The 2026 season has been a very interesting one for the AFC North, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are right in the middle of it. The division is always competitive, and this season is no different. All four teams have winning records, with the Steelers and Cleveland Browns set to battle for first place on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Typically, Steelers-versus-Browns in Pittsburgh isn't a big game, but this season is different.
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Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson meet after a Thursday night game in 2026.
Earlier in the season, the Browns defeated the Steelers after an excellent two-minute drive that led to a game-winning field goal. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was decisive on the drive and was the most important player for most of the game. Watson is starting to look like the quarterback Cleveland acquired in 2022, making plays through the air and with his legs.
Fans believe Watson has returned to his MVP-caliber form from his time with the Houston Texans, but one former Steelers Super Bowl champion isn't buying it. Max Starks recently appeared on an episode of The Snap Count, where he sounded off on Watson, saying he isn't the reason the Browns are currently 5-2 and crediting Cleveland's defense.
"Deshaun Watson is back again against us. And listen, he's doing okay. But don't sit here and tell me Deshaun Watson's had this renaissance, because it has not been a renaissance for him," Starks stated. "I mean, how many touchdowns did he throw the last game? Oh, that's right. It's not like they're putting on people every single week. They're playing well. They have a stellar defense, and it's the AFC North."
In their most recent victory, Watson threw for 308 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception, with a passer rating of 84.0. The signal-caller hasn't been great through the first three quarters, but has found ways to win in crunch time. As he did against the Steelers, Watson has driven the Browns down the field in the fourth quarter to win games multiple times this season, and Starks doesn't think that's a viable reason to believe he's having a renaissance.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) reacts with new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy after the game at Huntington Bank Field.
Instead, Starks credited Cleveland's defense, which has a plethora of playmakers. Over the offseason, the Browns overhauled the coaching staff and couldn't retain respected defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. They also traded one of the best players in franchise history, Myles Garrett, for a haul of picks and young edge rusher Jared Verse, who is already building a reputation in Pittsburgh as a rival.
With all these changes to the defense, the unit remains respectable and still gets timely stops. Cleveland ranks 13th in total defense and is sixth against the pass. This clearly shows defense is the team's strength, rather than the offense, which ranks 28th in points per game. The Browns are winning games much like the Steelers have in years past, keeping the game close and winning in the fourth quarter, which could give Pittsburgh an advantage on Sunday.
Steelers Could Have More Than Just A Home Field Advantage
The Steelers have already lost to the Browns in Cleveland on a Thursday night, but it's the way they lost that leaves a sour taste. While it was more a poor performance than a schematic issue, Pittsburgh is seeing how the Browns win and can adjust accordingly. The Steelers have spent much of this decade keeping games close on defense and making a few fourth-quarter plays on offense to win; they know what it takes to prevent this.
In their first matchup, the Browns neutralized the Steelers' pass rush and got the ball out of Watson's hands quickly. This could be an area where the Steelers make a schematic change. Taking away the Browns' quick passing game would let TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Keeanu Benton, and Nick Herbig affect the game. The Browns haven't won in Pittsburgh in the regular season since 2003, and the Steelers have a few advantages to keep it that way.
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