Cleveland Browns vs Steelers Week 8 Predictions: Can the Browns get back in the North race?

The Cleveland Browns look to avenge the tie at home while trying to get back into the AFC North race. Members of the DPD crew give their predictions on the big game.

Last season, Cleveland Browns fans would have been thrilled to have put up a couple wins. This season, they’ve done that, but it doesn’t feel very good.

That’s a positive thing because it means we all know this team has the talent to compete. We’ve seen it week after week as they’ve played four overtime games and have had all but one contest this season decided by a touchdown or less.

This is why a 2-4-1 record heading into Week 8 feels so hollow. We all know it could have been much better — we also know they should be in the mix for the AFC North title rather than hanging out at the bottom where they are now.

Week 1 was a prime example as the Browns took on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team they will face in Week 8. After an offseason of hype, the Browns came out ready to prove they could play with the big boys. And they did exactly that.

After shaking off a slow start, Cleveland tied it at 21 and sent the game to overtime. There, each team missed a kick, with the Browns doing so at the last second which led to the tie. The defense was fantastic in that one, and they have remained as such since.

The Week 1 tie wasn’t the only example of the Browns proving they belong in their division. In Week 5, they held the Baltimore Ravens to just nine points as they escaped with a 12-9 overtime victory.

Now sitting at 1-0-1 in the North, the Browns aim to get out of the cellar and compete. Winning this coming Sunday against Pittsburgh would go a long way toward that goal. The question is whether or not they can steal the road win. That’s exactly the question we look to answer with our weekly Browns predictions.