Pinkie Previews Thursday Night NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) at Cleveland Browns (1-11)

In the NFL Network’s Thursday night matchup this week, the Steelers and Browns face off in an AFC North game at the Dawg Pound. You can’t really call this a showdown or rivalry, as it has been a completely one-sided affair since the Browns re-entered the league. Pittsburgh was reeled off 12 strait wins over the Brownies, and has a 17-1 series lead since 2001.

Both teams are currently mired in a losing streak, but Pittsburgh’s four-game skid is actually somewhat surprising, as compared to the Browns expected suckiness. With Troy Polamalu becoming a victim of the Madden cover injury curse, Pittsburgh is now on the outside looking in when it comes to the AFC playoff picture. They have dropped games over the past month to the powerhouse Chiefs and Raiders, prompting coach Mike Tomlin to promise personnel changes for this week’s game.

Cleveland’s losing streak has reached seven since they won a 6-3 thriller over Buffalo in week five. Apparently, coach Eric Mangini’s tactic of fining players 1,700 dollars for taking a bottle of water doesn’t make players want to play for him. Imagine that. While the Browns offense had reached a pathetic level of historic proportions over the last few years, the last few weeks the team has at least been competitive, losing by single digits the past three games.

These two teams met back in week six at Heinz Field with Pittsburgh coming out on top 27-14 thanks to Roethlisberger hanging 417 passing yards on the Cleveland D. This time, however, the Steelers most likely wont have Hines Ward (hammy) or Polamalu (knee). Regardless of who sits out because of injuries or coach’s decisions, you have to like the Steelers at home against the ‘Manginius’ and the Browns. Pitt wins 31-14.

Raise your hand if you think taking bottles of water is a cardinal sin.