The Browns are taking the unusual route into Week 4: home underdogs for the second straight game.
FanDuel Sportsbook opened Cleveland as a 2.5-point dog against the Pittsburgh Steelers for Thursday Night Football, with the total set at 37.5. That line comes after a 2-1 start for the Browns, a record that looked unlikely after they were blown out in Week 1.
Cleveland’s latest win came in a 21-18 grind over the Carolina Panthers, and the defense again drove the result. The Browns pressured Bryce Young on 51% of his dropbacks, and even though they gave up plenty of late yardage, they still forced multiple turnovers on downs and closed the door when it mattered.
The offense has been steadier than flashy. The line penalties are still piling up, but Deshaun Watson has found enough rhythm to matter. He’s had his misses, sure, but he’s also been running effectively and landing clutch throws in the red zone.
Pittsburgh arrives at 2-1 as well, and its latest result was the one that turned heads. After a 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers suddenly look a lot more dangerous on offense than they did a week earlier.
That was a sharp change from the Week 2 loss to the Patriots, when Pittsburgh managed only 3 points and looked stuck. Against Cincinnati, though, the Steelers rolled up 411 yards and Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes.
Given Cleveland’s two-game run and the fact that Pittsburgh isn’t being treated like an elite Super Bowl-bound team, the Browns being home underdogs is a little unexpected. It also raises the question of whether the sportsbooks are simply behind on Cleveland.
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