Thursday Night pick

Well, due to unforeseen circumstances involving buses, government paperwork, a defective computer and it's defective operator (not me I might add) Extra Credit was missed yesterday and will have to skipped this week unfortunately. What I can squeeze into my schedule is my Thursday Night pick for week 14: Steelers @ Browns -- This is an uglier pick than you might imagine. The temptation is to flatly anoint the Steelers as victors. But the Browns do have a few tricks up their sleeve. Take for example their return game. Josh Cribbs has a penchant for explosive plays on punt and kick returns. The Steelers meanwhile have a penchant for giving up big plays when covering punts and kicks. Even if any resulting score (or scores) don't contribute immensely to the points tally, the overall field position gains on each drive could. It makes it easier for the Browns, harder for the Steelers. And Brady Quinn and his offense hardly need much help of late. If I had got round to doing extra credit, Quinn would have got his fair helping. 3 TDs and nearly 300 yards of offense is pretty good for most teams. Given the Browns record of late, it's downright exceptional. They still haven't developed a proper and consistent downfield game to WR Mohamed Massaquoi, but they're getting there. Gradually. Very gradually. And just to make life easier, the Steelers defense is having a few troubles lately. I'm not entirely convinced by the doom and gloom predictions that a lot of people are touting, but it can't be overlooked that the Steelers Cornerbacks are yet to generate an interception this season. Looking at the Steelers scores over the their recent games, you can see how an interception or two might have helped them out a little. But there is hope. With change supposedly in the air in Pittsburgh, they may just be about to revive their running game and return to true Steeler football. That means less sacks, less interceptions, more time run off the clock and more rest for their defense. All these things could contribute to a much improved Steelers team. The playoffs are not completely out of sight, but they need to turn things around in Ohio this week. I think they will. Steelers win.