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The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round of the 2021 NFL playoffs. The game is scheduled for Sunday, January 10th, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET. The game will air on NBC. If the Steelers win the game, they will face the Bills on the road or Titans or Ravens with home-field advantage in the Divisional round. If the Browns win, they will face the Chiefs, Titans or Ravens on the road.
How the Browns and Steelers got here
The Pittsburgh Steelers started 2020 the season with an 11-0 record for the first time in franchise history. Ben Roethlisberger was playing clean following his return from injury, on a 16-game pace for 4,073 passing yards 36 TDs and 9 INTs through those first 11 games. This defensive unit (despite losing key players Bud Dupree and Devin Bush to ACL tears) held opposing teams to just 312 points on the season (third-fewest), while generating 27 turnovers (2nd) and leading the league with 56 sacks. Following their hot start, the team went on a 1-4 tear to close out the season and will look for a get-right game against their divisional rivals.
Cleveland fans certainly have reason to rejoice. The Browns have secured their first playoff berth since 2002, when they lost to, interestingly enough... the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. Under the leadership of first-year HC Kevin Stefanski, the team finished 11-5, their first winning season since 2007. The team found a big-time spark after a Week 9 bye, finishing out Weeks 10-17 averaging 25.3 points and 392 scrimmage yards per game with just six total turnovers (t2nd-fewest). QB Baker Mayfield shined as Stefanski established the run and alleviated some of the pressure from the former Heisman winner.
The Steelers have played and beat the Browns twice in the post-season, each time with home-field advantage.
How to watch
Date: Sunday, January 10th
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Live stream: NBC Sports
Current odds for Browns vs. Steelers
Point spread: Steelers -4
Point total: 46.5
Moneyline: Steelers -215, Browns +185