First place in the AFC North is up for grabs as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cleveland Browns. Both teams enter the day at 5-2, with Cleveland holding a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over Pittsburgh. Will they beat the Steelers on the road in a regular season game for the first time since 2003? Our staff weighs in.
Mike Nicastro: The Steelers haven’t lost to the Browns twice in a season in almost three decades, but this year presents a unique challenge. Teams traveling internationally over the last
two seasons are just 1-7 when returning to face a team that did not travel overseas the prior week. That one win was the Broncos last season, when they scored 33 4th quarter points against the Giants to win by 1 point. Fatigue will play a factor, but having home field will help significantly. This is still a Browns team that lost to the Jets on the road, and just went to the wire with the Titans. Won’t be surprised if its ugly, but Pittsburgh rides the run game again into their bye. Steelers 20 Browns 17.
Ryan Parish: The Steelers were the better team in 3 out of 4 quarters the last time these teams met a few weeks ago. Both teams have found a groove since, and they enter the contest at 5-2. Winner leaves the game atop the AFC North. I’ve had a running bit in these predictions that will not change until it stops working. Browns 24-Steelers 23.
Austin Bechtold: The Steelers haven’t lost to the Browns at home in the regular season since I was two. I can’t fathom it happening with how the Steelers defense is playing right now. I’ve been wrong about Patrick Graham and doubted his scheme to a degree early in the season, but if he calls a great gameplan Sunday I’m sold. Aaron Rodgers is playing his best football since 2021. The Browns aren’t the old Browns and I think are better than people are giving credit for. The Steelers do what it takes, and will be in sole possession of first place in the AFC North on Sunday. Steelers 24-18.
Ryland Bickley: This is a series that has been defined by home teams winning as of late, and with the Steelers on a hot streak and playing in Acrisure this Sunday, I don’t expect that to change. Cleveland’s man coverage scheme should once again prove a challenge for the Pittsburgh offense, but the Steelers defense has taken some strides since the last matchup. Steelers 27, Browns 20.
Joey Bray: When these teams take the field on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be exactly one month removed from suffering another loss to the Browns in Cleveland on Thursday Night Football. Since that game, the Steelers have won three straight. I can’t say for certain how much the team has grown since then, as they still have concerns in the secondary on defense and struggles in the red zone as an offense. Unlike last time where the browns jumped out to a big lead early, I think this game will be a close one throughout. The Browns are a much better football team that anyone anticipated entering the season. Todd Monken deserves a ton of credit for the way he has continued to put Deshaun Watson and the offense in positions to win. However, all five of their wins have come on game winning drives, a trend that is unlikely to continue. I’ll take Pittsburgh to get their revenge on Cleveland and go into the bye week with sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Steelers 21, Browns 20.
Jarrett Bailey: I said ahead of the Saints game that I don’t know if the Steelers are a team I’d bank on winning four games in a row, yet here we are after a three-game win streak. The whole “Cleveland hasn’t won in Pittsburgh since 2003” doesn’t necessarily mean much to me in terms of results. Although it does seem to matter when these two teams play in Cleveland that the Steelers turn into the worst versions of themselves. I do think the Steelers win, but I’m not going to take this Browns team lightly. Steelers 20, Browns 16.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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