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Steeler Nation is a world-wide army that follows the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers. The Six-Time Super Bowl Champions have a tradition that dictates a standard of excellence, and their fans expect nothing less year in and year out. Those very same ideals translate to the ultimate Pittsburgh Steelers GameDay Preview, an all-inclusive guide that all Steelers fans read weekly to learn everything they need to know about their team and Pittsburgh’s opponent!
Mike Drakulich, the man behind Pittsburgh SportsNation (@PghSportsNation), who covers both Pitt football and the Steelers for NGSC Sports, brings you inside the huddle with a weekly game story, score prediction, game day information, broadcast information, and complete breakdown of each team, complete with stats. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff!
STEELERS OUT TO END THURSDAY NIGHT CURSE VS BROWNS
Thursday night visits to Cleveland have not been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cleveland Browns (2-1) have been dominated by the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) overall since 1990, but are 4-0 against the Steelers at home on Thursday nights, and have won six out the last seven overall in Cleveland.
To boot, the Steelers have lost nine straight divisional road games on Thursday night.
The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, however, and the future Hall of Fame QB is 13-7 on Thursday nights, throwing for 5,126 yards, 46 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.
“The priority group. I think it only takes care of everybody’s obstacles and needs to be on the practice ground here. It’s been a survival for the first three days, and get your body feeling okay, and then you go try to ball out. And then you get a nice weekend off,” Rodgers said of the short week of preparation.
Honestly, who wants to spend the next ten days steaming from a bitter loss?
Motivation, my friend, motivation… and pride.
The Steelers are coming into this game fresh off their best performance of the season, taking down the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 last Sunday.
After a very lackluster start offensively the first two games, Rodgers and his unit was on fire all day, with Rodgers passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns, and the offense piling up 411 yards overall.
Pittsburgh will be looking to build off that game, and keep pace with the rest of the AFC North, as every team in the division has the same 2-1 record.
A win here maintains 1st place, and gives the advantage of tiebreakers later in the season.
The saga of cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. continues, as he will miss his third straight game to begin the year with a “back issue”… which we all know to truly be a contract dispute with one year left on his deal.
Good luck to him, but let’s focus on the players who want to play this week.
To a man, everyone on the Steelers knows what to expect when they travel to Cleveland yearly, which is to say, a hostile environment.
Count Pittsburgh tight end Pat Freiermuth among those who dislike Browns fans.
“Cleveland fans threw beers at my mom after I scored that touchdown,” Freiermuth said. “I’m not a big fan of them. It’s all for the love of the game. My mom enjoyed it. It was all good. No hard feelings.”
Especially since…
“It was when I scored the game-winning touchdown,” Freiermuth said, smiling. “She loved it.”
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen has witnessed the actions of Browns fans many times.
“When you’re playing at Cleveland, it’s always a weird game,” Queen said. “There’s a weird feel, especially night games. They get a little rowdy. Fans be throwing dog food. It’s one of those type of games.”
Despite their recent success over the past seven years, Browns fans still have nightmares thinking back to the Ben Roethlisberger days, where they might as well as called him, “Daddy”, as Big Ben was 12-2-1 vs the Browns by the lake.
“I know the rivalry is tough,” said safety Jaquan Brisker. “I know they hate us. We don’t like them, either. When I was growing up, the Steelers were winning a lot. That’s what I’m used to. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Brisker is a Pittsburgh native, so he knows all about this rivalry from growing up in the Steel City.
As does Cam Heyward…
“We haven’t won in Cleveland on a Thursday night in a while,” said defensive captain Cameron Heyward, a 16th-year veteran. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m really looking forward to them.”
So far this year, Rodgers has passed for 700 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, while being sacked eight times.
DK Metcalf, despite his drops, is still the #1 receiver for Pittsburgh. He’s caught 11 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown. Michael Pittman has five catches for 74 yards. Roman Wilson leads the team with 114 yards receiving off off 11 catches, one for a touchdown. Rookie Germie Bernard has five receptions for 49 yards. The always reliable Ben Skowronek has two catches for 25 yards and a TD.
