Yahoo Sports NFL high-ranking writers Terez Paylor and Charles Robinson each pick a week 17 game that will get us going by Monday.
Paylor’s must
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
There is no shortage of good decisions this weekend, but we have to choose Pittsburgh-Cleveland.
With a win, the Browns can secure their first playoff spot since the 2002 season and ensure the NFL ends its two longest active drought in the same season (Tampa has already occupied its playoff spot in the NFC)
The Steelers have already won the AFC North but can secure the conference’s number two with a Buffalo win and a home loss to Miami.
This is a huge game for the Browns who have the chance to finish with 11 wins in their first year of their Andrew Berry-Kevin Stefanski partnership. This would be a big step forward for such a dying franchise and a sign that the lost days of the franchise are finally behind them. With as much progress as this season, many Browns fans who missed the playoffs this postseason – after losing to the terrible Jets last week – would feel very much like Same Ol ‘Browns, even if they didn’t Case is.
Robinson’s must
Steelers at Browns
Sure, Pittsburgh sits among a number of key players and doesn’t have much to play other than reaching number 2 and adding some momentum to the postseason. This is still a game of pride – including the first meeting between Brown’s defensive end Myles Garrett and Steeler’s quarterback Mason Rudolph since last season’s ugly argument.
In addition, this is a monumentally important game in the advancement of Cleveland’s franchise. The year was too good to end the postseason with two losses to the Jets and an extremely understaffed Steelers team.
COVID infection problems or not, the Browns need this win to confirm all the best that has happened this year. Period.
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