The Cleveland Browns carry an NFL-best seven-game winning streak on “Thursday Night Football” into tonight’s visit from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are winless in nine divisional road games played on the fourth night of the week.
Go, figures.
That something must give in this matchup of AFC North contenders is elementary. That it’s liable to be the Browns shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Of all the teams above .500 through three weeks, Cleveland has the worst point differential, at minus-17. Pittsburgh’s minus-7 isn’t much better, but the Steelers boast a balanced, creative attack that finally seems to be humming.
After managing just 13 points from the offense in two games – sorry, Steelers fans, TJ Watt’s interception-return score in Week 1 counts elsewhere – Pittsburgh let loose in a shootout victory against Cincinnati on Sunday.
Headlining the 411-yard effort that paved the way to Steelers 30, Bengals 27 was veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns to outduel Joe Burrow, and his reputation precedes him, even if Rodgers took four sacks and had a 60.5 rating at New England the previous week.
“He’s a wizard,” Cleveland defensive end Jared Verse said. “He can throw. He can do all these throws that those elite quarterbacks can do. His legs might not be what they were at the one point, but his arm is, I’d argue with you, even better than it’s ever been.
“He’s dotting everything up. He’s hitting the tight windows. He’s throwing deep. He’s able to handle it. If you let him sit back there and be the quarterback that he is, he’s gonna dice you up all day.”
Ostensibly, Verse means any day of the week, but Rodgers has played especially effectively on Thursdays as he braces for the final scheduled “TNF” appearance of his career. Rodgers has won 13 of 20 games while throwing 46 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
A victory tonight would tie him with Tom Brady for the most QB wins on Thursday all-time.
Rodgers is enjoying a supporting cast that includes wideouts DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson, who both caught TDs against Cincinnati. But a resilient ground game is creating openings and opportunities, too.
Running back Jaylen Warren set a career high with 176 yards from scrimmage, getting more touches as backfield mate Rico Dowdle (toe) remains sidelined.
“Jaylen came out with guns blazing, and it was a lot of fun,” guard Mason McCormick said. “It’s awesome blocking for Jaylen.”
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson called the game “a great opportunity to showcase what we’re about on a big national stage.”
Right now, resilience is the Cleveland calling card. Blown out in Jacksonville in the season opener, the Browns responded with narrow wins at Tampa Bay and against Carolina, prevailing by seven combined points.
Watson has played steadily enough, averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game but completing 68.3 percent of his passes with five touchdowns against one interception.
He’ll face a banged-up Steelers secondary, as Jalen Ramsey (broken wrist) is questionable and Joey Porter Jr. (back) was shipped out in a deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Of course, there’s still the matter of pressure-happy linebackers Alex Highsmith and Watt and another stat that stands out.
Watson has absorbed 18 sacks while going winless against the Steelers in three starts.
It all will add up to a Steelers win and a reversal of the Browns’ recent Thursday fortunes, sending Rodgers and Co. happily into their mini-bye that follows a short week.
“I just suck it up for those three hours and then know you get a reward on the back end,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s part of the game now because of the money that’s in it. I think I’m just excited about the weekend.”
Go figure he’d save some snark for his Thursday swan song.
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