The Cleveland Browns gave their fans an unexpected taste of success by winning five of their first seven games, all in dramatic fashion. It was an exciting start to the 2026 season, which seemed to prove that the team was way ahead of schedule in its rebuild.
Instead of looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, there were thoughts of playoff games. But after talking the talk, the Browns failed to walk the walk against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday and lost their grip on first place in the AFC North.
Coming out of the discouraging 27-6 defeat, Cleveland legend Hanford Dixon is sending a strong message to Browns fans, telling them not to give up on the team after that one loss.
“Don’t give up on the Browns. I mean, sure, we had a setback. Don’t give up on them. We’re going to be OK. Now, if the same thing happens this week in New Orleans, then I don’t know, then we got something to talk about. Right now, don’t you god*****it give up on us,” Dixon said.
"Don't give up on the Browns. I mean, sure, we had a setback. Now, if the same thing happens this week in New Orleans, then I don't know, then we got something to talk about. Right now, don't you goddamn it give up on us." #DawgPound
– @HanfordDixon29 https://t.co/leof0dBn4k pic.twitter.com/xrY06bLuK9
— BIGPLAY Cleveland (@BIGPLAYcle) November 2, 2026
That may be easier said than done, because the disheartening loss wasn’t just to any team. It was to the hated rival Steelers, who had no problem making Jared Verse eat his words, embarrassing him during the game and then mocking him afterward.
After defeating the Steelers 27-24 at Huntington Bank Field in Week 4, fans had to think this was finally going to be the year that the Browns were going to win a regular-season game at Pittsburgh. Instead, that losing streak grew to 23 games, which tied an ugly NFL record.
Even worse, the Browns couldn’t sweep a season series from the Steelers for the first time since 1988. Cleveland also fell into third place in the AFC North, after being in first place this late in a season for just the second time since 1994.
The Browns had given their fans plenty of reasons to believe that this year was going to be different, which is why this weekend hurt more than it usually would. Yet, as Dixon said, there are reasons to remain positive.
Cleveland has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NFL, and if they can get back on track against the New Orleans Saints, all of the good things that seemed within reach will be possible again.
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