Going into the 2026 season, the expectations for the Cleveland Browns were low. A first-time head coach, Myles Garrett in Inglewood, a surplus of young offensive talent, but uncertainty at the quarterback position. A young, talented team but with valid question marks. Fast forward to late October, the Browns have a rare opportunity in front of them. The team is 5-2 despite question marks on how legitimate the start is, but Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn’t be viewed as a litmus
test between the two AFC North rivals.
Both the Browns and the Steelers are 5-2, but Cleveland being 5-2 is more of a surprise than Pittsburgh. The last time these two teams played was a Thursday night game off the shores of Lake Erie, but the final score doesn’t indicate how close the actual game was. The Browns were the better team throughout the game, and it felt as if there was a shift in how this rivalry was going to go.
The Steelers are not a bad football team; if anything, they are above average. Roster-wise, it’s essentially the same as last season but slightly better and a little older. Pittsburgh’s ceiling is a fringe playoff team, and if they were to make it, don’t expect them to win a game.
However, Sunday’s game against the Steelers shouldn’t be viewed as a litmus test for the Cleveland Browns.
For the Browns it’s more about proving that things are changing than how good of a team they actually are. The win over the Steelers in Week 4 was a slight shift. Yes, Cleveland has beaten Pittsburgh at home more frequently, but this season’s win felt different. The Browns, not the Steelers, were the aggressors throughout the game. Pittsburgh found a way to make it close, but Cleveland found a way to win.
The Browns might not have a higher ceiling this season, but they are set up well enough for a better future than the Steelers due to their upside in terms of youth and talent.
If Cleveland were to lose on Sunday, it wouldn’t matter as much because Pittsburgh shouldn’t be the standard for what the Browns want to be. If anything, it should be for what Cleveland should avoid: Being a middle-of-the-pack team with no upside is something most teams should avoid.
Sunday’s game is important for both teams, but the Steelers have more pressure to win than the Browns due to what’s at stake for them. Overall, Sunday’s game is important, but it shouldn’t be viewed as a litmus test, just a vital game in the present in the AFC North.
How would you describe Sunday’s Browns-Steelers matchup?
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