Overview
- Mike McCarthy said Tuesday he planned to let players sleep at home Wednesday and bus to Cleveland Thursday morning before learning a league rule would bar that plan.
- McCarthy misstated the pregame window as 19 hours while reporting and league documents cite an 18-hour requirement that obliges visiting teams to be in the host city well before kickoff.
- Because of the rule the Steelers will relocate to Cleveland on Wednesday and spend Wednesday night in a team hotel rather than letting players sleep at home.
- McCarthy brings strong short-week credentials to the matchup — reported career records of about 16-6 on short weeks and 17-8 on Thursday games — which he cited in explaining his planning choices.
- The game on Thursday will decide early AFC North positioning between two 2-1 teams and comes with added context that the Steelers have historically struggled in Cleveland on Thursday nights.