Sunday, November 20, 2016

FirstEnergy Stadium

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The Pittsburgh Steelers travel to FirstEnergy Stadium to play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, November 20, 2016. The opening line for this game has Pittsburgh as 8.5 point favorites and the over/under was set at 49.5. The Steelers are 4-5-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-6-0. The Browns have an over/under record of 6-4-0 and they are 2-8-0 against the spread.

Ben Roethlisberger finished with 408 yards through the air for Pittsburgh last week. He completed 37 passes out of 46 attempts for a 80% completion percentage. The Steelers were led in rushing by Le'Veon Bell, who finished with 57 yards on 17 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 3 yards per carry. Antonio Brown was the team leader in receiving with a total of 154 yards and 14 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 11 yards per reception. As a team in that game Pittsburgh got a total of 30 first downs. Of those first downs, 5 came on the ground while 22 came through the air. They ran 66 total plays for 448 yards for the game. The Steelers ran for 48 yards on 19 attempts.

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Cody Kessler finished with 91 yards passing for Cleveland last week. He went 11 for 18, resulting in a 61% completion percentage. The Browns were led on the ground by Isaiah Crowell, who finished with 23 yards on 9 carries. He ended the game with an average of 3 yards per rush. Terrelle Pryor led the team in receiving with 48 yards and 5 catches. He finished the game with an average of 10 yards per reception. Cleveland had 11 first downs total. 1 came from running the ball and 9 came from a pass. They ran 48 total plays for 144 yards for the contest. The Browns ran for 33 yards on 13 carries as a team.

Pittsburgh scores 24 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 15th in the NFL. In the passing department, they average 26 passes on 41 attempts for a 63% completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 279 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 4th in the league. The Steelers run for an average of 91 yards per game on 22 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per carry. That ranks them 25th in the league. They also run 64 plays per contest and average 5.8 yards per play for an average of 370 yards per game, ranking their offense 11th overall this season. The Steelers average 20 first downs per game which ranks them 18th in the NFL. They accumulate 64.3 penalty yards per game via 6.6 penalties, which ranks 22nd in the league.

Pittsburgh allows 278 passing yards per game, ranking 28th, and they allow 23 points per contest on defense, which ranks 14th. They give up 25 completions on 37 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 68%. The Steelers allow 103 rushing yards per game on 24 carries for an average of 4.3 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 16th in the NFL. Pittsburgh allows 381 total yards per game including 6.1 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 25th in terms of yards per game. They get flagged for 7.4 penalties for 63.3 yards per game, ranking them 16th among NFL teams.

Cleveland averages 18 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 29th in the league. In the passing department, they complete 22 passes per game on 36 attempts for a 61% completion percentage. They throw for 222 yards through the air per game, ranking them 27th. The Browns run for an average of 99 yards per game on 21 attempts for an average of 4.7 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 21st on the ground. They also run 60 plays per game and average 5.4 yards per play for a total of 321 yards per game, ranking them 28th in the league on offense. The Browns get an average of 18 first downs per game, which ranks 31st. They average 48.3 penalty yards per game via 6.3 penalties, ranking them 27th in the NFL.

Cleveland allows an average of 275 passing yards per game, which ranks 27th in the league. Their defense overall allows 30 points per contest, which has them ranked 31st. They give up 23 completions on 34 attempts for a completion percentage of 68% per game. The Browns allow 144 rushing yards per contest on 32 carries for a 4.5 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 31st in the NFL. Cleveland allows 419 total yards per game for an average of 6.2 yards per play, which ranks 31st in the league. They force 5.8 penalties for 54 yards in each contest, ranking 10th.

Pittsburgh Betting Trends

Pittsburgh is 3-6-0 against the over/under this season

Pittsburgh has an ATS record of 4-5-0 this season

Cleveland Betting Trends

Cleveland is 6-4-0 against the over/under this season

Cleveland has an ATS record of 2-8-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh

11/15/16 DE Cameron Heyward Pectoral out for season
11/15/16 WR Darrius Heyward-Bey Foot expected to miss Sunday vs. Cleveland
11/15/16 LB Steven Johnson Ankle IR
11/15/16 S Shamarko Thomas Groin doubtful Sunday vs. Cleveland
11/13/16 LB Bud Dupree Groin "?" Sunday vs. Cleveland
11/13/16 S Jordan Dangerfield Groin "?" Sunday vs. Cleveland
11/13/16 WR Markus Wheaton Shoulder "?" Sunday vs. Cleveland
11/11/16 RB DeAngelo Williams Knee out indefinitely
11/08/16 C Cody Wallace Knee IR
10/08/16 T Ryan Harris Shin IR
10/08/16 CB Senquez Golson Foot IR
08/17/16 QB Bruce Gradkowski Hamstring IR
08/11/16 WR Martavis Bryant Suspension out for season

Cleveland

11/13/16 DB Jamar Taylor Groin "?" Sunday vs. Pittsburgh
10/17/16 DB Jordan Poyer Kidney IR
10/14/16 OL Joel Bitonio Foot IR
10/12/16 C Austin Reiter ACL IR
09/29/16 WR Josh Gordon Personal out indefinitely
09/24/16 K Patrick Murray Knee IR
09/12/16 QB Robert Griffin III Shoulder IR
09/02/16 DL Desmond Bryant Pectoral IR

Josh's Pick: Take Pittsburgh -8.5

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