Oct 31, 2026 2:26 PM

AFC North supremacy hangs in the balance as verbal barbs cross state lines. Cleveland aims to shatter a two-decade curse, but Pittsburgh’s defense stands in the way.

Everyone knows what's at stake on Sunday. The Cleveland Browns head to Pittsburgh, looking to erase 22 years' worth of losing during the regular season, and prove to everyone that this truly is a new era for the franchise. 

The Steelers will most certainly have something to say about that, and they did this week as star DT Cam Heyward used the Rich Eisen Show to lob some verbal smack talk back at Browns DE Jared Verse, who called Pittsburgh dirty after the two squads' first meeting in Week 4. Of course, Verse had a response of his own.

Between the barbs, Cleveland's tortured history in Pittsburgh and the fact that this game is for first place in the division, the rivalry feels more alive than it's been in quite some time. Now it's time to put the pads on and let the play do the talking. 

Can the Browns end their losing streak and retain the top spot in the AFC North? Our predictions are in. 

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Who Wins?

Anthony Moeglin

Dare to dream, Browns fans! Sunday has the potential to be one of those days that you remember for a very long time. It could be a day where the Browns finally go into Pittsburgh and win a football game for the first time in 23 years. It all could be good, but it isn't going to happen. Aaron Rodgers will do enough late after a TJ Watt strip-sack that the Steelers leave this one with another victory over Cleveland.

Spencer German

It was an eventful week leading up to round two between these two division rivals. The Browns were playing Renegade at practice. Cam Heyward and Jared Verse exchanged a few barbs. The rivalry is alive and well, and it takes center stage at 1 pm on Sunday. Cleveland has already beaten the Steelers once, and they certainly have a chance to pull it off again, even on the road in Pittsburgh. But history repeats itself for at least one more year, and the Steelers earn a split with the Browns in 2026. 

Do They Cover?

Anthony

Yes, they do cover. I think that this game will be a hard-fought back-and-forth affair between two good teams. Each team will punch and counter-punch, and then TJ Watt will force a turnover that the Steelers will turn into a field goal to win 20-17.

Spencer

Vegas really doesn't like the Browns much on a week-to-week basis via the money lines or when it comes to their odds to win the division. That's the case this week, where Pittsburgh is a 3.5-point home favorite. The Browns may lose, but they will cover that margin. Steelers win 24-23. 

Bold Prediction

Anthony

Quinshon Judkins posts his forst 100-yard rushing game of the season. 

Quinshon Judkins hits the 100-yard mark for the Browns today. Quinshon looked really good last week against the Titans, and if you look back on the Thursday Night Football matchup, the Browns actually got the ground game moving a little bit until Watt's incredible forced fumble. QWuinshon goes for over 100 yards and finds the paint one time for a touchdown.

Spencer

Jared Verse gets his first sack as a member of the Cleveland Browns

Easy. It's gotta be about Jared Verse having a breakout game, right? The Browns' new defensive star has had a disappointing season to say the least, but after talking his talk this week, he backs it up with a big game on Sunday, including earning his first sack in Cleveland. 

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