4 reasons Browns will stomp Steelers, make playoffs for 1st time since 2002

3 reasons the Browns will beat the Steelers in the regular-season finale.

The Browns haven’t played this important of a game against the hated Steelers since January 2003, when Kelly Holcomb threw for over 400 yards and Cleveland still lost a wild card game to Pittsburgh on the road.

Week 17 is not the postseason, but the regular-season finale might as well be a playoff contest to end the franchise’s 17-season playoff drought.

If they win, it’s so simple: They’re in. Lose, and you start rooting for other scenarios to unfold. If the  unthinkable happens, the Browns would need to the Jags to beat the Colts in one scenario. That seems unlikely, so if that doesn’t happen, you’d be looking at a scenario where the Texans would need to get by the Titans, while also hoping the Dolphins beat the Bills and Baltimore extinguishes Cincinnati.

ESPN currently gives the Browns a 53 percent chance of making the playoffs.

That said, Vegas feels a little bit better about the Browns odds and that they’ll be playing a paired down Steelers roster, as the Browns were immediate 7.5 points favorites to beat Pittsburgh.

Here’s three reasons the Browns will beat their dreaded turnpike rival and make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.