At tight end, Freiermuth has 11 catches for 108 yards and a score, while Darnell “Mount” Washington has six catches for 92 yards.
Jaylen Warren has had a rock solid start to his year, leading the team with 216 yards rushing, adding 10 catches for 110 yards. Rico Dowdle remains out this week. Travis Homer, Lew Nichols, or Eli Heidenreich all could be in line to back up Warren, but the Steelers have yet to make any corresponding moves to know for sure who will, as of the time of this preview.
The Steelers are averaging 17.7 points a game, while giving up 20 PPG defensively.
The Browns have Deshaun Watson at quarterback. He’s thrown for 587 yards, with five touchdowns and one interception, while being sacked nine times.
Watson has a pair of rookies to rely on in the passing game in Denzel Boston and K.C. Concepcion. Jerry Jeudy is in the mix, too.
Boston has nine catches for a team leading 195 yards and two touchdowns. Concepcion has 12 receptions for 80 yards. Jeudy has just two catches for 26 yards. After those three, the wide receiver depth chart is very murky for Cleveland.
Tight end Harold Fannin, Jr. has 14 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns, while Blake Whiteheart has two receptions for 31 yards and a TD.
Quinshon Judkins is the lead back, rushing for 124 yards, with nine catches for 53 yards. After Judkins, Raheem Sanders will see a carry of two, but mainly he is used out of the backfield, collecting eight caches for 66 yards.
The Browns are coming off a 21-18 win over Carolina, and are averaging 18 points a game, while giving up 23.7 a contest.
So… what Steelers team will troy out on the field this week? Will it be the one that laid on egg with three points against New England, or the one that put up 30 a few days ago?
It’s more likely the latter, as Pittsburgh is playing with a full deck in the receiving room, and the offensive line was drastically better with rookie Max Iheanachor and Brock Hoffman replacing Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson of the left side of the line.
Rodgers didn’t look like your typical 42 year old, either.
“You know,” Rodgers said, “I can still move around a little bit.”
His teammates also know what he is still capable of.
“He’s won four MVPs for a reason,” said DK Metcalf. “He’s a great player. And he still has the ability to get it far down the field or make the right read to get the ball out fast.”
Rodgers picks up where he left off, and finds the end zone twice, while the dynamic Jaylen Warren continues to pile up all-purpose yards, and gets rewarded with a touchdown, or two, of his own this time.
The Steelers defense will focus on keeping Judkins under wraps, and making Watson’s life miserable every time he drops back to pass. There’s not much meat on the bone after Boston, Concepcion, and Fannin, Jr. in the Cleveland passing game, so the secondary had better be up to the task in containing that particular unit.
Game Prediction: Steelers 31 Browns 17
GameDay Information
Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (2-1)
Game-time: Thursday, October 1st, at 8:15 PM.
Venue: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, OH.
- Field: Natural Grass
Vegas line: Steelers -2.5
Weather at kickoff: Cloudy and 77. Winds out of the SSW at 13 MPH.
