NFL Picks Week 8, and media picks for Steelers vs. Browns

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Browns are 3.5-point favorites against the Steelers on Sunday. Here is what the national media is saying about the Week 8 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns:

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) - Browns 27, Steelers 21

This is big game inside the division, but the Browns will be without Baker Mayfield. That means it’s even more pressing that they run the ball. They’ve done it all year, but the Steelers run defense is solid. The Browns defense played better against the Broncos and I think that carries over. Browns take it with Case Keenum at quarterback.

Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer) - Browns 27, Steelers 24

Things we never thought we’d say this season: This is a huge game for teams trying to keep pace with the Ravens and Bengals in the AFC North. The Browns have injuries everywhere, but they still have a defense that ranks third in the NFL in rush defense. If they can keep Najee Harris contained, then the turnovers will come against Ben Roethlisberger. This will be close.

NFL.com (Marc Sessler) - No Pick Made

The Browns took care of business against Denver minus their starting signal-caller in Baker Mayfield, the league’s top ground duo in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, All-Pro tackle Jack Conklin and a host of other humans. Chubb and Conklin are back in practice, but Case Keenum might have to make another start in place of the ailing Mayfield, this time against Pittsburgh’s dark-magic defensive front led by game-wrecking nightmares T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. The Steelers are coming off a bye and hungry to erase memories of January’s hyper-ugly wild-card melt at the hands of a Browns team that’s currently in a vicious battle with the injury bug. The underrated absence of rookie defender Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (ankle) strips Cleveland of a laser-quick X-factor who doubles as Pro Football Focus’ third-ranked linebacker. Yes, Pittsburgh’s offense is tough on the eyes with Stone Age pony Ben Roethlisberger chucking quick-release lobs, but the weaponry — Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool — is proven, while rookie runner Najee Harris is a willing, do-everything workhorse out of the backfield. Superstitious types will note that Cleveland is roughly 0-26 when Jim Nantz and Tony Romo call the action. (“Uh-oh, Jim! I think Big Ben’s still got it!” — Romo, definitely at some point on Sunday.) Prepare for a Halloween nail-biter in which Pittsburgh attempts to fill Cleveland’s bag with candy apples doused in kerosene.

Below are our Week 8 NFL staff picks: