It’s another AFC North battle in Week 8, and it’s not one that usually has major implications near the midpoint of the season. The second battle between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers figures to be a good one after how Week 4’s game on Thursday Night Football went. 

Cleveland protected home field with a 27-24 win over Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, and they’ll be going for a sweep of the Steelers for the first time since the 1980s. At this point in the season, both teams are 5-2 and it’s a first-place battle in the AFC North. 

Ahead of Sunday’s game, the AFC North crew at A to Z Sports has some predictions on how Sunday’s game will go. 

Steelers 23, Browns 17

How Cleveland has gotten to 5-2 on the season with five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter is quite impressive, but it’s not sustainable over an entire season. At some point, the Browns are going to need to be able to play complementary football and move the ball on offense to help out the defense. The Browns still have a top-10 defense without Myles Garrett, and they should be able to stay in the game with anyone because of it most of the time. 

The reality of this game is that the Browns just do not sweep the Steelers. It’s never happened in my lifetime, and I don’t think it begins now. Pittsburgh is going to do enough to take this game and protect home field to split the season series. This game deserves to be on Monday Night Football, but the 1 p.m. kickoff does give it that AFC North feel. The Steelers take control of the game in the fourth quarter and the Browns can’t make it six-game winning scores on the season. — Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Cleveland

Steelers 18, Browns 15

Here we are nearly halfway through the regular season, and the Browns and Steelers are battling for the No. 1 spot in the AFC North. It’s a position very few would have predicted, and it makes this game that more impactful. Last time, Deshaun Watson and the Browns picked apart the defense en route to a late field goal to win.

This time around, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get an old school AFC North slugfest. The Steelers are really banged up on the perimeter of their offense. They will lean on the run game, but Cleveland’s defense is one of the best in the league. I expect a low scoring dogfight that goes deep into the 4th quarter. In the end, Renegade will play, the Steelers force a timely turnover and go home with a win. — Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh

Steelers 20, Browns 16

I’m interested in this game purely because of how quick matchup No. 2 has arrived. The first meeting was quite entertaining in primetime a few weeks back, and sure enough both Cleveland and Pittsburgh are still atop the division at 5-2 apiece. Has there been enough time in this transitional part of the season to learn anything new? I’m not sure, but I am sure the Browns are going to be relying on Deshaun Watson to bring them back in the end like every other game they’ve played this year.

The Steelers are home this time and they have a top 10 defense by every meaningful metric. Watson has only been effective late in games, particularly the fourth quarter. I would feel a lot more confident in Pittsburgh if Aaron Rodgers was playing better and not relying so much on short passes. I think with them at home and losing the first matchup, I’ll still give them the nod. — John Sheeran, A to Z Sports Cincinnati