NFL Week Six: Rivalry Returns Browns vs. Steelers Game of the Week

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One of the NFL’s most intense rivalries will have another moment in week six of the NFL. Although the Browns vs. Steelers rivalry lost a bit of its parity over the last 19 years, the teams appear evenly matched in 2020. The sudden rise of the Browns after a dismal 6-10 2019 season means this game finally has the electric buzz once again. It will certainly be a playoff atmosphere in Pittsburgh for this top game of the week. There are a few other notable games as well.

Game of the Week

Cleveland Browns (4-1) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield lead the Browns to a win over the best defense in the NFL. Cleveland won against the top offense and top defense in terms of points allowed in a two week stretch. Mayfield suffered a moderate rib injury in the second half of that game but it looks like he is ready to start tomorrow. Perhaps this is the year that Cleveland finally gets that elusive win at Pittsburgh. Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh in Cleveland last season and no one will forget the infamous way the game ended. Myles Garrett will surely have a cooler head in this game so there shouldn’t be any expectation that a repeat incident will occur.

Garrett is gaining a new reputation for strip sack fumbles. It wouldn’t be shocking if Garrett knocks the ball out of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s hands.

This is a game of opposite strengths. The Browns have the number one scoring offense in the AFC with 156 points scored. Only the Dallas Cowboys (163 points) and Seattle Seahawks (169 points) scored more than Cleveland so far. However, the Browns gave up 149 points this season which is the most of any AFC North team. However, the Browns defense is starting to turn things around as they are forcing multiple turnovers as of late. In fact, Sheldrick Redwine and Ronnie Harrison both recorded interceptions in the win against Indianapolis last week.

The Steelers on the other hand are similar to the Colts on paper. The Steelers defense is Super Bowl level. However, the offense isn’t doing much as Pittsburgh scored just 118 points compared to the Browns 156. Part of that could be the delay of the game against Tennessee due to COVID-19. Pittsburgh is excellent at preventing running backs from huge gains as they give up only 64 rushing yards per game.

Pittsburgh’s run defense is second best in the NFL. The Steelers give up 237.5 passing yards per game which is 15th in the NFL. Ironically, this game features two of the top run defenses in the NFL as the Browns feature the fourth best run defense in the NFL giving up just 87 rushing yards per game.

Pittsburgh receivers Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster could have big days against the Browns pass defense. The major bad news for the Steelers is that guard David DeCastro is out with an Abs injury.

Prediction

Browns 28 Steelers 24

Green Bay Packers (4-0) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

The Packers look like the next team destined to go to 16-0. Green Bay features the second-best offense in terms of yards gained with 445.5 yards per game. Tampa Bay is struggling with gaining yards as the Buccaneers average just 365 yards per game. However, Tom Brady still completes a lot of passes and scores a lot of touchdowns. Brady passed for 1, 375 yards and 12 touchdowns this year with a quarterback rating of 96.8. He’s not slowing down one bit. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was also very effective as he threw for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns. The surprising part is Rodgers hasn’t thrown a single interception in 2020. Rodgers quarterback rating is 128.4.

Prediction

Packers 45 Buccaneers 31

Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (4-1)

Kansas City and Buffalo are no longer undefeated teams. However, this matchup is still an intriguing one. The Chiefs and Bills offense features plenty of big names: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (KC), Tight End Travis Kelce (KC), Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill (KC), Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC), Quarterback Josh Allen (Buffalo), Wide Receiver Stephon Diggs (Buffalo), Wide Receiver John Brown (Buffalo), and Running Back Devin Singletary (Buffalo). There should be a whole of scoring in this game. This is first Monday Night game for week six. This game will certainly have an impact on the playoff seeding.

Prediction:

Chiefs 38 Bills 31

Enjoy NFL Week 6 folks.