Browns vs. Steelers injury report, odds: Ben Roethlisberger never been home underdog vs. Cleveland; with huge spread swing in Heinz Field finale never will be

The Cleveland Browns are out of the playoffs and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be as well if they lose at home on Monday to their rivals -- the AFC North was clinched by Cincinnati on Sunday. It's also expected to be the final game at Heinz Field for Steelers quarterback and first-ballot Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. Cleveland had been a 3-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook but with the Browns eliminated from playoff contention Sunday, the Steelers are now -2. Click here for model picks. 

Even if Roethlisberger wanted to return next season – and he most likely won't; he basically admitted last week that Monday would be it for him at Heinz Field – it's clearly time for the Steelers and Big Ben to part company. You hear rumors of Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson being traded to Pittsburgh this offseason because neither Mason Rudolph nor Dwayne Haskins appears to be Roethlisberger's long-term replacement.

Big Ben grew up a Browns fans and of course starred at Miami of Ohio. To this day, he still holds a grudge that Cleveland didn't select him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft but instead Miami (Fla.) tight end Kellen Winslow II. That was obviously a colossal mistake. Roethlisberger improved to 24-3-1 against the Browns (including playoffs) as a starter with a 15-10 win in Week 8. He threw for 266 yards and a TD.

Big Ben is 12-0 at home vs. Cleveland in the regular season but did lose at home in last season's playoffs to the Browns. This was going to be the first time he was a home underdog vs. Cleveland until that massive spread swing with the Browns now having nothing to play for. They were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday when the Chargers beat the Broncos.

It's frankly amazing that the Steelers are even 2-3 in their past five games considering they haven't scored a first-half touchdown in any of them. The team hasn't had that type of drought since 1940. That Pittsburgh scores a TD in the first half Monday is -300 via SportsLine oddsmakers with no at +200.

Big Ben will get back tight end Pat Freiermuth after he missed Week 16 with a concussion. Pittsburgh gets a wild-card spot if it wins out, the Colts lose Week 18 to the Jaguars (obviously not likely) and provided the Raiders-Chargers game doesn't end in a tie.

Cleveland will be down both its starting safeties, John Johnson III (hamstring) and Ronnie Harrison Jr. (ankle), on Monday. On the bright side, in the last week or so the team has added 11 players to its active roster off COVID protocols or injured reserve. Backup running back Kareem Hunt is likely to play for the first time since Dec. 12.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will the Steelers score a first-half TD?

• Yes -300
• No +200

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