Why the Pittsburgh Steelers might rest players against Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) could clinch their AFC North title since 2020 before they even step onto the field to face the Cleveland Browns (3-12) on Sunday, but they’ll need a little help.

A Baltimore Ravens (7-8) loss versus the Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) on Saturday night would be enough to do the trick in Week 16. If indeed Pittsburgh is crowned in the North, then the Browns could be facing a whole different bunch of players on Sunday.

When asked this Tuesday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin admitted that wrapping up the division could lead to a few personnel changes before their Sundays tilt on the road at Cleveland.

"You know, it may," said Tomlin to the media. "I hadn't thought about it at all, to be quite honest with you, I just found out this morning that that [Ravens-Packers] game is Saturday night. I just learned to be tunnel-vision over the years. But as I sit here and make plans today for tomorrow in the effort to lay a foundation, to engineer victory, that's something that's of very little relevance to me today. I have plenty of time to ponder those things after we get a little bit more solid about preparing ourselves to play the Cleveland Browns."

However, the Browns already know they’ll be facing a shorthanded offense.

One one side, they have 100 percent certainty that they will not see Pittsburgh’s top wide receiver, DK Metcalf, after he was suspended for the final two matches of the regular season after a sideline physical altercation involving a Detroit Lions’ fan at Ford Field.

Additionally, the Steelers could also be without their other starting wideout, Calvin Austin III, who exited the Detroit game with a hamstring injury and did not return.

Backup running back Kenneth Gainwell is currently Pittsburgh’s leading pass-catcher, with 62 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns, though there is no doubt the Steelers lose the ability to stretch the field without Metcalf or Austin in the lineup.

Even if Austin is healthy enough to play the Browns, there would be no reason for him to trot out onto the field if Baltimore happens to lose to Green Bay. Nor would there be any logic in having Aaron Rodgers slinging passes, which means Mason Rudolph could be playing when Myles Garrett pursues the sack needed to establish a new NFL single season record. That would be something.

Should the Ravens prevail against the Packers, then a Steelers’ victory over the Browns would be enough to crown them in the AFC North, sending Cleveland -- eliminated from contention ages ago -- a little step closer towards the first overall pick in next year’s draft.