The AFC North lead will be on the line Thursday night when the 2-1 Cleveland Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field, with both clubs arriving after Week 3 upset victories. No matter what happens elsewhere, the winner will enter Week 5 alone atop a division in which every team owns a winning record.
Key takeaways
- Pittsburgh has won just once in Cleveland since 2018, including three defeats in Thursday night road games.
- The Browns bring the NFL’s second-best quarterback pressure rate at 42.2%, led by rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham’s four sacks.
- Aaron Rodgers threw for 30-point Pittsburgh’s offense against Cincinnati, including two first-quarter touchdown passes on throws traveling at least 20 yards in the air.
- Deshaun Watson has posted consecutive wins with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions, a rare Browns quarterback accomplishment over the past 35 seasons.
- Both offensive lines could be affected by injury, with Cleveland center Elgton Jenkins in concussion protocol and Pittsburgh defensive back Jalen Ramsey managing a broken wrist.
Pittsburgh faces a difficult Cleveland history
The Steelers’ trip to Cleveland has become one of their toughest annual assignments. Pittsburgh is 1-7 on the road against the Browns since 2018, and Thursday games have accounted for three of those losses. The Steelers also managed only six points in a rain-soaked visit to Huntington Bank Field late last season.
Mike McCarthy will make his first prime-time appearance as head coach of his hometown team while trying to end that pattern. McCarthy won seven consecutive Thursday games during his time coaching the Cowboys. He has explored every potential advantage for this matchup, even considering a game-day bus ride before deciding against it.
Pittsburgh’s offense comes in after putting up 30 points against the Bengals, but Thursday will offer a sharper test. Since the start of the 2025 season, the Steelers have averaged 31.7 points per game against Cincinnati but only 20.9 against every other opponent.
Rodgers, now 42, delivered one of his strongest performances since joining Pittsburgh before last season. He matched his highest total of passing yards under pressure in a game since Week 10 of the 2020 season. After going 0-for-9 on deep attempts over the first two weeks, he completed two touchdown throws of 20-plus air yards in the opening quarter against Cincinnati.
Jaylen Warren could be central to Pittsburgh’s response if Cleveland consistently collapses the pocket. With Rico Dowdle unavailable against Cincinnati because of a toe injury, Warren produced a career-best 176 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches and forced 10 missed tackles. The Browns, however, have been much tougher up front than their record-setting offense may suggest.
Playing without Myles Garrett, Cleveland still ranks second in the NFL in pressure percentage. Graham, selected fifth overall in the 2025 draft, has four sacks through three games, tied for the league’s second-highest total. A disruptive interior rush could create major problems for Rodgers and force Pittsburgh to lean more heavily on its ground attack.
Watson, Cleveland offense seek another step forward
Cleveland’s 2-1 start has been driven more by results than offensive production. The Browns sit among the league’s bottom five in total offense, passing yards, rushing yards, third-down conversion rate and red-zone touchdown percentage.
Still, Watson has helped produce back-to-back victories while throwing multiple touchdown passes without an interception in each game. He is only the fourth Cleveland quarterback over the last 35 seasons to accomplish that in consecutive wins. Against Carolina in Week 3, Watson also had his most productive rushing outing of the season, carrying 11 times for 45 yards.
His mobility may again be vital against Pittsburgh’s front. The Steelers can rotate T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Cameron Heyward against a Browns offensive line that may be without Jenkins. Pittsburgh second-year defensive tackle Derrick Harmon also arrives after sealing the Bengals win with a strip-sack of Joe Burrow.
Todd Monken’s offense has developing options around Watson. Rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion were each limited to two catches against Carolina, but both remain promising young targets. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has emerged as one of the league’s better young players at his position, while Cleveland also needs more impact from a running game led by Quinshon Judkins.
The Steelers’ secondary bears watching as well. Ramsey disclosed Tuesday that he has a broken wrist, although the eight-time Pro Bowl defensive back has not ruled himself out for Thursday night. Cleveland will need Watson’s off-schedule plays, improved protection and a more effective rushing attack if it is to turn its surprising start into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
