Cleveland @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 7, Cleveland 21

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns are meeting again, just two-plus weeks after an ugly brawl that left three players suspended and 33 paying fines. The two principals from that altercation likely won't see the field when the Steelers host the Browns on Sunday.

Cleveland's 21-7 home win over Pittsburgh in Week 11 was marred by an ugly brawl that included Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ripping off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and swinging it at him, leading to an indefinite suspension for Garrett that was upheld upon appeal and a fine for Rudolph. Garrett won't be around for the rematch and Rudolph will be on the sideline after he was benched in favor of backup Devlin "Duck" Hodges in last week's 16-10 victory over lowly Cincinnati. "We met as a staff, we decided that we're going to start Duck this week," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. "Really, the decision is clear for us. ... I thought he provided us a spark in-game. I'm hopeful that he's capable of continuing to provide that spark as we step into this stadium." Pittsburgh and Cleveland are both fighting for a wild-card spot and the winner of Sunday's matchup will have the upper hand in a tight race that features five teams within one game of the No. 6 slot in the AFC.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Browns -1. O/U: 39

ABOUT THE BROWNS (5-6): Cleveland thrust itself back into the race with wins in three straight games and enjoyed its best offensive day of the season in a 41-24 drubbing of the Miami Dolphins at home last week. Quarterback Baker Mayfield owns seven touchdown passes and one interception in the last three games and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. snapped a string of eight straight games without a TD reception in the win over Miami, and coach Freddie Kitchens is trying to make sure the outside noise doesn't distract from the progress. "I want them to go in with one thing and one thing only on their minds, and that is to do their job, and anything that overshadows that in any way is not acceptable and it is not the best for the team," Kitchens told reporters. "I want guys to show up ready to do their job. All of that other stuff is just fluff. It is just fluff to give people things to talk about leading up to Sunday."

ABOUT THE STEELERS (6-5): Rudolph threw four interceptions in the loss at Cleveland and was 8-of-16 for 85 yards and a pick before being replaced against the Bengals, while Hodges threw for 118 yards and the team's lone touchdown against Cincinnati. "You'll make more out of Duck's contributions than need be, but so be it. It comes with the position," Tomlin told reporters. "They get too much credit at times, and they get too much blame at times. They all understand the nature of that, just like I understand the nature of the criticism and things that come with my position." Hodges could again be without the services of running back James Conner (shoulder) and wide receiver JuJu Schuster-Smith (concussion, knee), who aren't practicing this week and are officially questionable.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Steelers CB Artie Burns (knee) did not practice Wednesday and is questionable.

2. Browns OT Greg Robinson was placed in the concussion protocol on Wednesday and is questionable.

3. Cleveland is looking for its first win at Pittsburgh since 2003.

PREDICTION: Browns 27, Steelers 24