The oldest rivalry in the American Football Conference will see its latest installment on Thursday Night Football when the Browns host the Steelers in their 146th meeting.
Since their first meeting in 1950, there has been no love lost between the two city's fanbases, located just over 130 miles from one another.
"When you have cities in such close proximity, I think that adds to the rivalries because there's so many people that grew up around here, grew up around Pittsburgh, obviously interact with each other throughout the year," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "So, it makes it special. Being down at our stadium the last division game was special. I'd expect nothing but the same, especially in the setting of a Thursday night."
The Browns and Steelers split games last season, with the Steelers coming away with a Week 2 win over the Browns before the Browns bested the Steelers in Week 11.
RB Nick Chubb is no stranger to the Steelers, having faced them 10 times in his career. Most recently, Chubb faced the Steelers in Week 2 of the 2023 season, suffering a season-ending knee injury that took him off the playing field for over a year before he returned in Week 7 of this season.
Chubb said that his mind is not on the injury, even as he faces the Steelers again. He did, however, say he expected the typical traits of an AFC North matchup.
"Every game (against the Steelers) we know is going to be physical," Chubb said.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive tackle Geron Christian (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Director of Equipment Operations Kory Gillissie during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
As teams that see each other twice a year, LG Joel Bitonio said that he's grown to expect "tough, hard-nosed football" when facing the Steelers.
"You know each other, you play against the same guys and it becomes tough," Bitonio said. "I think every division has that, but I think the AFC North just has been built on toughness and defense and running the ball, and you feel it in all of the rivalry games."
A relative constant of the Browns and Steelers' rivalry has been Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who has been leading the team since the 2007 season.
Tomlin has yet to finish a season with a sub-.500 record and is 26-7-1 against the Browns since taking over as head coach.
"I believe the Steelers, since I've been growing up, have had great leadership from the head coach position," QB Jameis Winston said. "Coach Mike Tomlin is one of the best of the best, so his team definitely reflects on the type of person that he is. So, I know that's why the team is very disciplined and that's why they play with their whole heart."
Tomlin's Steelers sit at the top of the AFC North standings with an 8-2 record and are coming off their fifth-straight win this season, defeating the Ravens 18-16 in Week 11.
However, the record books will be cast aside when the Steelers come into Huntington Bank Field, as the 2-8 Browns will be hungry for a win over their division rival, according to DE Myles Garrett.
"It's probably as physical and gritty a football game as you're really going to see around the league," Garrett said. "It's two teams that really don't have that much love for one another and play a physical brand of ball. And they're looking forward to trying to take the number one spot in the AFC and we're fighting tooth and nail for each and every win we get. […] We don't want to go gently into that good night."
