The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns will meet for the first time since their ugly altercation that took place between both teams in Week 11. Ahead of Sunday's contest, Pittsburgh players don't think there will be a hostile environment versus the Browns.
“I don’t feel like it would,” Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree said, referring to the skirmish that came during the final seconds of the Browns’ 21-7 victory on Nov. 14. “Just because the person who did it is not going to play.”
Back in Week 11, with less than a minute remaining in the game, Myles Garrett got involved in a skirmish after the whistle was blown. Then, after almost having his own helmet taken off, Garrett removed Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and hit him with it.
As a result, there were over $700,000 in fines handed out, 33 players fined, and three players were suspended. Among them, Garrett and Maurkice Pouncey will be the only two players involved who won't be in uniform in Week 13.
Rudolph, who was struck by Garrett in Week 11, won't start on Sunday due to being benched in Week 12. In his place, the Steelers will start Devlin “Duck” Hodges for the second time this season.
Heading into Week 13, Pittsburgh is currently the sixth-seed in the AFC playoff picture. Therefore, defeating the Browns to keep their playoff hopes alive would be the ultimate response to the last game between these two teams.
What went overlooked in Cleveland's 21-7 victory over the Steelers was how good the Browns played in that game. Undoubtedly, the Steelers would love to return the favor on Sunday against their AFC North rivals.
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