Jordan DeFigio, @fidgenewton
Somehow, we've made it to the final game of the 2020 NFL season, and we find ourselves in unusual territory - the Cleveland Browns are playing a meaningful game to fight for a playoff spot against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kickoff is at First Energy Stadium on Sunday, January 3rd at 1:00pm on CBS.
Here's what we can look forward to.
MATCHUPS AT A GLANCE
A LOT of inactives and injuries and pandemic woes. The Browns have been struggling to keep their facilities open the past couple weeks thanks to Covid wreaking havoc on their organization. Luckily for them, their wide receivers were taken off the Covid list and cleared to practice. Not-so-luckily for them, Denzel Ward, Harrison Bryant, and Malcolm Smith all tested positive just a few days ago so they won't be suiting up for Cleveland tomorrow. Nick Harris will be right there with them due to a knee injury, and Tae Davis, Kendall Lamm, Sione Takitaki, and Wyatt Teller are all questionable with various injuries.
The Steelers have had to wage their own battle with coronavirus, and just today placed Joe Haden (who tested positive) on the Covid/Reserve list along with Eric Ebron and Cassius Marsh, who were deemed close contacts of Haden's (thanks to a leaked video that revealed he had them and their families over to his house - that's a whole other thing). But that's not all; Chris Boswell will sit with an injured groin, and Terrell Edmunds will sit with an injured shoulder. We'll see a lot of Cam Sutton in his place, and hopefully with Haden out, Steven Nelson and Minkah Fitzpatrick can be the studs we know they are and prevent Baker Mayfield from having himself a game. Mayfield has been in his own head quite a bit lately; his play has communicated as much. So he'll either continue to struggle against the Steelers or find his mojo once again to lift the Browns to a spot in the playoffs.
This game means everything for the Browns, who are on the brink of making the playoffs for the first time since 2002. But this game means very little for the Steelers, and they've chosen to sit their biggest names - TJ Watt, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward and Ben Roethlisberger - to be safe.
So you know what that means.
You've seen it somewhere by now.
The rematch of Mason Rudolph and Myles Garrett.
Honestly? Who the hell cares? Rudolph is the Steelers' second string quarterback and struggled greatly against the Browns in his last start (23/44, 221 yards, 1 touchdown, and a whopping 4 interceptions and 4 sacks). The Steelers are doing nothing more than playing to preserve their starters, see what Rudolph can do, and hopefully level more disappointment upon the heads of the Cleveland Browns. So let the Browns and their media spin whatever narrative they want. This is of no consequence for the Steelers. Ideally, they win. But if not, they can look ahead to wild card weekend - which very well could be against the Browns.
JORDAN'S PREDICTIONS
We're going to see another game full of frustration and aggravation and hard hits. I really don't think Rudolph will be able to lead the Steelers to a victory in this one, given the amount of starters who are sitting either because of injuries, Covid, or preservation. Either the Steelers will lose at the hands of a hungry Cleveland team, or the Browns will sabotage their playoff chances and lose the game. But I don't think the Steelers will pull out a win, and we'll see a final score of 28-17 Cleveland.
FINAL MUSINGS
Baker Mayfield finally passed Ben Roethlisberger as the winningest quarterback at First Energy Stadium and he won't lose that status any time soon, since Roethlisberger won't get the start tomorrow.
What are your predictions for the game tomorrow? Let us know in the comments below.
#SteelerNation
