Cleveland Browns vs. Steelers Predictions: Can the Browns score the upset?

Writer: Chris Markoch

Game: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

Summary: By the time Sunday’s game kicks off, we’ll know whether or not the Steelers will have LeVeon Bell. But really, I don’t think that matters. Last year Bell reported the week before the first game but was clearly not in game shape. Why would anyone expect anything different this year?

As expected, the Steelers are towing the company line. “Nothing to see here. It’s no distraction.” But it has to be. This is no longer about standing up for principal. This is about being there with your boys. Football is, perhaps, the most fraternal of sports and Bell’s absence is a blow.

So if this is a Browns’ post, why am I spending so much space on the Steelers? Because all things being equal, the Steelers win this game. Yes, they have a new offensive coordinator. Yes, their defense has not looked the same without Ryan Shazier. But this is a team that knows how to win, and the Browns haven’t proven that they can say the same thing.

But desperation is a stinky deodorant, and the Steelers window is starting to close. The Browns can no longer be looked at as the “gimme putt” of the division. This is a win that will have to be earned and I think the Browns are hungry, correction, starving to change the narrative about this team.

Week 1 of an NFL season is always filled with the unknown. That works to the Browns advantage. You can’t really find tape on a team that has 31 out of 53 new players, I expect both Todd Haley and Gregg Williams to show things that nobody saw in preseason and the Browns will rise up, survive a comeback by the Steelers, and get an emotional win..and maybe the start of some respect.

Final Score: Cleveland 27, Pittsburgh 24