A first-place battle in the AFC North is taking place in Cleveland on Thursday night. You read that right, when the Cleveland Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football, the winner will move into first place in the division. 

Cleveland has won two straight over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, and now they have their first divisional battle of the year against the Steelers. 

Pittsburgh got its 2026 AFC North slate off to the right start last week with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Ahead of the primetime game on Thursday, the AFC North team at A to Z Sports predicts what’s going to go down.

3 wins in a row isn’t happening for the Browns just yet

Cleveland has been very good against the Steelers at home in recent memory, but these are two different teams with two new head coaches. There’s a lot of positivity around the Browns so far this season because of the start they’ve gotten off to, which has been better than expected. Deshaun Watson didn’t play well until late against the Panthers, but he was able to get the job done. I believe Watson has a strong opportunity in front of him to win a lot of the fanbase over if he can go out, play well, and pick up a divisional win early to win the season. 

However, I worry about the Browns being able to run the ball well, especially with C Elgton Jenkins likely out. It’s been a struggle for Cleveland, and this can’t be just a drop-back game for the Steelers to get a chance to tee off on Watson. I’m going to ride with the Steelers winning their second straight divisional game. Three straight wins in the first four games might just be too much for a young Browns team right now. It should be a competitive, defense-led game. The Browns’ best chance is for their defensive line to eat again this week, but Aaron Rodgers is likely to negate that well by getting the ball out quickly. 2-2 heading into Week 5 isn’t a bad outcome at all for Cleveland. — Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Cleveland 

Prediction: Steelers 20, Browns 16

Mike McCarthy does what Mike Tomlin couldn’t against the Browns on Thursday Night Football 

Aaron Rodgers vs. Deshaun Watson in the big ’26 and I’m actually not dreading watching it? Rodgers looked alive and well against what was thought to be a stingy Bengals defense a few days ago, and Watson has had at least one more quality outing through three games than I expected him to have.

The Steelers found answers with their offensive line last week, and their defense can still bring it on just a few days’ rest. They are the logical favorites in this one, but I remember too many times Pittsburgh playing down to an opponent, especially in the AFC North.

But that was under a different coach. I’ll give Mike McCarthy the benefit of the doubt here. The Browns defense has a quality secondary and should keep them in the game, but I lean towards the road team. — John Sheeran, A to Z Sports Cincinnati 

Prediction: Steelers 19, Browns 16

Steelers set to overcome recent history against Browns on Thursday 

The first version of Steelers-Browns in 2026 will look very different from what we have become accustomed to. For one, it’s early, but first place in the AFC North is on the line, which has been a rarity in these matchups. Beyond that, the names that made this rivalry famous, Ben Roethlisberger, Myles Garrett, Mike Tomlin, and Kevin Stefanski, are all gone, if not long gone. Both programs are headed by new coaches, with different processes and mantras. 

The question becomes, will the Browns continue their winning ways on Thursday? Despite the lack of success the franchise has incurred, Thursday Night Football at home is where they shine. The Browns are 11-1 in primetime Thursday night games at home. Of those 12 games, four of them have been against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns’ record? 4-0. 

So it’s safe to say that history is on the side of Cleveland, and the 2-1 record only reinforces the Browns’ ability to win this game. But I think the Steelers may have figured something out against Cincinnati. That offense featured more motion, answers against man coverage, and highlighted Jaylen Warren. That, coupled with the potential loss of starting center Elgton Jenkins in Cleveland, could be a determinant in the outcome of this game. — Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh 

Prediction: Steelers 20, Browns 17