The war of words that surrounded the season series between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers reached a fever pitch in the aftermath of Cleveland’s 27-6 loss on Sunday. Browns head coach Todd Monken felt the need to address the back-and-forth again on Monday, with a more measured take that it’s time to let the play do the talking.
But now, even more people are getting into the mix. With the win, Pittsburgh took sole possession of first place in the division, and Cleveland fell into third.
Yet Browns legend Hanford Dixon is sending a warning to Steelers fans, saying that their team isn’t going to stay there.
“Not only did you beat up on us, you beat up on us bad. Right now, you deserve to be at the top of the AFC North. But don’t get too comfortable up there, ’cause you’re not gonna be there for long, OK?” Dixon said.
"Don't get too comfortable up there, 'cause you're not gonna be there for long, okay?" #DawgPound@HanfordDixon29 responds to the Steelers fans calling him out. pic.twitter.com/Ij5DOwU7eq
— BIGPLAY Cleveland (@BIGPLAYcle) November 2, 2026
It’s not quite Jared Verse saying the Browns would dominate the Steelers and then going out and making just one tackle, but it’s a bold take from Dixon nonetheless. Pittsburgh is the defending division champion and has won it 10 times since it was formed in the 2002 realignment.
Meanwhile, Cleveland has never won it and has finished last 16 times. The Browns were in first place this late in a season just once, back in 2014.
So, maybe Dixon means someone else will knock the 6-2 Steelers from their lofty perch. The Cincinnati Bengals are 5-2, with two games remaining against the 5-3 Browns. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens are 4-4 but, because of injuries, are down to an undrafted free agent quarterback for at least the next couple of weeks.
So, the division is still there for the taking for Cleveland, if it can rebound from this discouraging loss. The Browns have the easiest remaining schedule among AFC North teams, and the ninth easiest in the league overall, resuming with a visit to the New Orleans Saints in Week 9.
Verse got way ahead of himself with his remarks leading up to the game, and the veteran Steelers made sure that he and the Browns paid a price for them, but there is plenty of time for Dixon to be proven right in the weeks ahead.
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