The Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent history in Cleveland has been dismal. Despite the Browns only recording two winning seasons since 2019, they have won six of the last seven matchups at home against the Steelers. One former Steeler who isn’t used to losing to losing to Cleveland is James Harrison and he has high expectations for the new regime when it comes to taking care of business against their oldest rival.
“Everyone wants to talk about you guys are 1-6-1 in the last eight in Cleveland. That was under different leadership,” Harrison said on his podcast, Deebo & Joe. “That was under different schemes and everything else. That is about to change. I think I only lost to Cleveland like three times in my career. Maybe four at the most.”
Harrison’s memory is correct. During his tenure as a Steeler he only lost to the Browns on three occasions, as Cleveland never made a playoff appearance and was one of the worst teams of in the league during that stretch.
For that generation of Steelers, losing to the Browns is almost unfathomable, something that only happens once in a blue moon. Only one victory in the last eight attempts, even if on the road, is a tough pill to swallow.
After dropping a key Week 17 game in Cleveland last season that could have clinched the AFC North, the Steelers will face the Browns much earlier in 2026. A Week 4 Thursday Night Football matchup awaits the two teams.
It will be the first AFC North game for new Browns head coach Todd Monken. It’s unclear if this was a thinly veiled shot at Mike Tomlin and his coaching failures in Cleveland in recent years or just a hint of optimism that something will change.
It’s also a game that neither team has a starting quarterback locked in for quite yet. The Aaron Rodgers decision is still looming and Cleveland’s cavalcade of quarterbacks has yet to be sorted out and likely won’t until the preseason at the earliest, though DeShaun Watson reportedly has the inside track.
“It doesn’t matter who the quarterback for the Steelers is going to be,” Harrison continued. “What matters is what my defense is going to be. A Pittsburgh Steelers defense. I don’t worry about what the Browns do.”
That sentiment is probably one that will apply to most Steelers games in 2026. Regardless of who is at quarterback, the defense will need to carry the team if they are going to be competitive in most matchups.
While it will be important for the offense to improve from last season in almost all areas, this remains a defensive minded team. Even with Aaron Rodgers, we are more likely to see the Steelers play in low-scoring slugfests than high-flying shootouts.
The game against Cleveland early in the season will be a good barometer for where the Steelers and their new coaching staff are at. The Browns boast one of the league’s best defenses, at least on paper heading into training camp. Going into that game on a short week, on the road against a divisional opponent will be a big test for the 2026 Steelers.
And also a chance to exorcise the demons that have haunted them on the shores of Lake Erie for over the past several encounters.
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