After beating Cincinnati easily, the Browns head to Pittsburgh tonight for a Monday Night Football date with the Steelers.
The Browns won their season opener — and first home opener in 19 years — Sept. 10 when they beat the in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals, 24-3. Has the win convinced fans that the Browns will top last year’s 7-10 mark, or are they resisting the urge to have high hopes?
Cleveland resident John Thorne expressed caution. “I have been a fan since I was a little boy,” Throne said. “I’ve been through thick and thin, and I’m saying that don’t get your hopes up too much. I mean, this is the Browns we are talking about.” Thorne has lived in Cleveland for more than 30 years.
The Browns defense contributed to the dominant win. Cleveland held the Bengals to 142 yards total offense while the Browns’ offense accumulated 350 yards. Bengals QB Joe Burrow had only 82 yards passing
This match-up marked the 100th time the Browns and Bengals have played each other in what is known as the Battle for Ohio. The Bengals lead the series, 52-48. Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh in last year’s first meeting and lost to the Steelers to end the 2022 season.
Lifelong Steelers fan and Shaker Heights resident Tyson Cross, 28, is confident the Steelers will prevail tonight. “If they think they can just waltz over to our stadium and expect us to just lay down and accept defeat, they got another thing coming,” Cross said. “We have been the kings of the AFC North, and the Browns have been our jesters.”
