First place in the AFC North is on the line when the surprising Cleveland Browns visit the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Week 8 NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Both teams enter their 1 p.m. ET contest on Nov. 1 with multiple-game winning streaks and identical 5-2 records. Cleveland won the Week 4 meeting, 27-24, and is positioned as a 3.5-point road underdog on NFL odds at Prime Sportsbook.
NFL Games Today and Tonight
With four NFL teams having a bye in Week 8 the slate of football games on Sunday is limited to 12. Seven divisional matchups take place with the Cleveland-Pittsburgh game having the most at stake. The AFC North showdown is one of eight games in the 1 p.m. ET window on Nov. 1. Philadelphia and Washington are the teams who play football tonight.
Who Plays Football Tonight?
- Teams looking to stay afloat in the NFC East hookup on Sunday night with Philadelphia looking to end a 5-game slide visiting the Washington Commanders.
- The NFL betting week concludes on Monday with NFC contenders Chicago and Seattle battling. The Bears have won two straight, scoring at least 30 points since Caleb Williams returned to the lineup.
Top NFL Matchups to Watch Today
- Seven divisional matchups highlight the weekly schedule with all of them having playoff implications. The AFC West game between Denver and Kansas City is also for first place.
- There are no games bigger than this one with the winner taking sole possession of first in the AFC North. Pittsburgh has won three straight and Cleveland won its last two.
NFL Odds for Today’s Games
Pittsburgh is the favorite on the early NFL odds, laying 3.5-points while the total of 39.5 points is the lowest on the Week 8 board. The teams combined for 51 points in their Week 4 meeting easily cashing the OVER.
NFL Moneyline and Point Spread Odds
- Riding a 3-game winning streak and playing at home where they’ve won the last 22 regular season games against Cleveland has Pittsburgh as a 3.5-point NFL odds favorite.
- Pittsburgh’s moneyline price of -188 gives them an implied win probability of between 64 and 66 percent. The Browns are +163 on the moneyline.
NFL Totals and Over/Under Lines
- The game total surfaced at 39.5 points, the smallest on the weekly board, with the OVER juiced at -113. The UNDER is priced at -103.
- Historically the scores in the series have been low with four of five games cashing the UNDER before the teams combined for 51 points in Week 4.
NFL Matchup Previews
The NFL teams are closely matched in several key statistical categories and they also boast the same 5-2 record. While we typically see teams get a bye after playing an international game, that’s not the case for the Steelers, who could be impacted by travel to France.
Offense vs. Defense Matchups
- Returning from injury last week Quinshon Judkins rushed for 96 yards and 2 TDs. He faces a stiff test against Pittsburgh’s 7th-ranked run defense.
- Some have questioned the starting QBs, but they have delivered. Deshaun Watson is coming off his first 300-yard passing game while Aaron Rodgers has the fourth-most TD passes in the NFL.
Key Matchup Advantages
- The Steelers have an advantage on offense, especially at home. They scored at least 30 points in each of their last two home games while the Browns average 18 points on the road.
- Protecting Deshaun Watson is key for Cleveland against Pittsburgh’s aggressive pass rush. The Browns have allowed a league-high 25 sacks
NFL Players to Watch Today
Quarterback play will tell us a lot about the outcome of this game making Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson NFL players to watch. Rodgers has an abundance of big-game experience and will look to avenge an earlier loss to the Browns when he tossed a pair of interceptions.
Quarterbacks and Offensive Playmakers
- The move to stick with Deshaun Watson has paid off so far for the Browns. His numbers aren’t overwhelming, but the club has been efficient and its winning games.
- Quinshon Judkins is a key piece for the Browns. If he can successfully run the ball the heat is taken off Watson in the passing game against Pittsburgh’s pass rushers.
Defensive Players Who Could Impact the Game
- Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt has been a disruptor posting 5.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL’s and an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
- In the first game between the teams the Browns sacked Aaron Rodgers five times and picked off two passes. Watch Denzel Ward, who leads the team with two picks.
NFL Stats to Know Before Today’s Games
The biggest NFL stat to know ahead of this game is Pittsburgh’s regular season home field dominance over the Browns. The Steelers have won 22 straight home games in the series with their last home loss coming in the 2003 season. The NFL players have changed over the years but the results have remained similar.
Offensive and Defensive NFL Stats
- One huge discrepancy in the NFL stats is in the passing game. The Browns rank 30th in passing efficiency, while the Steelers rank 6th in opponent passer rating and 5th in dropback success rate.
