The AFC North is always a battlefield, and Week 17 brings another chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. But this time, the stakes could shift dramatically before kickoff.
If the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night - and all signs point to Lamar Jackson sitting that one out - then Pittsburgh locks up the division title before even taking the field. That would raise a big question: Should the Steelers rest some starters, or keep the foot on the gas?
Regardless of the Ravens’ outcome, Pittsburgh enters Sunday with momentum on its side. The Steelers have quietly started to look like the team we expected them to be earlier in the season - a defense-first group that’s rediscovered its run game and is protecting the football. They’ve committed just one turnover over their last three games, and that kind of ball security is playoff-caliber football.
On the other side, the Browns are limping toward the finish line. They’ve shown flashes - including a hard-fought loss to Buffalo last week - but consistency has been elusive.
The offense has struggled to find rhythm, and while the defense continues to be anchored by Myles Garrett, the team as a whole hasn’t been able to string together a complete performance. Still, Garrett is chasing history, and he’ll have a shot at a record-breaking sack against Aaron Rodgers - a rare bright spot in what’s been a frustrating season.
Cleveland has been a tough out at home against Pittsburgh in recent years, winning the last three matchups in their own building. And while the Browns are just 2-5 straight up at home this season, they’re 5-2 against the spread - a sign they’ve kept games closer than the record suggests. But moral victories won’t mean much in a game where the Steelers could be tuning up for a playoff run - or possibly coasting in with the division already secured.
The Steelers' defense has been the difference-maker lately, and against a Browns offense that’s struggled to put points on the board, that edge could be decisive. Pittsburgh’s ability to establish the run and control the clock might be the formula again, especially if they’re trying to avoid unnecessary wear and tear ahead of January football.
If this is indeed a must-win for Pittsburgh, expect them to come out swinging. If not, don’t be surprised to see a more conservative approach - but even then, the Steelers’ current form might be enough to get past a Browns team still searching for answers.
Either way, the AFC North drama isn’t done yet. And in a rivalry like this one, records, injuries, and playoff scenarios often take a backseat to pride.