Broadcast Information
TV: Amazon Prime | Local: WTAE-TV (Xfinity: Channel 804 | Dish: 4 | DirecTV: 4)
- Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play) Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) | Kaylee Hartung (field reporter)
Local Radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM & 970 WBGG-AM
- Announcers: Rob King (play-by-play) Max Starks (analyst) | Missi Matthews (field reporter)
National Radio: Westwood One Sports
- Announcers: Ryan Radtke (play-by-play) Ross Tucker (analysis)
Internet Broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 2-1 (1st in AFC North)
Last game: Steelers 30 Bengals 27
Head Coach: Mike McCarthy
- 1st Season with Steelers
Overall regular-season record: 176-113-2 | 2-1 with Steelers
Playoff record: 11-11
Team Links
Steelers Offense
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Angelichio
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 17.7 (26th)
- Total yards per game: 329 (17th)
- Passing yards per game: 233.3 (16th)
- Rushing yards per game: 95.7 (22nd)
- Time of Possession: 30:31 (15th)
QUARTERBACK
Aaron Rodgers | #8
Passing Yards: 700 | TD Passes: 4 | INT’s: 2 | Sacked: 8
Rushing Yards: 12 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Back-up: Mason Rudolph | #2
Passing Yards: 0 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 0 | Sacked: 0
Rushing Yards: 3 | Rushing TD’s: 0
RUNNING BACKS
Jaylen Warren | #30
Rushing Yards: 216 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 10 | Receiving Yards: 110 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Rico Dowdle* | #13
Rushing Yards: 37 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Riley Nowakowski (FB) | #37
Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Eli Heidenreich | #29
Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Travis Homer | #21
Rushing Yards: 16 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Lew Nichols | #31
Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
WIDE RECEIVERS
D.K. Metcalf | #4
Receptions: 11 | Receiving Yards: 98 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Michael Pittman, Jr. | #11
Receptions: 5| Receiving Yards: 74 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Roman Wilson | #14
Receptions: 11 | Receiving Yards: 114 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Germie Bernard | #17
Receptions: 5 | Receiving Yards: 49 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Kaden Wetjen | #10
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Brian Skowronek | #15
Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 25 | Receiving TD’s: 1
TIGHT ENDS
Pat Freiermuth | #88
Receptions: 11 | Receiving Yards: 108 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Darnell Washington | #80
Receptions: 6 | Receiving Yards: 92 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Robert Tonyan | #85
Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 2 | Receiving TD’s: 0
KICKER
Chris Boswell | #9
Extra Points: 5-5
Field Goals: 6-8
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 1-1
- 30-39 yards: 2-2
- 40-49 yards: 2-2
- 50+ yards: 1-3
OFFENSIVE LINE
LT: Troy Fautanu | #76
LG: Mason McCormick | #66
C: Zach Frazier | #54
RG: Brock Hoffman | #67
RT: Max Iheanachor | #71
Steelers Defense
Defensive Coordinator: Patrick Graham
Defensive System: 3-4
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 20 (11th)
- Total offensive yards per game allowed: 305.7 (7th)
- Passing yards allowed: 192.7 (8th)
- Rushing yards allowed: 113 (18th)
- Sacks: 8 (7th)
- Interceptions: 3 (6th)
DEFENSIVE LINE
DT: Cam Heyward | #97
Tackles: 7 | Sacks: 0
NT: Keeanu Benton | #95
Tackles: 6 | Sacks: 0
DE: Derrick Harmon | #99
Tackles: 12 | Sacks: 1.5
LINEBACKERS
LOLB: T.J. Watt | #90
Tackles: 9 | Sacks: 3.5 | INT: 1 | TD: 1
LILB: Patrick Queen | #6
Tackles: 23 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
RILB: Payton Wilson | #41
Tackles: 23 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
ROLB: Alex Highsmith | #56
Tackles: 6 | Sacks: 3 | INT: 0
OR Nick Herbig | #51
Tackles: 10 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
SECONDARY
LCB: Joey Porter, Jr.* | #24
Tackles: 0 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
OR Asante Samuel, Jr. | #22
Tackles: 8 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
FS: Jaquan Brisker | #3
Tackles: 20 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
SS: Rayshawn Jenkins | #20
Tackles: 15 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
