The Browns’ trip to Pittsburgh in Week 8 comes with more than just divisional weight. It comes with a stat that makes Cleveland’s drought in that building feel even more unreal.
As the Browns prepare for a matchup that arrives before their Week 9 bye, The Athletic’s Zac Jackson pointed out that 16 players on Cleveland’s 53-man roster were not yet born the last time the Browns won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh.
"Sixteen players on the Browns' 53-man roster were not yet born the last time the Browns won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh," Jackson shared.
That last regular-season win at Pittsburgh came on October 5, 2003, when Cleveland beat the Steelers 33-13. Since then, the Browns have gone 20 straight games in Pittsburgh without a regular-season victory.
The roster now includes several young players who fit that timeline perfectly. Spencer Fano, who is 21, and 22-year-olds Isaiah Bond, Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Harold Fannin Jr., Quinshon Judkins, Emmanuel McNeill-Warren, Toriano Pride Jr., Parker Brailsford, and Dylan Sampson were all born after that 2003 win.
So while Cleveland enters the game at 5-2 after a comeback win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, the backdrop in Pittsburgh remains stubbornly the same. The Browns are still sitting atop the AFC North for now, and this matchup gives them a chance to do something they have not done in over two decades.
The drought is older than a good chunk of the roster, even if this team did experience a playoff win over Pittsburgh in 2021, a 48-37 thriller. But in the regular season, Cleveland’s wait has stretched to 23 years, and this group heads into Week 8 with what looks like its best shot to change that.
In Other News...
Steelers Finally Have A Defensive Trend Fans Can Believe In
For a defense that has spent much of the season looking for something stable to build around, Week 7 offered a promising glimpse in the middle of the field. Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen were central to the Steelers' best work against the Saints, with both linebackers showing up against the run and helping keep New Orleans from finding any easy answers through the air.
Wilson was active around the ball all afternoon, stacking up run stops and making a big play that flipped field position. Queen was just as busy, finishing with 10 tackles, a pass breakup and a sack while staying disciplined in coverage, a stretch of play that gave Pittsburgh a clear reason to think this pairing can anchor a more dependable defensive trend going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers 5-2 Start Feels Good Until This Familiar Concern Returns
A 5-2 start is exactly the kind of cushion the Steelers wanted heading toward the bye, especially with a chance to get to 6-2 before the break. The defense under Patrick Graham has done enough to keep the club in position, and the overall vibe around the team is positive enough to make the standings look better than they have in a while.
Still, the same old offensive unease keeps creeping back into the discussion, and that is what makes this stretch feel so familiar. Mike McCarthys group is searching for a clear identity, with the attack seemingly pulled in different directions, while the bigger concern is whether this is just another promising November setup that leaves the Steelers wondering about the same issues once the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Cant Ignore This Secondary Problem Much Longer
The Steelers defensive front gave them something to feel good about in Paris, where they held the Saints to 10 points and again showed how disruptive their pass rush and line play can be when everything is clicking. But even with that kind of performance, the back end still looks like the area that could keep this defense from fully settling in, especially after the trade that left them without a true boundary corner.
Pittsburgh can survive a lot when the front is winning the fight up front, but the secondary has become the lingering question opponents will keep testing. Cornerback remains the obvious spot to monitor, and while the idea of adding help is already circulating, the Steelers have not done anything yet to suggest the answer is coming quickly. [Read more 🡒]