Week 2 just became an even bigger opportunity for the Cleveland Browns

It’s only Week 2 in the NFL, but the Cleveland Browns have a chance to separate themselves from two teams in the AFC North. With the Cincinnati Bengals falling to the Baltimore Ravens today, the Browns can join the Ravens at the top of the AFC North at 2-0 if they defeat the Steelers in […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer

Sep 17, 2023 5:55 PM EDT

It’s only Week 2 in the NFL, but the Cleveland Browns have a chance to separate themselves from two teams in the AFC North.

With the Cincinnati Bengals falling to the Baltimore Ravens today, the Browns can join the Ravens at the top of the AFC North at 2-0 if they defeat the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Winning in Pittsburgh isn’t easy and it won’t be easy on Monday Night Football, where they’re 20-0 in their last 20 Monday night contests.

With a loss, the Steelers would be at 0-2 along with the Bengals. Cleveland and Baltimore would both have a two-game separation from Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Cleveland has to get it done in Week 2 first, but if they do they will only have one matchup left with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh each. The Browns will face off with the Ravens in Week 4 and Week 10 in what looks like it will be huge matchups as of right now.

Even if it is early in the season, separation in the division is important. Every game matters for playoff seeding down the road, the same goes for the division.

The Browns and Bengals won’t play again until Week 18 in Cincinnati. On the flip side, the second matchup with the Steelers comes in Week 11 at home.

In the early season, a lot is riding for the Browns. National media is giving them some credit following last week’s win and folks are catching wind of how good the defense looked.

It’ll be up to Cleveland to take on the task and create the early separation between them and the Bengals and Steelers. On the other hand, they could let the opportunity slip away with a loss.

Coming into the season, it was thought to be that the Bengals and Ravens were the favorites for the division. It is still really early, but Cincinnati has itself in a hole much like they did last season.