The Cleveland Browns have turned the tables on a lot of their dubious past so far this season. They are off to one of the best starts in franchise history and are at the top of their division this late in the season for just the second time in more than three decades.
Now, they will try to take another huge step in this regard when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The Browns will be trying to sweep the Steelers for the first time since 1988, and win a regular season game at their stadium for the first time in 23 years.
Even though those are some very daunting odds, former NFL coach Jon Gruden is predicting that the Browns will defeat the Steelers, based on their recent success in all three phases.
“They’re doing it with offense, defense, special teams. I’m picking the Browns, man, to exorcise all these demons and prove we are for real,” Gruden said.
Cleveland has lost its last five games at Pittsburgh, since a 48-37 playoff win on Jan. 10, 2021. The Browns have lost 22 straight regular-season games there, dating to a 33-13 win on Oct. 5, 2003.
The Browns have had recent chances to sweep the Steelers, winning the first meeting in 2022 and 2024. But those home victories were followed by the annual road loss.
Now, after a 27-24 home victory on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, Cleveland has another chance to end these troubling streaks. As Gruden said, the Browns do have a very good chance to do so, as their offense has rallied in each of their five victories, their defense has rounded back into form, and their special teams have come through when needed.
Cleveland’s players seem to believe, too, with defensive end Jared Verse predicting that the Browns will “dominate” on Sunday. That could be a serious misstep on his part, as it could motivate the Steelers beyond the normal level of this heated rivalry.
If the Browns can reverse yet another troubling trend and get to 6-2, they will have an excellent chance to win their division for the first time since being reinstated into the NFL in 1999.
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