The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off of a huge win in Week 3 of the 2026 season as the team was able to take down the Cincinnati Bengals to open up play in the AFC North. All teams in the division now have a record of 2-1, but the Steelers are technically at the top of the standings as they have a win within the division. The franchise will be taking on another team in the AFC North in Week 4 as the Steelers are traveling to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, which is a game that has many fans in Pittsburgh nervous.
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Pittsburgh Steelers veteran QB Aaron Rodgers walks off of the field after losing a road game to the Browns in 2025.
The Steelers have not had a ton of success playing games in Cleveland as of late, or being a road team on Thursday Night Football. The Steelers lost a road game on TNF to Cincinnati in 2025, and they also lost a road game in Cleveland towards the end of the regular season.
Pittsburgh lost to Cleveland in Week 17 in 2025 by a score of 13-6, and this was the game that had some controversy surrounding it as it seemed like the team was playing conservatively so that Myles Garrett could not break the single-season sack record. At the end of the game the Steelers were driving and had a chance to score to tie things up, and Aaron Rodgers seemed to test star cornerback Denzel Ward on three straight passes to the end zone, and they all failed. The corner was asked about that during his media availability on Tuesday.
"I hope so," Ward said. "I'll always welcome all of the throws and challenges, so I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be able to go against him and that team. If he decides to do that, you know, we'll see what happens."
Ward was basically asked about the chances of Rodgers trying him again like he did back in 2025, and the cornerback seems to welcome a challenge like that. He won the battle the last time, but hopefully things would end up a bit differently this time around if something like that were to happen again.
Matt Starkey / Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward (right) lined up against the New Orleans Saints during a road loss in 2024.
This game is going to look a lot different than the last matchup between these two franchises. For one thing, Garrett is now living in Southern California playing for the Los Angeles Rams. The Steelers no longer have to worry about him thankfully.
The other major difference is that Deshaun Watson has returned as the starter at quarterback for the Browns, and DK Metcalf will be on the field for this contest. He missed the game in Cleveland in 2025 after he was suspended for the final two games of the regular season for his interaction with a fan behind the benches during a game against the Detroit Lions.
Steelers Need To Get Off To A Better Start In Cleveland
There is no doubt that the offense for the Browns is better than it was in 2025. Watson is a better starting quarterback than Shedeur Sanders thus far, and the receiving corps has been upgraded dramatically. However, Pittsburgh's defense has been playing better, and the offense caught fire in Week 3. Pittsburgh needs to start this game off well so that it doesn't come down to a final possession where Pittsburgh needs to score with basically no time left.
The Browns are 2-1 and the franchise has a chance to take the lead in the division on Thursday night, but the team is not expected to be good throughout the remainder of the year. This is a game the Steelers absolutely have to win, especially with how hard the schedule gets for Pittsburgh in the second half of the regular season.
What do you think about Ward's comments? Will Rodgers be able to attack him successfully, or will the Browns' defense prevail? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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