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The Pittsburgh Steelers will face their second AFC North opponent of the season when they travel to Cleveland for a Thursday night showdown with the Browns. After escaping against Cincinnati with a 30-27 victory in Week 3, Pittsburgh will look to build on that momentum against another familiar divisional rival.
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Several individual matchups could play a major role in determining how this game unfolds. From the trenches to the secondary, the Steelers will need key players to win their battles against a Browns team looking to hand Pittsburgh its first divisional loss of the season.
Troy Fautanu vs. Jared Verse
When the Browns traded Myles Garrett, the deal included Jared Verse coming to Cleveland. So far, Verse hasn’t generated the same production he had with the Los Angeles Rams. However, don’t be fooled. Verse would love nothing more than to put on a show against his team’s top rival.
Fautanu has started trending toward the high-caliber play he showed in 2025. There was bound to be an adjustment period as he flipped to left tackle, but he appears to be back on track.
Jamel Dean vs. Denzel Boston
Dean has provided stability at cornerback with Joey Porter Jr. remaining out. Now, he’ll face the Browns’ rookie star receiver, who has already made plenty of noise during his first NFL season.
Dean and Boston should provide an intriguing matchup. Dean is a physical cover corner, while Boston has shown the ability to make contested catches and create plays downfield.
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Mason McCormick vs. Mason Graham
McCormick had his way with Graham last year. Now, Graham enters the matchup on a hot streak with four sacks through three games. Is he taking the next step in his second season?
McCormick had a stellar performance in Week 3 and will look to carry that momentum into Week 4.
Steelers EDGE Rush vs. Deshaun Watson
Watson has faced plenty of pressure in all three of his career starts against the Steelers. Needless to say, Pittsburgh’s pass rush will be eager to make Watson feel the heat all night long.
In three career games against the Steelers, Watson has been sacked 18 times and thrown four interceptions. Pittsburgh’s EDGE rushers will look to add to those numbers on Thursday night.
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This story was originally published October 1, 2026 at 5:00 AM.