RCB: Jamel Dean | #35
Tackles: 13 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
NB: Jalen Ramsey | #5
Tackles: 17 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
*Injured/Out
Scouting the Cleveland Browns
Overall record: 2-1 (1st in AFC North)
Last game: Browns 21 Panthers 18
Head Coach: Todd Monken
- 1st Season with Cleveland
- Overall regular-season record: 2-1 | 2-1 with Browns
- Playoff Record: 0-0
Team Links
Browns Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 18 (24th)
- Total Offense per game: 283.3 (28th)
- Passing yards per game: 195.7 (27th)
- Rushing yards per game: 87.7 (29th)
- Time of Possession: 28:33 (26th)
QUARTERBACK
Deshaun Watson | #4
Passing Yards: 587 | TD Passes: 5 | INT’s: 1 | Sacked: 9
Rushing Yards: 24 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Back-up: Shedeur Sanders | #2
Passing Yards: 0 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 0 | Sacked: 0
Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
RUNNING BACKS
Quinshon Judkins | #10
Rushing Yards: 124 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 9 | Receiving Yards: 53 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Raheim Sanders | #23
Rushing Yards: 22 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 8 | Receiving Yards: 66 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Jaleel McLaughlin | #38
Rushing Yards: 3 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
WIDE RECEIVERS
Denzel Boston | #12
Receptions: 9 | Receiving Yards: 195 | Receiving TD’s: 2
K.C. Concepcion | #1
Receptions: 12 | Receiving Yards: 80 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Jerry Jeudy | #3
Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 26 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tylan Wallace* | #16
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Isaiah Bond | #0
Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 10 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Malachi Corley| #11
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
TIGHT ENDS
Harold Fannin, Jr. | #44
Receptions: 14 | Receiving Yards: 126 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Blake Whitehurt | #86
Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 31 | Receiving TD’s: 1
KICKER
Andre Szmyt | #25
Extra Points: 4-4
Field Goals: 6-6
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 1-1
- 30-39 yards: 2-2
- 40-49 yards: 2-2
- 50+ yards: 1-1
Browns Defense
Defensive System: 4-3
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 23.7 (18th)
- Total offensive yards per game allowed: 344.3 (22nd)
- Passing yards allowed: 224 (18th)
- Rushing yards allowed: 120.3 (23rd)
- Sacks: 7 (11th)
- Interceptions: 2 (14th)
DEFENSIVE LINE
LDE: Jared Verse | #8
Tackles: 8 | Sacks: 0
DT: Maliek Collins | #96
Tackles: 5 | Sacks: 0
DT: Mason Graham | #94
Tackles: 15 | Sacks: 4
RDE: Isaiah McGuire | #57
Tackles: 9 | Sacks: 1
LINEBACKERS
WILL: Carson Schwesinger | #49
Tackles: 26 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
MIKE: Quincy Williams | #5
Tackles: 19 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
SAM: Eaton Mascarenas-Arnold | #42
Tackles: 0 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
SECONDARY
LCB: Tyson Campbell | #7
Tackles: 12 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
SS: Grant Delpit | #9
Tackles: 12 | Sacks: 1 | INT: 0
FS: Ronnie Hickman | #33
Tackles: 19 | Sacks: 1 | INT: 1
RCB: Denzel Ward | #21
Tackles: 13 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
*Injured/Out
Steelers vs Browns History
Series History: Began in 1950
Overall Record: 81-64-1
- Home: 52-21
- Away: 29-43-1
- Postseason: 2-1
Streak: (1) Browns won the game.
Last regular-season meeting: Browns Win, 13-6 (Dec. 28, 2025)
Last postseason meeting: Browns Win, 48-37 (Jan. 10, 2021)
Final Injury Report (9/30/2026)
Pittsburgh Steelers
IR: S DeShon Elliot
Out: CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/Conditioning/Back), RB Rico Dowdle (Toe)
Doubtful: None
Questionable: CB Jalen Ramsey (Wrist), CB Brandin Echols (Concussion)
Cleveland Browns
IR: N/A
Out: WR Tylan Wallace (Knee), C Elgton Jenkins (Concussion), G Teven Jenkins (Back)
Doubtful: None
Questionable: None
* In designated to return from IR window
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- Your source for Pittsburgh sports!
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From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.
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