The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the Cleveland Browns for the second time during the 2026 season. The Week 8 matchup is a big game as both teams are at the top of the AFC North with records of 5-2. The Browns are currently leading the division because they won the first matchup against Pittsburgh, and the Steelers are coming for revenge this time around. These two teams splitting the season series has not been a rare occurrence in recent years, and hopefully this is the outcome again this time around. The Steelers need to win this game to move to 6-2 ahead of the bye week, and the winner would also take the lead in the division.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) reacts with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) after the game at Huntington Bank Field.
The first game of the 2026 season between the Steelers and the Browns was very entertaining. The Steelers almost completed the comeback at the end of the fourth quarter as the offense tied the game up with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, but the Browns were able to take the ball down the field and kick the game-winning field goal before time expired. These games are always heated, and it is clear that the two sides do not like each other at all. After the game earlier in the season, Browns defensive end Jared Verse spoke and stated that he does not respect the offensive linemen in Pittsburgh, and he called the group dirty.
Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning, and he shared that Verse's comments might be fueling the offensive line going into this game. He specifically mentioned left guard Mason McCormick.
"Wait till this week," Kaboly said. "Because Jared Verse had some not so very pleasant things to say about that offensive line and Mr. McCormick the last time they played, and he said, 'I'm going to get him back,' basically."
Kaboly shared that McCormick is looking to get some sort of revenge against Verse and the rest of the Browns' defense. This topic came up because of the game coming up this week, and because of the emotion that McCormick has been showing on the field during the 2026 season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu gather on the field at Acrisure Stadium in 2026.
McCormick has been firing on all cylinders throughout the 2026 season. He has been playing well, and he has been letting opposing teams know about it. On Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, he got a little too excited and dove on a pile late, which drew a 15-yard penalty. The penalty wound up being inconsequential, but that is a part of what was discussed by Kaboly. He believes there is a chance that this game on Sunday against Cleveland could get a little bit chippy, and it will start with the big guys up front.
Steelers Need To Win Against The Browns At Home
The Steelers already dropped one game to Cleveland, which makes this matchup in Week 8 even more important. No one really thought the Browns would have a record of 5-2 at this point in the season, and they are proving to be more of a threat in the AFC North than initially thought. The Steelers need to take care of business so that Pittsburgh can jump Cleveland in the standings, and it would also be nice to go into the bye week with a record of 6-2 and a four-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh's schedule only gets harder after the bye week comes and goes, so this is a win that needs to be collected. It can prove to be huge in the race for the division crown near the end of the season, and it can even be big in the Wild Card race if Pittsburgh is fighting with Cleveland for one of the final playoff spots.
What do you think about the offensive line in Pittsburgh looking for revenge against Cleveland? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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