2022 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 18
Cleveland Browns (7-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Sunday, January 8, 1:00 PM ET
Mike Tomlin.
That’s it.
Mike Tomlin is flat-out one of the best coaches in the NFL right now and the job he’s done with this young Pittsburgh Steelers core in 2022 has been nothing short of outstanding.
Mike Tomlin should be put into the Hall of Fame without a waiting period. How the Steelers are 8-8 and legitimately in the playoff race is unbelievable
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) January 2, 2023
Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach, there’s no doubt about it, and his team has been able to endure losing TJ Watt for half of the season, growing pains at QB, injuries at QB, trading away Chase Claypool, and ranking dead last with 10 touchdown passes from QBs in 2022.
The Cleveland Browns aren’t in playoff contention but they have won four of their last six games and three of the five that Deshaun Watson has started. Watson hasn’t been playing great, by any means, but he had three touchdowns and no interceptions in Cleveland’s win this past weekend over Washington.
Right now though, I’m not betting against Mike Tomlin’s crew with the way they’ve been playing. They deserve a ton of credit for their resilience this season and although they don’t score in bunches, that’s a team that knows how to take the ball away and play four quarters of tough defense, especially this time of year.
Prediction: Steelers win 21-17