The Browns and Steelers game will do more than decide North standing

The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers used to be the most feared and passionate rivalry in all of football. Then the Browns left for Baltimore.

It’s fair to say that since 1999, the Baltimore Ravens and not the Cleveland Browns have been the chief rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A lot of modern fans think the Ravens are the Steelers’ big nemesis. While that may have been true for some time, don’t doubt that the Browns and Steelers are the true rivals of the NFL. Granted, it hasn’t always been the most impressive, exciting, or necessary rivalries in the NFL since 1999, but when the 4-1 Browns meet the 4-0 Steelers on Sunday, the rivalry will be renewed.

Hopefully.

The Steelers have bullied the Browns for nearly 20 years, only losing seven times out of 42 opportunities since 1999 (typing that out was worse than swallowing bile). To know they’ve spotted Pittsburgh 35 wins? It hurts. Before 1999, the Brownies were winning the rivalry 52 wins to the Steelers 41. Oh, how things have changed in twenty years.

It’s been decades since an early regular-season matchup between these two teams has mattered. It’s been almost as long since the Browns last won in Pittsburgh. That was in 2003, where the good guys got their only win on Heinz Field 33-13. That may all change on Sunday.

For the first time in years, Cleveland is a place to do some damage to the Steelers. On paper, the Browns have the better team. The Steelers bought into their own hype and thought they were a system team. After watching Ju-Ju Smith Schuster and James Conner play for the last few seasons, it’s safe to say that’s not the case. That means this is one of the more exploitable teams in some time.

Sure, the helmet assault that Myles Garrett looms overhead, and while it’s a deplorable act that will never be forgotten, that moment will breed some animosity. That animosity may be just what these teams need to reignite a once-beloved rivalry.

Now all that’s left to do is sit back, and watch two iconic franchises beat the will to live out of each other for our amusement.