Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers Week 17 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/31/2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Cleveland Browns head to Heinz Field to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, December 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 14.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 42. The Browns are 3-12-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 6-9-0. The Steelers are 7-8-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 5-10-0.

Valuable Cleveland Browns Betting Trends

The Cleveland Browns are 6-9-0 against the over/under

The Cleveland Browns are 3-12-0 against the spread

Important Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-10-0 against the over/under

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 7-8-0 against the spread

Key Cleveland Browns Injuries

12/24/17 DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun Knee is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/24/17 WR Matt Hazel Hamstring is "?" Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/19/17 DB Derrick Kindred Wrist IR
11/21/17 DL Emmanuel Ogbah Foot IR
11/21/17 DL Jamie Meder Ankle IR
11/13/17 LB Jamie Collins Sr. MCL IR
10/23/17 OL Joe Thomas Triceps IR
10/03/17 LB Dominique Alexander Knee IR
09/05/17 DB Howard Wilson Knee PUP
08/23/17 LB Tank Carder ACL IR

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

12/25/17 WR Antonio Brown Calf is OUT Sunday vs Cleveland
12/25/17 CB Coty Sensabaugh Undisclosed is "?" Sunday vs Cleveland
12/25/17 G Ramon Foster Concussion is "?" Sunday vs Cleveland
12/25/17 S J.J. Wilcox Undisclosed is "?" Sunday vs Cleveland
12/19/17 RB James Conner Knee IR
12/12/17 LB Ryan Shazier Back IR
09/05/17 LB Keion Adams Shoulder IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cleveland Browns are 32nd in the National Football League in points scored with 210. They have run 945 plays this year for 4,567 yards, which ranks them 28th in the NFL in total offense. The Browns average 4.8 yards per play, which is 27th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 273 1st downs this season, ranking them 23rd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Cleveland has run for 1,611 yards as a unit, which ranks 18th in the league. They've run 357 times, averaging 4.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Browns have been penalized on offense 101 times for 847 yards so far this year, which has them 13th in the NFL in penalties. DeShone Kizer has passed for 2,580 yards this year. He's completed 239 throws while attempting 446 passes for a completion percentage of 53.6%. His quarterback rating this season is 58. He averages 10.8 yards per completion and 5.8 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Cleveland is 31st in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 382. They have given up a total of 4,902 yards on D, which is 13th in the league. The Browns are 8th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense has allowed 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 22nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 337 throws on 498 attempts against the Cleveland Browns defense this season, ranking them 25th and 9th in the league. The Cleveland pass defense has also surrendered a total of 3,460 yards in the air, which is 21st overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 439 attempts for 1,442 yards this season, putting them in 8th place in the NFL against the run. The Browns have had 98 penalties for 891 yards on defense this year. That places them 22nd in the league. They've allowed a score on 36.6% of possessions on defense, which is 20th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Cleveland is 6th in the NFL in punt returns with 37. They've totaled 223 punt return yards and are averaging 6 yards per return, which is 26th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 25 yards. They have returned 31 kicks for 688 yards on special teams, placing them 10th in kick return yardage. The Browns average 22.2 yards per kick return and have a long of 71 yards this season. They are 26th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,745. The Cleveland Browns have tried 19 field goals this season and made 14, which is 30th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 73.7%. Cleveland Browns kickers have made 96% of their extra points, going 22 for 23 this season. Their punters have accumulated 3,622 yards on 77 punts, averaging 47 yards per punt. That ranks them 7th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers have run for 1,439 yards as a team, which ranks 24th in the NFL. They've run 381 times, averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Steelers have been penalized on offense 94 times for 858 yards so far this season, which has them 21st in the league in penalties. They are 12th in the NFL in points scored with 344. They have run 935 plays this season for 5,369 yards, which ranks them 10th in the league in total offense. The Steelers average 5.7 yards per play, which is 7th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 308 1st downs this year, placing them 9th overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger averages 7.6 yards per pass attempt and 11.8 yards per completion. He has completed 340 passes on 532 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.9%. His quarterback rating is 92.2. He has thrown for 4,025 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense has allowed 330 attempts for 1,415 yards this year, putting them in 7th place in the league against the run. Pittsburgh has committed 94 penalties for 884 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 20th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 31.4% of possessions on defense, which is 8th in the league. They are 5th in the league in points allowed on defense with 278. They have surrendered a total of 4,309 yards on D, which is 3rd in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers are ranked 12th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense has given up 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 8th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 273 passes on 452 attempts against the Pittsburgh defense this season, placing them 2nd and 2nd in the National Football League. The Steelers pass defense has also given up a total of 2,894 yards through the air, which is 2nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers have attempted 36 field goals this season and made 33, which is 5th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 91.7%. Pittsburgh kickers have made 94% of their extra points, going 29 for 31 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,476 yards on 57 punts, averaging 43.4 yards per punt. That places them 29th in the NFL in punting average. Pittsburgh is ranked 27th in the league in punt returns with 23. They've accumulated 114 punt return yards and average 5 yards per return, which is 30th in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 16 yards. They have returned 28 kicks for 473 yards on special teams, ranking 30th in kick return yardage. The Steelers average 16.9 yards per kick return and have a long of 38 yards this year. They are 17th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,095.

Who will win tonight's Browns/Steelers NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Steelers -14.5

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