Here's how the OBR team is thinking about the Browns chances as they get ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers and the noisy environment in Pittsburgh Corporate Name Stadium.
How do you think the game will wind up? Let us know in the comments!
MICHAEL KEEFE
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Until something changes, the 2025 Cleveland Browns are very clearly a team that will do whatever it can to find ways to lose games. Whether it's missing field goals and extra points, turning the ball over and giving some of the best offenses in the league short fields, or squandering every chance actually to run away with a game, the Browns are the kings of the NFL when it comes to loser creativity.
I think this is THE pivotal game of the season. I said early on that, if they can make it through the first six games with a 2-4 record, they could make a run at the rest of the schedule. If they lose and drop to 1-5, I think the bottom falls out. Unfortunately, asking a rookie quarterback and the league's worst wide receiver room to score enough points to take down the Steelers in Pittsburgh seems borderline unreasonable at this point. The Steelers are one of the league's best defenses at creating turnovers, and I think they keep that up this week. Things look very bleak for the rest of this Browns season.
**Steelers 23, Browns 12**
FRED GREETHAM
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The Browns have put themselves in a very bad situation entering this game with the Steelers. For Dillon Gabriel to pull off a win in Pittsburgh, he is going to have to play nearly flawlessly and needs help from his wide receivers. The Steelers will do everything they can to stop Quinshon Judkins and force Gabriel to throw the ball.
With that pass rush, the offensive line and wide receivers need to play their best and give him help. Once again, the defense needs to keep the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers' offense in check, giving the Browns a chance. The Steelers have a great kicker, and this game will come down to a field goal. At 1-4, the Browns desperately need to find a way to come out with a win.
**Steelers 19, Browns 17**
This is where it will happen.
JOE CANTZ
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The defense has to play perfectly once again if the Browns are to have a chance of winning this game. It’s a tough ask for a unit that has largely done its part so far, save for a few lapses here and there. If they continue to get no help on the other side of the ball, I’d imagine the mental lapses and missed assignments will become more frequent.
The offense has to get on the same page. Too often last week, there were throws to no one-whether the receiver ran the wrong route or Dillon Gabriel thought they’d be running something different, that can’t happen again. I think Judkins will continue to show why the Browns selected him to be their RB1, but the rest of the offense continues to sputter.
**Steelers 21, Browns 14**
JEFF LLOYD
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After a disappointing” make a play and win the game” drive from the defense last Sunday. They respond in a major way. Myles Garrett and Company harass Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. The kids on offense are still finding their way, but they make enough plays to pull off the major upset in Pittsburgh.
**Browns 23, Steelers 16**
PETE SMITH
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On the road in Pittsburgh, the Browns have historically struggled, except in the postseason. Both teams have talented defenses and underwhelming offenses. The Steelers are coming off the bye with plenty of reason to believe they have an advantage. However, Dillon Gabriel looked competent against the Minnesota Vikings and their often confusing defense. If he can build on it while the rest of that unit is slowly improving, the Browns might just get a big win, changing the conversation on the season.
**Browns 23, Steelers 18**
SAM PENIX
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The Browns will show signs of life, but the Steelers' defensive line is now healthy and ready to overpower Cleveland's OL, putting pressure on Dillon Gabriel. Without a huge step forward from the offense and more turnovers generated by the defense, the Browns will fall to 1-5.
**Browns 16 Steelers 23**
JACK DUFFIN
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I think this is the one where the views of the team start to change. The Steelers are again outperforming their record, so they are open to a letdown game, even coming off a bye week. The Browns' defense has been legit, and the rest of the offense, outside of the wide receivers, looked good last week.
My key offensive players to watch this week are Cam Robinson, David Njoku and Quinshon Judkins. Then Gabriel just needs to remain steady and not turn the ball over
**Browns 20, Steelers 16**
BARRY MCBRIDE
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In their three home games (including a neutral game in London), the Browns have played tight, competitive games in each and have gone 1-2. Away from home against Baltimore and Detroit, however, they have struggled to operate in a noisy environment, making plenty of mistakes against solid opposition and getting run out of the stadium both times. Until they show me differently, I predict that it will happen again in Pittsburgh, as turnovers and offensive ineptitude put too much of a burden on their defense.
**Steelers 31, Browns 17**