Steelers vs. Browns preview: AFC North rivals clash Thursday

Dustin Judge
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws during the first half.

Update (4:07 p.m. ET, Wednesday): Browns guard Teven Jenkins has been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Steelers with a back injury, according to the NFL’s official Week 4 injury report. Jenkins had been questionable throughout the week as he worked back from the injury that has bothered him since the season opener.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns meet Thursday with first place in the AFC North on the line. Kickoff at Huntington Bank Field is 8:15 p.m. ET, with Pittsburgh seeking to end decades of struggles in Cleveland.

Steelers vs. Browns game information

  • Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • Venue: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio
  • TV/Streaming: Prime Video

Where do both teams stand entering Week 4?

Every team in the AFC North is 2-1. Pittsburgh has scored 53 and allowed 60 through three games, while the Browns have scored 54 and allowed 71. The Steelers are coming off a 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns have won two straight, including a 21-18 comeback over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27 in which Deshaun Watson found Harold Fannin Jr. for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

What is Pittsburgh’s history in Cleveland?

Pittsburgh has won just one of its last eight trips to Cleveland since 2018, with three losses in Thursday night games, according to NFL.com.

Who is expected to start and who is banged up?

Aaron Rodgers is expected to start at quarterback for Pittsburgh after throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns against Cincinnati. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey (wrist) and cornerback Brandin Echols (concussion) are both listed as questionable, while running back Rico Dowdle (toe), cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) and guard Gennings Dunker (knee) have been ruled out. With Dowdle sidelined last week, Jaylen Warren racked up a career-high 176 scrimmage yards on 20 touches and forced 10 missed tackles, per NFL.com, and he is expected to anchor the ground game again.

For Cleveland, Deshaun Watson is expected to start. He has thrown for 587 yards, five touchdowns and one interception this season. Center Elgton Jenkins (concussion) and receiver Tylan Wallace (knee) have also been ruled out, according to the NFL’s official Week 4 injury report.

Rookie Austin Barber has started in Teven Jenkins’ place at right guard since Week 1, according to Browns Wire, and figures to hold that spot again Thursday. Elgton Jenkins’ absence at center puts a backup up against a Steelers defensive line that includes veteran tackle Cam Heyward, according to Cleveland.com.

Can Cleveland’s pass rush disrupt Rodgers again?

The Browns own the NFL’s second-highest quarterback pressure rate at 42.2%, and defensive tackle Mason Graham has four sacks in three games, tied for second-most in the league, according to NFL.com. That pressure comes without star edge rusher Myles Garrett, making Cleveland’s interior rush the focal point for a Pittsburgh offensive line protecting the 42-year-old Rodgers. Rodgers has completed 66 of 113 passes for 700 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions this season, according to official NFL data.

Does Cleveland’s offense have more to give?

Cleveland ranks among the bottom five NFL offenses in total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, third-down conversion rate and red-zone touchdown percentage, per NFL.com. Still, Watson has thrown multiple touchdown passes with no interceptions in back-to-back wins, just the fourth Browns quarterback to do so in the last 35 seasons. His legs have also become a bigger factor; he ran for 45 yards on 11 carries last week, his best rushing output of the season. Cleveland’s offensive line now must navigate Thursday’s game without two projected starters up front in Teven Jenkins and Elgton Jenkins.

What to watch

Thursday’s winner takes over first place in the AFC North, a division where every team currently has a winning record. Pittsburgh’s front five must find a way to slow Cleveland’s interior rush without abandoning the run game that carried Warren to a career night against Cincinnati. For Cleveland, a patchwork offensive line missing both Teven Jenkins and Elgton Jenkins will be tested immediately by a Steelers defense anchored by Cam Heyward, and continuing to complement a bottom-tier offense with a physical, opportunistic defense will be the difference between building on their surprising start and falling back to .500.

Reporting from Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, NFL.com and Cleveland contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.