For the first time since 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers would clinch the AFC North with a victory over the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Week 17.
The Steelers have played their best football of the year during their current three-game win streak, which most recently featured a thrilling road win over the Detroit Lions that came down to the last play of the contest on a (somewhat) controversial call by the officiating crew.
Cleveland, on the other hand, has lost four games in a row and is sitting at 3-12. Star rookie running back Quinshon Judkins is also out for the rest of the year after dislocating his ankle and fracturing his fibula last week against the Buffalo Bills.
With that, let’s take a look at three reasons why the Steelers could defeat Cleveland and become the division champions this weekend.
Ancillary WRs Step Up
With DK Metcalf suspended for the rest of the regular season after a fan altercation at Ford Field and Calvin Austin III’s status up in the air due to a hamstring injury, Pittsburgh is going to need its depth options at wide receiver to step their games up against a fantastic Browns defense.
Kenneth Gainwell will likely remain Aaron Rodgers’ top target after logging 78 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown catch against Detroit, but Adam Thielen should get plenty of looks as well after recording 49 yards on four receptions in that game.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling let a deep ball from Rodgers go right through his hands that otherwise would’ve been a touchdown vs. the Lions, but he found the end zone the week prior against the Miami Dolphins.
Scotty Miller had some moments too with three catches for 19 yards, and perhaps Roman Wilson will be active once again.
Regardless of who is on the field or gets a majority of the opportunities, Pittsburgh will need them at the top of their games.
Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook (60) defends in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Dylan Cook Has Another Strong Performance
Myles Garrett is just one sack away from tying T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5.
He’d surely love to match, or even best, that total against a division rival in the Steelers, which will provide Dylan Cook with the toughest matchup he’s had up to this point in his brief NFL career.
Cook, who made his regular season debut vs. the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 and started the following two games at left tackle, has allowed just four pressures and one sack across 152 snaps at the position.
Garrett’s the runaway favorite to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, so the odds are stacked against Cook despite how well he’s performed up to this point, but just slowing him down a little bit off the edge would go a long way towards helping Pittsburgh secure the win.
Steelers Stifle Cleveland’s Ground Game
With Derrick Harmon back in the fold following a three-game absence due to a knee injury, the Steelers are once again a well-oiled machine when it comes to stopping the run.
Detroit, who has one of the top running backs in the league in Jahmyr Gibbs, posted an abysmal 15 yards on 12 carries against Pittsburgh.
Without Judkins, the Browns will likely rely on a fellow rookie in Dylan Sampson to shoulder the road in the run game, and the Steelers have all the pieces necessary to shut him down.
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