With two weeks left in the regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are knocking on the door of their first AFC North title since 2020. Standing in their way?
The Cleveland Browns - a team that’s trudging through another tough campaign and currently projected to land a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But even in a down year, divisional games rarely come easy, and the Browns still have a few cards to play - including a rookie quarterback who's starting to show flashes of something real.
Let’s break down what to watch for in this Week 17 matchup, with insights on Cleveland’s young signal-caller, the state of the Browns’ rebuild, and whether Myles Garrett could make history - against Pittsburgh, no less.
Shedeur Sanders: A Work in Progress, But Worth Watching
Shedeur Sanders has five starts under his belt now, and while the Browns’ record doesn’t reflect it, there are signs that he’s starting to settle in. The rookie’s biggest issue so far?
Processing speed. He tends to hang onto the ball just a beat too long, which has led to some tough sacks and missed opportunities.
On third-and-long, he still occasionally drifts backward under pressure rather than stepping up or checking down - a habit that’ll need fixing.
But here’s the thing: Sanders isn’t exactly working with a dream setup. He’s operating behind a patchwork offensive line and throwing to a receiving corps that would struggle to crack the two-deep on most rosters.
Despite that, he’s shown poise, escapability, and a willingness to stand in and deliver throws even when he knows he’s about to take a hit. He throws a clean deep ball and has a knack for keeping plays alive, encouraging his receivers to work back to him when things break down.
Is he the long-term answer in Cleveland? That’s still TBD.
If the Browns fall in love with a quarterback in the 2026 draft, they’re not going to pass just because Sanders has shown flashes. But in a perfect world, Sanders continues to develop and earns the job outright - allowing Cleveland to use those premium picks to shore up the offensive line and add real weapons on the outside.
Kevin Stefanski: Staying the Course or Time for a Change?
Kevin Stefanski has two winning seasons and a pair of Coach of the Year awards on his résumé, but the Browns could be staring down their second straight three-win season. That’s usually the kind of stretch that gets people fired. But in Cleveland’s case, things are a little more complicated.
The Browns’ front office has been riding with Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry longer than any regime in recent memory. That continuity has been intentional - a shift from the quick-trigger approach that defined the early years of this ownership group. And behind the scenes, there’s a sense that the franchise is still digging out from the Deshaun Watson trade, a move that cost them multiple first-round picks and left the quarterback room in a long-term bind.
In other words, the struggles aren’t all on Stefanski. And while a coaching change is always on the table in the NFL, especially after back-to-back rough seasons, the feeling is that Cleveland may lean toward stability - at least for now.
Myles Garrett Chasing History - Against the Steelers?
Myles Garrett is sitting just one sack shy of breaking the single-season sack record shared by T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan. And yes, the irony of him potentially doing it against Watt’s Steelers is not lost on anyone.
Pittsburgh did a solid job neutralizing Cleveland’s pass rush in the first meeting, relying on quick throws from Aaron Rodgers to keep Garrett at bay. But if Garrett can get home this time - and break the record in front of the home crowd - it would be a rare bright spot in a season that’s been short on them. For Browns fans, it’s less about who the opponent is and more about giving the fans something to remember.
Under-the-Radar Browns to Watch
If you’re looking for a few names to keep an eye on outside the usual suspects, start with wide receiver Isaiah Bond. He’s averaging 19.3 yards per reception - a full six yards more than the next closest Browns receiver, Jerry Jeudy. Bond’s chemistry with Sanders on deep shots has been one of the few consistent sparks in Cleveland’s offense, and he’s emerging as a legitimate field-stretching threat.
On the defensive side, rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been a tackling machine. He leads the team with 137 tackles and has posted double-digit stops in six straight games. He’s not flying under the radar much longer, but his impact in the middle of the defense has been one of the few bright spots as injuries have taken their toll on the unit.
Draft Position vs. Playing Spoiler
Now here’s the million-dollar question: Would Browns fans rather spoil Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes or improve their draft stock?
It’s a fair debate, but given the current playoff picture, even a win over the Steelers might not be enough to knock them out. Pittsburgh would need to lose both of their final games and get help from Baltimore for that door to close. So from a Cleveland perspective, a win might feel good in the moment - but it could cost them a shot at the No. 2 pick.
That’s why many Browns fans are leaning toward the long game. Last week’s close loss to Buffalo was the blueprint: show some promise from Sanders, compete hard, but still walk away with a better draft slot.
It may sound like a tough pill to swallow, but when you’re building for the future, every bit of draft capital matters. And with teams like the Giants and Raiders playing each other this week, the Browns could move up the board with a loss.
Final Thoughts
This game might not have playoff implications for both sides, but there’s still plenty at stake. For the Steelers, it’s about locking in a division title and keeping momentum heading into January. For the Browns, it’s another chance to evaluate their young quarterback, see which pieces are worth building around, and maybe - just maybe - give the home crowd something to cheer for before the long offseason begins.
Either way, it’s Steelers-Browns. And in this rivalry, nothing ever comes easy.