The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) and Cleveland Browns (2-8) are set to clash on “Thursday Night Football” to kick off Week 12. The Steelers lead the AFC North and are riding a five-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Browns have lost two in a row and are looking to play spoiler in arguably the most fiercely contested division in the NFL.
Russell Wilson‘s renaissance season continues. After entering the season with an injured calf, Wilson has won his first four starts as the Steelers’ starting quarterback. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback has been impressive at times throughout his first month under center, and has tossed six touchdowns to just two interceptions in those four starts.
Although the Steelers offense failed to score a touchdown in Sunday’s 18-16 win over the Ravens, the defense led the way in the victory. They held reigning MVP – and 2024 MVP candidate – Lamar Jackson to just 207 passing yards and 46 rushing yards.
The Browns will start Jameis Winston at quarterback for the fourth straight week. The former No. 1 overall pick has performed well since Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury. In Sunday’s 35-14 loss to the Saints, he completed 30 of 46 passes (65.2%) for 395 yards and two touchdowns.
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates heading into and throughout Thursday night’s Browns vs. Steelers game.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
DO YOU LIKE FOOTBALL? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox
Pittsburgh can’t take advantage of the turnover, handing the ball back to the Browns after getting stuffed on fourth-and-1, once again. This time it’s Jaylen Warren that can’t get the job done and Cleveland takes over at the Pittsburgh 45.
After a slow start, Cleveland has done everything right. That was until Cedric Tillman coughed up the ball just over a minute into the half, following a hit from DeShon Elliott. Pittsburgh takes over at their own 34.
George Pickens gets tangled up with Martin Emerson Jr., but the flag doesn’t come out. Pittsburgh could’ve had a shot at a field goal, but instead watch as Russell Wilson is sacked by Myles Garrett to put an end to the half. Garrett closes the half with four tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and maybe a partridge in a pear tree.
Cleveland turns the Russell Wilson fumble into three, as Dustin Hopkins has no issues kicking through the snow. He’s good from 34 yards out and leaves just 40 seconds on the clock for the Steelers to operate.
Looking to answer the Browns’ touchdown drive, Russell Wilson ends the Pittsburgh drive quickly as Myles Garrett forces a fumble on second down. Cleveland is set up nicely with another scoring opportunity, taking over at the Steelers’ 31.
The Browns have found their footing and cap off a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown courtesy of Nick Chubb. It’s the running back’s second of the season in his fifth game back. Jerry Jeudy did most of the work on this drive, hauling in three receptions for 39 yards. Jameis Winston looked more comfortable and Chubb also kept the series alive with a fourth down run.
A 10-play, 89-yard drive ends with Chris Boswell knocking through a 48-yard field goal to give the Steelers the lead. The weather didn’t seem to be an issue on this attempt, or the 43-yarder he made before the team committed a false start that backed them up. Pittsburgh is undoubtedly handling the conditions better than Cleveland to start this game, as Russell Wilson connected with Calvin Austin III for the big play, a 46-yard catch-and-run to set them up.
The AFC North brand is strong. After 15 minutes of action, the game remains scoreless. While many will be quick to blame it on the weather, this is just good, old-fashioned Steelers-Browns football.
The Browns knew it was coming. The fans in the stadium knew it was coming. Everyone at home knew it was coming. Regardless, the Steelers opted to try a run on fourth-and-2 with Justin Fields and he was, unsurprisingly, dropped behind the line for a turnover on downs. Arthur Smith won’t be winning many awards with that play call.
Unlike Jameis Winston’s speeches, this Browns drive lacked both excitement and imagination. A quick three-and-out saw Cleveland travel two yards in reverse, leading to our first Corey Bojorquez sighting of the night. The wind had its way with the punt, as Bojorquez shanked one that traveled just 12 yards. Pittsburgh’s Damontae Kazee must’ve felt bad for the punter, however, as he opted to block the Browns’ gunner into the bench, resulting in a 15-yard penalty. Had the bench not been there, Kazee would’ve sent the Browns’ player for a swim in the lake.
Pittsburgh was able to move the ball on the opening drive, but it ends abruptly as Myles Garrett buries Russell Wilson for a third down sack. Chris Boswell trots on for a 58-yard try and pushes it right, keeping the game scoreless as the flurries continue to fall.
The Browns and Steelers game will kick off Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season with “Thursday Night Football” at 8:15 p.m. ET.
“Thursday Night Football” will exclusively stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Prime Video, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.
The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame shows feature Charissa Thompson as host, as well as former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.
Taylor Rooks is the feature reporter for Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage. Albert Breer provides reports and analysis.
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 12 “TNF” matchup between the Browns and Steelers will shape up:
The Steelers are favorites to defeat the Browns, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds and Monday Night Football odds.
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
FEELING LUCKY? Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week
The Browns vs. Steelers game is expected to be played in less-than-favorable conditions at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Thursday night. Temperatures will drop as low as 36 degrees Fahrenheit during the game while there is a 90% chance of precipitation during the game, per Weather.com.
There will be snow early in Thursday’s game. There is a Winter Weather Advisory for Cuyahoga County, which lists possible accumulation of 3-5 inches of snow. The current forecast suggests that the heaviest snow will be falling in the 7 and 8 p.m. ET hours, right before and during the start of the game.
The Steelers enter the Week 12 “TNF” showdown in first place in the AFC North. They sit two games ahead of the Ravens in the loss column. Meanwhile, the Browns are in last place in the division.
With seven weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL season, the playoff contenders are coming into sharp focus. At top, nine teams have 90% chances or better of earning one of the 14 playoff slots.
Two teams on opposite ends of the playoff spectrum kick off Week 12 schedule on Thursday night.
Here are all 32 teams’ chances of making the playoffs this season and how a win or loss this weekend would raise or lower those chances. — Jim Sergent
These AFC North rival opponents have met 145 times, including three playoff matchups. Pittsburgh leads the all-time matchup with a 81-63-1 record. The Steelers have won two of the last three meetings.
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.
The Steelers’ last Super Bowl triumph came during the 2008 season, when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. The Browns are among four NFL teams that have never appeared in a Super Bowl.
NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:
➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game
The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand initially reported that Michaels’ contract would be for three years and “north of $30 million,” but that number may have gone up. About one week after that first report, in March 2022, Marchand shared that the Amazon deal would be “in the Joe Buck neighborhood.” Buck signed a five-year, $75 million deal ($15 million annually) with ESPN earlier that same month.
Here’s how the first round of the 2025 NFL draft stacks up entering Week 12:
Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox. 📲
Get the latest news, expert analysis, game insights and the must-see moments from the NFL conveniently delivered to your email inbox. Sign up now!
Check out the latest edition …
➤ Best (and worst) from NFL Week 11: Bills have ’72 Dolphins popping champagne🍾
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
