GameScope NFL research

CLE at PIT uncertain forecast

Sun, Nov 1 at 1:00 PM ET · Acrisure Stadium

Most likely outcome
PIT wins — 66.7%
CLE win
33.3%
PIT win
66.7%

Expected score: CLE 18.9 – PIT 27.3

Total anchored to the league-wide baseline of 46.2 points — a shared baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Home-field adjustment included (+65 Elo rating points)

Fair odds (display only): CLE 3.0 · PIT 1.5

How this forecast is calculated

Team ratings (Elo): CLE 1482.1 vs PIT 1537.9. 393 games trained (Oct 30).

Model: nfl-elo-v2 — Elo ratings trained on real ESPN results (2025 regular+postseason and 2026 regular season to date), chronological replay, K=20, home advantage = 65 Elo rating points, applied only at true home venues: games the feed flags neutral-site get no home bonus, in training and in prediction. Totals baseline is the mean total points of the training games (measured, not assumed). Score-model spread/total probabilities use the engine's bivariate-normal assumptions (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters. No backtest against closing lines exists; treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

What the win probability uses: Elo ratings only, plus a home-field adjustment of 65 Elo rating points at true home venues (no adjustment at feed-flagged neutral sites).

Contextual research (displayed, not in the calculation): Contextual research only — form, rest, injuries, head-to-head, weather, and travel do not change the win probability above.

Totals: Expected scores are centered on a shared league-wide totals baseline of 46.2 points (the mean total of the training games) — a baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Score-distribution assumptions: Spread/total probabilities assume team scores are bivariate normal (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters.

Validation status: No backtest against closing lines exists. Treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

Data used

Form & rest contextual research

CLE (5-2) — 7 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (2 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026TENW27-24
Oct 18, 2026BALW13-10
Oct 11, 2026NYJL12-17
Oct 1, 2026PITW27-24
Sep 27, 2026CARW21-18

PIT (5-2) — 7 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (3 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026NOW16-10
Oct 18, 2026TBW26-19
Oct 11, 2026INDW34-22
Oct 1, 2026CLEL24-27
Sep 27, 2026CINW30-27

Head-to-head contextual research PIT 2 - CLE 3

Coverage: 2024-2026 regular+postseason schedules (ESPN)

DateScoreWinner
Nov 21, 2024CLE 24 - PIT 19CLE
Dec 8, 2024PIT 27 - CLE 14PIT
Oct 12, 2025PIT 23 - CLE 9PIT
Dec 28, 2025CLE 13 - PIT 6CLE
Oct 1, 2026CLE 27 - PIT 24CLE

Injuries contextual research

Week 8 report — applies to this week's game. Designations published for this game week. Game-day inactives can still differ.

CLE

Tytus HowardQuestionableHoward (concussion) didn't participate in Cleveland's practice Wednesday.
Mike Hall Jr.QuestionableHall (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Myles HardenQuestionableHarden (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Jared VerseQuestionableVerse (knee) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Daniel ThomasQuestionablequestionable
Elgton JenkinsQuestionablequestionable
Mason GrahamQuestionablequestionable
Grant DelpitQuestionablequestionable
Carson SchwesingerQuestionableSchwesinger finished Sundays' 27-24 win over the Titans with eight tackles (four solo).
Kalia DavisInjured ReserveDavis (quadriceps) will spend the rest of the 2026 season on injured reserve after his 21-day practice window expired Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Show all 25 (15 more)
Dylan SampsonActiveSampson (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Jerry JeudyActiveNFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports that the Browns are currently "less likely" to trade Jeudy before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Ronnie HickmanActiveHickman registered 10 tackles (six solo) and a fumble recovery during Sundays' 27-24 win over Tennessee.
Quincy WilliamsActiveWilliams finished Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans with 10 tackles (seven solo).
Jaleel McLaughlinActiveMcLaughlin turned five kickoff returns into 117 yards during the Browns' 27-24 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Dillon GabrielActiveThe Browns activated Gabriel (back) from injured reserve Monday.
Taylen GreenActive
Parker BrailsfordActive
Justin JeffersonActive
Noah IgbinogheneActive
Audric EstimeActive
Denzel BostonActiveBoston caught three of eight targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans.
Harold Fannin Jr.ActiveFannin caught six of nine targets for 91 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans.
Deshaun WatsonActiveWatson completed 25 of 36 passes for 308 yards with an interception in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans. He added 19 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
KC ConcepcionActiveConcepcion caught eight of 10 targets for 129 yards and added 23 yards on three carries in Sunday's 27-24 win over Tennessee.

PIT

Ben SkowronekQuestionableSkowronek (calf) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Alex HighsmithQuestionablequestionable
Doneiko SlaughterQuestionablequestionable
Brandin EcholsQuestionablequestionable
Sebastian Joseph-DayInjured ReserveJoseph-Day (triceps) was placed on injured reserve by the Steelers on Thursday, Teresa Varley of the team's official website reports.
Show all 25 (20 more)
Jalen RamseyActive
Payton WilsonActiveWilson totaled six tackles (three solo) and an interception during Pittsburgh's win over the Saints on Sunday.
Patrick QueenActiveQueen compiled 10 tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Pittsburgh's win over the Saints on Sunday.
Germie BernardActiveBernard caught three of five targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints.
Brandon SmithActiveSmith reverted to the Steelers' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Darnell WashingtonActiveWashington caught his lone target for a four-yard touchdown in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints in Paris.
Will HowardActive
Drew AllarActive
Eli HeidenreichActive
Terell SmithActive
Pat FreiermuthActiveFreiermuth caught two of four targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints.
Chris BoswellActiveBoswell made each of his three field-goal attempts and his lone extra-point try in a 16-10 victory over the Saints on Sunday in Paris.
DK MetcalfActiveMetcalf two of six targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints.
Rico DowdleActiveDowdle carried the ball nine times for 41 yards and caught all six of his targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over New Orleans.
Aaron RodgersActiveRodgers completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 passes and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints. He added six yards on three carries.
Jaylen WarrenActiveWarren carried the ball 18 times for 101 yards and caught three of four targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints.
DeShon ElliottActiveElliott (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Saints in Paris.
Mason RudolphActiveRudolph is active for Sunday's game against the Saints in Paris, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
T.J. WattActiveWatt (calf) practiced fully Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Saints.
Jaquan BriskerActiveBrisker posted seven tackles (four solo) during the Steelers' 26-19 overtime win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Labels: Out = confirmed unavailable; Doubtful = projected unavailable; Questionable = projected uncertain.

Weather & travel contextual research

65.5°F, wind 4.0 mph, precip 0.0 mm (next 1h), partlycloudy_day
Forecast for Sun, Nov 1 at 1:00 PM ET (updated Oct 30). Weather data: MET Norway (api.met.no), CC BY 4.0 / NLOD 2.0

Travel (CLE): ~114 miles, no time-zone change

Research only — not betting advice. All probabilities are uncertain forecasts from a simple model, never guarantees or 'locks'. GameScope places no wagers.
Scores/records/injuries: ESPN unofficial API (live). Weather: MET Norway.