On the surface, it’s the Cleveland Browns who are cursed. The franchise has yet to win the AFC North in its entire 23-year history. The Browns go through quarterbacks like changing socks with a current member eligible for the “worst trade in NFL history” award. Still, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent history when traveling to Cleveland has been rough.
Especially on Thursday night. All time, the Steelers are 0-4 against the Browns on a short week on the road. That includes a 2024 loss to a Cleveland team that entered 2-8 and 3.5-point home underdogs. Last year, the Steelers traveled on a Sunday but still came away with a terrible Week 17 loss, preventing Pittsburgh from clinching the division and resting starters – and playing backups like QB Will Howard – in the finale.
This October, Pittsburgh can try again with a Week 4 Thursday night road game against Cleveland. The streak could continue.
Myles Garrett’s trade out of Cleveland to Los Angeles could change that. For obvious enough reasons. He’s a generational, great player and future first-ballot Hall of Famer. His impact went beyond just being tough to block. Garrett’s a force multiplier who made everyone around him better and completely changed the offensive approach. Pittsburgh and everyone else had to begin and center offensive game plans around blocking Garrett.
He took a lot away. Want to run play-action? Not with Garrett on the field. Low-hat run blocking action with the quarterback’s back turned is a dangerous combination. It’s why George Pickens’ long play-action 2023 score came with Garrett off the field. That was intentional. Chipping and keeping a tight end to block meant one fewer receiver in the pattern. It often became seven in coverage versus three in the route, hamstringing an already poor Pittsburgh passing game.
Add Mike McCarthy and his offensive vision and subtract Garrett, and the Steelers have life on the road.
It’s far from a guarantee. AFC North ball is tough, competitive, and often close. Even without Garrett, the Browns have made improvements. The offensive line should be better. Their 2024 rookie class was excellent and should take jumps as sophomores. The 2025 draft class was strong, and Jared Verse, sent to Cleveland as part of the Garrett deal, is an ascending player in his own right.
Gaining division wins is critical. Pittsburgh’s track record has been excellent – an active streak of .500 or above longer than any other team in the NFL. With Garrett’s move out of Cleveland, the Steelers are poised to sweep, secure two divisional wins, and finally notch a short-week road victory.
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