Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday night in Cleveland, the Steelers come into their AFC North divisional game against the Browns with their playoff chances sinking fast. Pittsburgh will be looking to halt their mid-season swoon with a 13th consecutive victory over one of the NFL's worst.

Pittsburgh started the season 1-2, but then ran off five consecutive wins to put itself in position to challenge emerging Cincinnati in the AFC North, but a four-game losing streak has the defending Super Bowl Champions desperate for a win.

NFL odds makers like their chances this week as they are listed a heavy road favorite against the 1-11 Browns. The spread in Vegas is sitting at more than two scores as the line is set at, Pittsburgh -10 with the total in the contest at 32.5.

Despite the Steelers recent struggles, this game agianst the Browns may be just what they need to bounce back. Pittsbugh has beaten Cleveland twelve straight times, including a 27-14 victory in Heinz Field earlier this season. Ben Roethlisbeger was 23 of 35 for 417 yards
and two touchdowns in that meeting.

"I can't even describe how frustrating it is right now to be 6-6," linebacker James Farrior said. "We thought we'd be doing a lot better at this point. But we are what our record says we are."

Farrior and the Steelers defense really need to step it up a notch Thursday night. Pittsburgh coughed up three separate leads in the final 8:21 last week, allowing the Oakland Raiders' 31st-ranked offense to score 21 points and leave Heinz Field with a 27-24 win.

For the Browns and quarterback Brady Quinn, things have been getting better, statically anyway. Two of his past three starts have been solid. Quinn threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns in Cleveland's last-second 38-37 loss at Detroit on November 22nd, then had 271 yards and 3 scores Sunday in a 30-23 defeat to San Diego.

Pittsburgh should win this game, but their recent play doesn't make me feel comfortable about giving the points in this one. The Cleveland offense should be able to have some success. Roethlisberger is going to light up the Browns.

Take the over 32.5 points.