If you were to tell me that the Cleveland Browns would enter Week 4 with a 2-1 record and the opportunity to be in first place in the AFC North in a rebuilding year, no one would believe you, especially after Week 1. However, it is true.
Many experts (including myself) didn’t believe that the Browns would have a winning record early on this season. The opening day loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars left fans thinking whether or not this team would win a single game but somehow, Cleveland was able to string
together two straight victories over NFC South opponents in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers.
Fast forward to this week and the Browns have a rare opportunity in front of them.
If you were to ask Steelers fans or Browns fans if this game is important, you might get different answers. For Cleveland fans, this game is important. The players and the coaching staff also understand the importance of this game.
To be honest, we don’t know if Pittsburgh is a good football team. Their wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals weren’t overly impressive, and this team has flaws that can be exploited.
As for the Browns, we thought we knew this team isn’t making the playoffs, but this team isn’t as bad as people thought they were, so everything is possible. Offensively, Cleveland has talent, but the limitations are due to the quarterback position. The offensive line appears to be ahead of schedule, and the skill position group is talented.
Defensively, the Browns don’t have star defensive end Myles Garrett anymore, but defensive tackle Mason Graham is starting to emerge as a star, cornerback Denzel Ward is still playing at an elite level, and defensive end Jared Verse is finding his groove and making an impact. Collectively, this is a team that has talent but is unproven.
Winning Thursday Night Football will not only be big for the team, but the team has an opportunity to send a statement. Cleveland may not be a playoff contender, but this early in the season, this game could change a lot of opinions. A win against a division rival on a national stage will get the national media’s attention.
The Browns are on the right track in terms of their rebuild, but if you want to get people to start talking about you and take you somewhat seriously, Thursday night is the opportunity for it. Thursday’s night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers should be viewed as an opportunity for the Cleveland Browns to prove that they aren’t “the same old Browns.”
A new chapter in an old rivalry.
What do you think Thursday Night Football means for the Browns-Steelers rivalry?
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
