Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday Night Football Pick

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday Night Football Pick: The Browns have a pretty dang good defense and Pittsburgh is coming off a picture-perfect performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. I think that’s a recipe for upset-watch, but that may be pushing it. It’s not pushing a cover-watch, however, because the Browns are getting two full touchdowns at Pittsburgh. Call me crazy, but I think that’s too many.

The Steelers are tied atop the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens at 9-3. The Browns, of course, are resting solid and heavy at the bottom of the division at 4-8. Pittsburgh has fought through some injuries and turned it around late – they have won three straight and haven’t even gotten their rushing attack going yet. The Browns are losers of two straight, and continue to fall because of a stagnant offense.

Colt McCoy hasn’t had a terrible year, honestly, you look at his numbers and they aren’t bad at all for a 2nd year guy. It’s really the rushing game that is putting the Browns in trouble spots – they can’t rely on much as injuries have limited Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty to just a handful of games a piece. Both are rushing for less than 3.5 yards per carry. It hasn’t been good. To expect Colt McCoy to come in and throw 500 passes in his 2nd season is not something the Browns planned on, you can bet on that.

Still, this team has a solid defense and the passing game is getting better. A couple big plays could keep Cleveland in it, and on Thursday Night, the chances for crazy are upped!

Cleveland Browns (+14) @ Pittsburgh Steelers