- The Steelers have scored 30+ points in a game twice this season with both coming in the last two home games. In those games Rodgers threw for 533 yards and six TDs. Two or Rodgers’ five INTs came in the Week 4 game at Cleveland.
Recent Team and Player Trends
- Pittsburgh brings a 3-game winning streak into the contest and they’ve been profitable with payouts in all three.
- Cleveland has won two straight and five of their last six covering the NFL betting line in all five of their victories.
NFL Lines and Betting Movement
Pittsburgh is holding steady as a 3.5-point favorite on the NFL lines. Home field dominance has outweighed Pittsburgh’s recent travel to and from France. There has been movement on the total with the number spiking a point to 39.5.
Opening Lines vs. Current NFL Lines
- The opening point spread of Pittsburgh -3.5 has held firm with oddsmakers hesitant to move off the hook.
- The opening total of 38.5 is low for a NFL football game. Though both clubs have stingy defenses and history dictates a low scoring game, the total was bet up to 39.5 points.
What Can Move NFL Odds Before Kickoff?
- Several factors can lead to NFL lines shifting before kickoff. Key injuries are a big reason, but weather conditions for outdoor games and betting volume can also play a role.
NFL Predictions for Today’s Games
Consensus model data and expert analysts favor the Steelers at home to win and cover the 3.5-point NFL odds spread. However, AFC North games are almost always close and backing them to cover is risky.
Predictions for Today’s Top NFL Games
- Being 5-2 with a minus-13 point differential is hard to do. All five Cleveland wins were by four points or less with each of the last three by a field goal.
- That close game luck tends to even out and with the Steelers looking to avenge a loss in Week 4 and carrying a 22-game regular season home winning streak into the matchup, back Pittsburgh.
Potential Upsets to Watch
- We saw Houston lose as a big favorite last week playing a week after an International Series game. Catching the jet-lagged Steelers in a compromising spot and creating turnovers like they did in Week 4 is Cleveland’s path to an upset.
NFL Betting Angles for Today
Divisional matchups are always difficult to handicap and there are underlying factors that will affect NFL lines, like Pittsburgh returning a week after playing a game and France and the Steelers dominant regular season home field advantage.
Spread and Moneyline Betting Angles
- Even though they are 5-2 the Browns have failed to consistently produce on offense and their five wins have been by a combined 16 points.
- Pittsburgh is getting a majority of action at the betting window but oddsmakers have held firm with a 3.5-point spread. Instead the Steelers are more expensive on the moneyline.
Player Prop Betting Angles
- With a defensive battle expected the prop lines are relatively conservative for veteran QBs Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers.
- Cleveland kicker Andre Szmyt has hit the OVER on his made field goals in 11 of his last 15 games. He’s made multiple field goals in six straight games, including the game winner to beat Pittsburgh in Week 4.
Final NFL Games Today Outlook
Advanced metrics are showing the Browns are ready for a collapse. They’ve won all five games by four points or less and they are 5-1 in one-score games overall. The offense isn’t equipped to hold up against stronger defenses, which is why backing the Steelers at home stands out as the best NFL tonight pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Plays Football Tonight in the NFL?
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A key interconference matchup takes place in the early Sunday window at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 25 when the NFC East-leading New York Giants visit the Houston Texans, who have won their last two games. The Sunday schedule concludes with another interconference tilt between recent Super Bowl champions Kansas City and Seattle.
Where Can I Find NFL Odds for Today’s Games?
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Major online sportsbooks like Prime Sportsbook have complete NFL betting lines for every game, including the Giants at Texans. At the time of this writing Houston was positioned as the biggest favorite on the weekly board at -10.
What NFL Stats Are Most Important Before Betting?
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One of the biggest NFL stats to key on for this game is the pass rush / protection numbers. Houston has the third-most sacks in the NFL while the Giants have a 28 percent pressure rate allowed. That will force the Giants to alter their game plan which could lead to mistakes.
Why Do NFL Lines Change Before a Game?
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Several factors can force movement in NFL betting lines, including injuries and roster updates, weather conditions and betting volume.
Which NFL Players Should I Watch in Today’s Games?
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Not known for an explosive passing game, the Texans boast the fourth-best pass attack in the NFL behind C.J. Stroud, who has three 300-yard passing games and is second in the NFL in total passing yards.
