Steelers-Browns NFL Playoff Game: What You Need To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA — There's no way the Cleveland Browns should be able to beat the Steelers in their NFL wild card playoff game on Sunday. But do you recall hearing a similar sentiment being expressed last month just before the Steelers experienced that horrible loss to the terrible Cincinnati Bengals?

The Browns clinched a playoff spot last weekend by narrowly defeating the Steelers in Cleveland. But the Steelers essentially were locked into their playoff seed and rested regulars such as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey, defensive lineman and linebacker T.J. Watt.

Those players will be in the lineup on Sunday, and the Browns will be without head coach Kevin Stefanski and Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio, both of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus. Those losses obviously are significant for Cleveland.

However, the 11-5 Browns will be on an emotional high as they make their first playoff appearance since 2002. The 12-4 Steelers have played one half of good football in the past five weeks in a victory against the Indianapolis Colts after starting the season with an 11-0 record.

And as Steelers fans witnessed last month against the Bengals, there's no such thing as an automatic win in the NFL.

Here's what you need to know about the game:

• Where: Heinz Field
• When: Sunday, 8:15 p.m.
• Forecast: Partly cloudy, temperatures in the mid-30s.
• Favored: Steelers by 6, according to Oddsshark.com
• Last meeting: Jan. 3, 2021, Browns won 24-22.
• All-time series: Steelers lead, 77-60-1
• Streak: Browns won the last game against the Steelers.
• TV: NBC, with Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth.
• Radio: WDVE-FM, with Bill Hillgrove and Tunch Ilkin.