CLEVELAND — First place in the AFC North is on the line Thursday night when the Cleveland Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field in a Week 4 showdown.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video, with local cable viewers in Cleveland able to watch on News 5 Cleveland (WEWS). Both teams sit at 2-1, and the winner will claim sole possession of the division lead — a scenario few predicted before the season.
The 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers quarterbacks the Steelers, while Cleveland has been the NFL’s biggest surprise behind Deshaun Watson and rookie head coach Todd Monken. After a 34-10 loss in Jacksonville to open the season, the Browns have won back-to-back games over Tampa Bay and Carolina, including a come-from-behind 21-18 home win over the Panthers in Week 3.
Cleveland’s defense has powered the turnaround. Even after trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, the unit has thrived behind Jared Verse and Mason Graham, generating the kind of pressure that has defined the Browns’ last two victories.
History favors the home team. The Steelers lead the all-time series 83-65-1, but Cleveland won the last meeting 13-6 at home on Dec. 28 and has taken four straight in the series in Cleveland. The home team has covered the spread in nine consecutive meetings.
Oddsmakers list Pittsburgh as a 3-point favorite, with the over/under at 38.5 points.
