Week 4
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
October 1, 2026
Huntington Bank Field
AFC North Rivalry
Browns–Steelers
The AFC's oldest rivalry
Browns-Steelers is the oldest and most frequently played rivalry in the AFC, dating to 1950. Separated by little more than 130 miles, the two blue-collar fan bases have built decades of bad blood across the AFC North.
The Rivalry
The rivalry began in 1950, when the AAFC–NFL merger placed Cleveland and Pittsburgh in the same conference and required them to play twice a year. The Browns dominated the early decades, winning the first eight meetings and building a wide series lead through the rivalry's first twenty years. Pittsburgh later turned the tables, and after a long run of success the Steelers overtook Cleveland for the all-time series lead in 2007 for the first time. The teams have met three times in the postseason, splitting bitter results. Tempers have boiled over throughout: a 51-0 Browns blowout in 1989 stands as the series' largest margin, and a 2019 game ended with a notorious helmet-swinging altercation that drew a lengthy suspension. As the AFC's longest-running and most-played matchup, it remains one of pro football's most storied feuds.
What's at Stake
The Browns and Steelers meet twice every season in the AFC North, with division standing and playoff seeding often on the line. The cities sit barely over 130 miles apart, close enough that the fan bases overlap and intermingle, which sharpens the hostility. Both are proud, blue-collar football towns, and the rivalry carries the weight of being the conference's oldest.
Famous Moments
- 1950 — Cleveland won the first-ever meeting, 30-17, forcing six Pittsburgh turnovers.
- 1989 — The Browns crushed the Steelers 51-0, the largest margin in the rivalry's history.
- 2002 — In an AFC Wild Card game, Pittsburgh rallied from a 24-7 deficit to beat Cleveland 36-33.
- 2019 — A helmet-swinging altercation drew a six-game suspension.
- 2020 — Cleveland won 48-37 in the wild-card round, its first playoff victory over Pittsburgh.
The Browns–Steelers Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC North
Cleveland Browns
Huntington Bank Field · Cleveland
Founded in 1946, the Browns won eight pre-Super Bowl championships and keep one of the NFL’s most loyal fanbases, the Dawg Pound.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium · Pittsburgh
Tied for the most Super Bowl titles with six, the Steelers are defined by the 1970s "Steel Curtain" and the Terrible Towel.
Plan the Trip
Cleveland and Pittsburgh sit only about 130 miles apart, making this the easiest road trip in the rivalry-game world — barely two hours by car. Cleveland plays at Huntington Bank Field on the Lake Erie waterfront; Pittsburgh hosts at Acrisure Stadium at the confluence of three rivers. Both are passionate, old-school football cities with iconic crowds. A home-and-home weekend pairing both stadiums is a true bucket-list experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Browns–Steelers
The two teams first met in 1950. Browns-Steelers is the oldest and most frequently played rivalry in the AFC, dating to 1950. Separated by little more than 130 miles, the two blue-collar fan bases have built decades of bad blood across the AFC North.
The Browns and Steelers meet twice every season in the AFC North, with division standing and playoff seeding often on the line. The cities sit barely over 130 miles apart, close enough that the fan bases overlap and intermingle, which sharpens the hostility. Both are proud, blue-collar football towns, and the rivalry carries the weight of being the conference's oldest.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Cleveland Browns host at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland; Pittsburgh Steelers play at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
