The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading to Cleveland to take on the Browns in Week 17, in their second meeting of the season. The last time these AFC North teams played, the Steelers pummeled the Browns 30-9 at Heinz Field, with Cleveland sticking to three field goals on the day.
Steelers vs. Browns 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Pittsburgh needs a win and a Jets loss to secure a wild card spot in the playoffs.
The Steelers are coming off a surprising loss to the Baltimore Ravens and are looking to shore up an inconsistencies to have any chance at the postseason. They need to win Sunday against the Browns, and also need the New York Jets to lose, in order to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Despite having struggled with injuries early in the season, Pittsburgh has most of its key contributors back and has adjusted for those, like running back Le'Veon Bell, who are out the rest of the year.
Ben Roethlisberger didn't start earlier this season against the Browns because he was nursing a foot injury, but he came in after backup quarterback Landry Jones got hurt in the first quarter. Roethlisberger proceeded to have a record game with 22 of 33 completions for 379 yards and three touchdowns. Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown has been an unstoppable connection all year, and against the Browns, the wideout caught 10 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Roethlisberger will need all the help he can get during the final game of the season, coming off a game in which he threw two picks and zero touchdowns. The offense struggled to hold on to the ball throughout the day and it cost the Steelers’ the chance to control their own playoff destiny.
The Browns are no longer in the playoff hunt and Sunday’s game will be the team’s last of the season. Questions about next year’s coaches and quarterbacks have already been asked, and changes could be seen soon after the final whistle. At 3-12, Cleveland is last in the AFC North, falling far short of any other team and having only won once against a division opponent all year.
Quarterback Johnny Manziel had a career game with a record high 372 yards with one touchdown against the Steelers earlier this season, but he'll sit out the finale due to a concussion. Backup Austin Davis will get his second start of the season. After Manziel reportedly lied about a video that showed him partying, Browns coach Mike Pettine benched him for Davis in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns were dominated, 37-3, and Davis threw for 230 yards and an interception.
Josh McCown, who began the year as the starting quarterback, has battled injuries all season and went on injured reserve in early December. So, for the fourth year in a row, the Browns will start their No. 3 quarterback in Week 17.
The Browns are hoping for a little revenge and pride as they finish the 2015 season. They’re currently in line to pick second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. At 9-6, the Steelers are playing for a spot in the postseason, and are down one game to the Jets, who will face former coach Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
TV: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl
Online: NFL GamePass
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