Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Drops All Humility Thinking The Browns Will Attempt To Embarrass Pittsburgh "Without Your Boy"

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns have the oldest and one of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL. The two teams share so much in common, both blue-collar cities that value hard work. It is only fueled by the fact that the cities are close in proximity, separated only by a couple hours on the turnpike. In addition, the two teams have been in the same division since the Browns entered the NFL in 1950. Now they will face off for the 139th time during Week 2 of the 2023 season. 

So far over the past 143 times the teams have met, the Steelers have led the Browns 80-62-1. During the last 20 years, the Steelers have been extremely dominant. For the majority of that timeframe, Ben Roethlisberger was the Steelers quarterback against the Browns. Roethlisberger spent 18 years in the NFL and is 26-2-1 against Cleveland. 

Roethlisberger is not under center for the Steelers anymore, retiring at the end of the 2021 season. During the 2022 season, the then rookie Kenny Pickett took over for journeyman Mitch Trubisky. During the 2022 season, Trubisky lost the Week 3 matchup in Cleveland 17-29. During the final game of the 2022 season the Steelers, led by Pickett, won 28-14.

The 2023 season is underway and the Steelers had an abysmal showing Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. While there were a few bright spots during the game, T.J. Watt and Anthony McFarland for example, the game was really terrible in all three phases.

While the Steelers lost to a team that is predicted to contend for the NFC Championship, the Browns were playing the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been predicted to be a serious contender for the AFC crown. Pretty much everyone but the Browns expected the Bengals to win, but that isn't what happened.              

The Browns managed to beat the Bengals 24-3. Joe Burrow, the highest-paid player in the entire league is now 0-3 against Cleveland on the road and 1-5 overall against the Browns. The Browns' controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 16 of 29 passes for 154 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Their extraordinary running back Nick Chubb also found success with 106 yards on 18 carries.   

While all of that is fine, the Browns were stellar on defense, managing to put constant pressure on Burrow. They held him to 14 of 31 passes for a meager 82 yards. Ultimately he was pulled from the game and many are calling it the worst game of his career. 

Now the Browns are traveling just down the road to Pittsburgh for a Monday night game for Week 2. What does this mean for Pittsburgh? One former player weighs in. 

Steelers' Roethlisberger Feels The Browns Are Planning A Beat Down In Pittsburgh

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger now co-hosts a podcast with his longtime friend Spencer Te'o called Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. On a recent episode, they discussed the Steelers' loss to San Francisco, the Browns' win over Cincinnati, and what to expect during Week 2. Roethlisberger jokingly notes this matchup is a bit less predictable than the ones of old.

"Typically you see the Browns are coming, your boy's at quarterback - you know what happens," chuckles Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger said he was amazed how the Browns-Bengals game quickly turned into a lopsided defeat. The Bengals, according to him, just couldn't get anything going and the Browns were just relentless. These small on-field victories added up until they mounted into total success for Cleveland. 

Te'o notes that fans have been of the mindset for a long time that playing the Browns will be an easy win. He credited Roethlisberger with playing so well against them for the duration of his career and that set the tone for the way the Steelers view the Browns. He acknowledged that the Browns are not the Browns of the past as they seem to be building something that works. 

Roethlisberger agreed, saying you cannot take the fact that they went and beat the Bengals, who are considered a legit AFC contender. The Steelers cannot sleep on the Browns or be too lax. They have to take this game seriously because the Browns definitely will. 

"You have to be prepared for a team to come in here. I don't think they'll be overly confident, I think they're going to want to come in and whoop on us because they've been getting whooped on for so long. I think their offense, they can run the ball. Their quarterback, Watson can run the ball, I mean he is such a good runner. I think their defense is crazy good. So it's not going to be easy."

They pointed out that Head Coach Mike Tomlin likes to say "We do not seek comfort" and Roethlisberger noted the team needs to remember that headed into the game. It will be critical for the Steelers to show that they can turn it around and win games.

Pittsburgh will surely be headed back to the drawing board prior to the Week 2 matchup. They cannot dwell in the past nor live in their fears. They have to shake off the loss and prepare to face a vastly improved Browns team.  

What do you think about this impending game? Do you think the offense can handle the challenge of playing Cleveland? Comment below!

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