Listen it has been bad for the Steelers and their defense has not played well, especially without Troy Polamalu. However, I'll give this defense the edge over the Browns. Also coaching Tomlin over Magini on a short week.
In the last game the Steelers turned the ball over 4 times to the Browns and still got out with a win 27-14. They also had 543 total yards the 2nd most by any team in 2009. Browns defense has shown it can be good, but not here and not against this type of team and not with the key injuries along the defensive line. Shaun Rogers - gone for the season, and CJ Mosley gone for the season. Those are two key injuries that will give the Steelers an opportunity to run the ball here tonight and play their smash mouth football. Browns are 32nd last in the league in overall defense, 25th against the pass and 29th against the run they will continue to struggle and against a very hungry Steelers team. I don't normally take double digit favorites on the road in a division game but this game to me just screams blow out and it's mainly because of the key injuries up front for the Browns. Now Pit has not played good defense as of late but Brady Quinn has never seen this Steelers defense before even witout Polamalu this team is above average and they have to have a chip on their shoulder after being called out by their coach this week and the media saying that they can't play without Polamalu.
Expect an aggresive attack at the line from Pit D, a defense that's ranked #1 against the run still but 17th in passing. I'm not confident Brady Quinn can get his team going and although he has thrown 7 TD to 0 INT's in his last three games that was against the Chargers suspect pass D where all his yards came in the 4th quarter and then most of them came against the bad Lions. Cleveland was down 27-3 to start the fourth quarter against the Chargers on Sunday and had scored just 6 points in their last 11 quarters at home. Then the Chargers defense relaxed and gave up two TD's. Because of that we sit here with a some what of a gift from the oddsmakers because that along with the Steelers 4th quarter collapsed moved this line by 3+ points in my opinion. If the Steelers don't collapse and the Chargers don't collapse in the 4th we likely have a 14 point or more spread. The Steelers have lost their last three games after leading the game after the third quarter. Meaning they will be extremely focused with their playoff hopes on the line here tonight.
I really look for the Steelers to open it up on offense being able to run the ball all night and in the predicted weather we are hearing that will be a good thing as they are #1 against the run and I don't see the inexperienced running backs of Cleveland to have a chance to run the ball against the #1 run defense. Steelers will be + in TO margin this time around and win by more than 13.
