With the team’s 2026 draft position at stake, many Cleveland Browns fans were hoping for a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that holds little significance for this season but could impact the team’s future
draft standing. Following the Browns’ win, many players spoke out in support of the team and coaching staff’s commitment to winning.
Players like Joel Bitonio understood where the fans are coming from but offered some insight into what goes on in the minds of these players. “As players in this locker room, every time you go on the field, it’s a resume. This is a real sport. This is the NFL. You have to put your best foot forward when you go out there. You have to compete.” Although he empathizes with the fans thinking about the future, he also wants everyone to understand why the players will continue fighting for every single win.
If the team wanted to tank, they would have had to sit veterans like Bitonio and others to achieve that goal it seems. Myles Garrett wasn’t having any talk of tanking:
While a loss would have benefited Cleveland’s draft position, securing a win against a division rival still holds significance. It shows younger members of the roster, including Shedeur Sanders, Carson Schwesinger, and Harold Fannin Jr., the value of establishing culture in this city and the weight these divisional matchups carry. It allows them to experience these wins together so that they can build on them for future seasons.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Should the Browns have tanked the game against the Steelers?
