby Brissett after big win over the Steelers

Browns players praise QB Jacoby Brissett after big win over the Steelers

The Cleveland Browns captured an important victory on Thursday night, beating back the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 29-17 in a nationally televised game. Cleveland’s win came in no small part due to a great game from quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett was in complete command of the Browns offense all night. He delivered crisp, accurate passes to the best options. No. 7 completed 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 220 yards and two TDs. It was Brissett at his finest.

His teammates appreciated how well Brissett played in the primetime triumph.

Right tackle Jack Conklin, who played well in his own right, offered this on Brissett,

“Just great leadership. Under pressure he is making the right plays and making the right reads. He is very calm in the pocket. He trusts us, and we trust him.”

That sentiment was shared by wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was on the receiving end of seven of Brissett’s completions, hitting 101 yards and a touchdown.

“I think he has proven that he can win,” Cooper said. “I don’t think he has proven anything that we didn’t already know about him. I don’t think he would be in the league if he wasn’t a good quarterback at this point. He has been in the league a long time. He is a veteran and a good player. We are glad to have him.”

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“He is doing a great job leading us,” running back Kareem Hunt said. “He is hungry, too. He is a heck of a football player going out there and showing what we can do.”

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Breaking down the Browns’ Week 17 grades from Pro Football Focus

Almost all the top grades came from the defense, notably the young secondary

The Pro Football Focus grades from the Cleveland Browns’ Week 17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers nicely illustrate the sharp divide between Cleveland’s offense and defense. Nearly all the top grades were earned by players from Joe Woods’ defense, while the offense lagged considerably behind.

Right guard Wyatt Teller was the only Browns offensive player to top a score of 70, earning a 74.4 in his 71 snaps. The rest of the top-10 Browns grades from the game belonged to defensive players.

Cornerback A.J. Green tops the list with a fantastic 91.7 overall grade. He didn’t allow a single completion in 27 coverage snaps. Green’s score would have been even higher if not for a missed tackle.

The rest of the top 10 (min. 12 snaps):

  • S Richard LeCounte – 82.2
  • S M.J. Stewart – 81.3
  • LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – 80.5
  • DE Myles Garrett – 78.8
  • LB Anthony Walker – 74.4
  • Teller – 74.4
  • CB Greg Newsome – 73.6
  • LB Sione Takitaki – 70.8
  • DT Malik McDowell – 67.7

It wasn’t all roses for the defense, however. Several thorny grades pockmarked the unit, notably along the line. Four linemen brought up the rear on the defense with grades below 50: Tommy Togiai, Malik Jackson, Jordan Elliott and Porter Gustin.

On offense, TE Austin Hooper earned the lowest grade and that was with PFF being charitable in only assessing one dropped pass on his ledger. Three Baker Mayfield passes hit both of his hands only to not result in a completion, with the last being an interception.

Right tackle James Hudson earned an overall grade of 50.9, a higher mark than expected. PFF liked his run blocking enough to counter the three sacks and five QB pressures he allowed in the game. Punter Dustin Colquitt also had the lowest-graded game of his 17-year career.