With the Baltimore Ravens running away with the division, both Cleveland and Pittsburgh have been left scrambling for a wildcard spot and the latter has so far done a much better job of it.

Despite having to rely on their third string quarterback at times, Pittsburgh is 5-4 for the season and has won the last four straight games to move in second place in the AFC North.

Trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick in Week 2 has revolutionised Pittsburgh’s defense and it may well have rescued their season. Since arriving in Pennsylvania from Miami, the safety has already notched up five interceptions, the last of which was returned for a touchdown in the 17-12 win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Devin Bush has had a similarly big impact on the Steelers’ defense, which currently ranks sixth in the league in terms of points allowed per game and yards per play.

Pittsburgh has racked up 26 takeaways so far this season after registering just 15 in the whole of last year, but while its defense has developed into one of the most dominant unit in the league, its offense continues to struggle.

The Steelers are fifth from bottom in terms of both total yards per game and yards per play and Mason Rudolph admitted the Steelers have been too reliant on their defense.

“They [the defense] are playing like the 1985 [Chicago] Bears,” the Steelers quarterback was quoted as saying by the Associated Press after the win over the Rams. “They are forcing turnovers every other series it seems like. We understand it’s a team game. We’re getting there. Today was a big step.”

Luckily for Rudolph and the Steelers, Cleveland’s offensive struggles have been almost as omnipresent as Pittsburgh’s. The Browns have one of the worst red-zone offenses in the NFL and average a paltry 19 points per game this season, the seventh-worst scoring offense in the league.

Cleveland found a way to get out jail against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak to improve to 3-6 and keep their slim hopes of playoffs alive. The bubble of expectations and hype that surrounded the Browns in the offseason has long been burst but a win against the Steelers on Thursday, would keep them in contention for the playoffs for at least another week.

After Thursday, Cleveland faces a relatively easily schedule, with a trip to Pittsburgh in Week 13 sandwiched in between home games against Miami and the still winless Cincinnati Bengals. If they can make it count, the Browns may just have a chance of playing football in January.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of Thursday.

When and where is the game?

The Cleveland Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, November 14.

Kick-off is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.

TV coverage

Live stream

Form

Cleveland snapped a four-game losing streak with a 19-16 win over the Bills in Week 10 but remains third in the AFC North standings with a 3-6 record behind Pittsburgh.

The Steelers racked up a fourth straight win on Sunday, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 17-12 to move to 5-4.

Series record

The Steelers have the edge in the all-time series, with 78 wins to the Browns’ 58 and have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two, including both games last season.

Odds

According to Oddschecker, the Browns are a three-point favorite and are 21/20 to cover the spread, while the Steelers are 13/10 underdogs.

The over/under line in terms of points scored is set at 40.