Former NFL scout John Middlekauf declares the Pittsburgh Steelers a "playoff lock" after they start 5-2, citing their complementary football and Aaron Rodgers’ leadership. Speaking on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Middlekauf praises Rodgers’ 1,699 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions through seven weeks, arguing his toughness will propel Pittsburgh into the postseason. The Steelers sit second in the AFC North behind the 5-2 Browns and ahead of the 4-2 Bengals and 4-3 Ravens, keeping the division race tight. If the team avoids major injuries, they could secure a playoff spot and break a nine‑year drought.
The Cleveland Browns, now 5-2 and atop the AFC North, have shifted from being trade sellers to potential buyers after quarterback Deshaun Watson delivers a clutch performance. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says speculation about moving wideout Jerry Jeudy has quieted, as the team’s winning streak reduces the need to trade assets. Watson’s hot play and Coach Todd Monken’s guidance make the Browns a playoff contender, prompting them to consider premium draft picks for impact players rather than offloading talent.
The Cleveland Browns regained some depth to their quarterback room on Monday.
The Steelers snap a 5-2 record after a 24‑17 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Paris, reigniting their AFC North title hopes. Veteran cornerback Bryant McFadden says Pittsburgh now has a "legit shot" at the division crown, despite early-season skepticism. He highlights the tight race: the Browns sit at 5-2, the Bengals at 4-2, and the Steelers are back in the mix. McFadden backs the team’s momentum and points to key defensive plays that could tilt the balance as the season heads toward its pivotal stretch.
The Browns confirm quarterback plans by activating rookie Dillon Gabriel from IR ahead of Week 8, while waiving seventh‑round tight end Carsen Ryan to free a roster spot. Gabriel, who missed the first seven games due to a preseason back injury, now joins Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as the emergency third QB. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Kalia Davis faces an IR decision after limited practice time. The moves highlight Cleveland’s unusual four‑QB depth strategy and roster juggling as the season progresses.
On Monday, October 26, the NFL saw a flurry of roster moves: the Bills suspend DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson; the Browns waive TE Carsen Ryan and activate QB Dillon Gabriel; the Eagles bring back TE Grant Calcaterra, G Landon Dickerson and TE Eli Stowers from IR while elevating LB Keyshawn James‑Newby and RB Elijah Mitchell. The Falcons add TE E.J. Jenkins to the practice squad, the Packers sign G Mekhi Becton and place C Jacob Monk on IR, and the Patriots shuffle P Bryce Baringer, LB Jose Ramirez and C Jacob Rizy. The Raiders return WR Jack Bech from IR, and the Ravens add DB Rayshawn Jenkins to their practice squad.
Deshaun Watson has propelled the Cleveland Browns to a 5-2 record by engineering five game‑winning drives this season – one in each of the team’s first five victories, a feat only Troy Aikman (1990) and Matthew Stafford (2016) have matched since the 1970 merger. His latest clutch performance came against the Tennessee Titans, where a four‑play, 55‑yard drive capped with a 36‑yard pass to Harold Fannin Jr. set up Andre Szmyt’s game‑winning field goal in a 27‑24 win. Watson’s surge puts him within striking distance of Patrick Mahomes in the race for the NFL’s top quarterback honors.
The Cleveland Browns activate quarterback Dillon Gabriel off injured reserve, starting a 21‑day practice window after his preseason back injury. To make roster space, the team waives tight end Carsen Ryan rather than reshuffle the crowded QB room, which includes starter Deshaun Watson and prospects Shedeur Sanders and Taylen Green under coach Todd Monken. Gabriel now has three weeks to prove his health while the Browns keep all developmental quarterbacks intact, giving the franchise added depth and flexibility in the 2026 season.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy reveals his changed view of Cleveland, calling the city “nice” and recalling its football history during a press conference on Oct. 26. He notes the recent tight 27-24 loss to the Browns in Week 4 and highlights the Steelers’ 83-66-1 edge in the rivalry, with the teams splitting their home‑and‑home series six of the last seven seasons. Both clubs sit 5-2 in the AFC North, but Cleveland holds the tiebreaker after that field‑goal win. McCarthy looks forward to the next matchup as both franchises enter a new coaching era.
After a 35-13 loss to the Bengals that exposed Baltimore's secondary, the Ravens bolster safety depth by signing veteran Rayshawn Jenkins. The 32‑year‑old, a 2017 fourth‑round pick, has logged 145 games (93 starts) with the Chargers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Browns and most recently the Steelers, where he played six games before being released. Jenkins brings 578 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles to a defense that allowed Joe Burrow 294 yards and four touchdowns. The move aims to add veteran leadership as Baltimore sits 4‑3 heading into Week 8.
Former Steelers safety Rayshawn Jenkins signs with the Baltimore Ravens, marking his third AFC North stint after playing 17 games for the Browns in 2025. Jenkins, who joined Pittsburgh in training camp and appeared in six games before being released following a subpar performance against the Cleveland Browns, heads to Baltimore as the Ravens seek to rebound from back‑to‑back divisional defeats, including a 35-13 loss to the Bengals in Week 7.
The Steelers secure a gritty 24‑17 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris during Week 7, positioning themselves for a high‑stakes divisional clash with the Cleveland Browns. Former Browns cornerback, now on the Steelers beat panel, claims Pittsburgh is intimidating the Browns, saying “they can’t beat us” and that Cleveland is “afraid” of Cleveland’s own rivals. The preview highlights the upcoming matchup’s intensity, key player dynamics, and the significance of the international venue win.
Veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins, released by the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, signs with rivals the Baltimore Ravens, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The 32‑year‑old, a 10‑year NFL veteran who started 92 games, provides depth after the Ravens’ secondary struggled in a 284‑yard loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Jenkins played six games (one start) for the Steelers this season, recording 16 tackles and allowing 120 yards and a touchdown. He previously appeared in all 17 games for the Cleveland Browns last year with 45 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and a pass defended. The move sets up a Week 15 showdown in Pittsburgh and a Week 18 visit to Baltimore.
In the Week 7 showdown, the Steelers travel to Cleveland with AFC North first place at stake, while divisional rivals Cincinnati and Baltimore remain a threat. Alan Saunders breaks down the stakes, key matchups, and what the win could mean for Pittsburgh’s position in the standings.
Steelers legend James Harrison blasted officials after a replay review wiped out T.J. Watt’s strip‑sack in the second quarter of the Steelers’ 24‑21 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Oct. 11. The call kept the ball with Saints QB Tyler Shough and led to a field‑goal tie. Harrison argues the play should have counted, which would have given Watt his 38th forced fumble—surpassing Greg Lloyd for the franchise record. Watt’s wife Dani called the decision a robbery, and Watt’s recent forced fumble against Cleveland ties him for 16th all‑time in the league. The Steelers face the Browns Sunday in a crucial AFC North matchup.
The Cleveland Browns rally to a 5-2 record with a last‑second field goal win over the Tennessee Titans, capping quarterback Deshaun Watson’s fifth game‑winning drive of the season. After the victory, the team posts a "Party at Deshaun’s" photo on social media, sparking backlash as fans recall Watson’s past sexual‑assault allegations and NFL suspension. Critics argue the Browns are ignoring the controversy despite his on‑field success, while the franchise currently tops the AFC North after being pegged for the draft lottery. The Browns face the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 1.
The article questions whether the Los Angeles Rams saw red flags before trading former first‑round pick Jared Verse, now with the Cleveland Browns. After 7 games in his third season, Verse has recorded zero sacks and relies heavily on a bull‑rush style, lacking a diverse move set and drawing criticism for his predictability. The piece weighs his stalled development against the Rams' draft investment and the potential financial risk of a $45M‑plus contract, suggesting Les Snead’s decision to move on may have been prudent, especially with Myles Garrett’s return looming.
CBS announces Kevin Harlan (play‑by‑play), Trent Green (color) and Melanie Collins (sideline) will call the Steelers‑Browns clash Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers enter as 3‑point home favorites (3‑1 on CBS this season) after a 16‑10 win in Paris, while the Browns sit 5‑2 after a 27‑24 victory over the Titans, highlighted by Deshaun Watson’s fourth‑quarter heroics and Andre Szmyt’s 56‑yard game‑winner that beat Pittsburgh in Week 4. Both teams eye a pivotal division battle, with the Steelers seeking revenge and trying to avoid a sweep—something they haven’t experienced since 1988.
The Steelers extend their winning run with a third straight victory, beating the New Orleans Saints in Paris and improving to 5-2, the longest streak in the AFC North. Despite the surge, they sit second behind the Browns, who hold the tiebreaker after a Week 4 win. Pittsburgh’s defense limited the Saints to just 18 rushing yards, and a home showdown with Cleveland next week could clinch the division. The article also previews QB draft prospects, playoff implications, and fan discussion forums.
After a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Paris, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy sets his sights on a rematch with division rival Cleveland. The Browns, also 5-2, beat Pittsburgh 27-24 in Week 4 thanks to Deshaun Watson’s clutch fourth‑quarter drive and Andre Szmyt’s 56‑yard game‑winning field goal. With both teams vying for AFC North supremacy, McCarthy and All‑Pro tackle Cam Heyward stress the importance of revenge at home, while Watson continues his streak of five fourth‑quarter game‑winning drives this season.
The Browns upset the Titans on Oct. 26, 2026, despite Cleveland’s rookie‑heavy staff. While Tennessee leaned on Tony Pollard and rookie wideout Carnell Tate (5 catches, 69 yards), rookie KC Concepcion sparked Cleveland with 8 catches for 129 yards and 81 yards after the catch. Titans quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 308 yards, but rookie quarterback Ward managed only 181 yards. The article argues the Titans’ high draft picks and big contracts haven’t translated into playmaking, while the Browns’ young talent delivered more explosive plays.
The Browns beat Titans 27-24 as Andre Szmyt kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired. Cleveland erased an early 14-0 deficit on the road.
The New Orleans Saints fall 16-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first Paris game, dropping to 2-5. Rookie WR Barion Brown shines with three catches for 57 yards and big returns, while the run game sputters—17 rushes for just 18 yards, the worst in franchise history. Steelers dominate the trenches, out‑gaining New Orleans by 130 rushing yards. Head coach Kellen Moore faces mounting pressure after another lackluster loss, with his job hanging on the upcoming bye week and the Browns matchup.
The New Orleans Saints fall 16-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7, dropping to 2-5 in the league’s first-ever Paris game. Rookie WR Barion Brown shines with three catches for 57 yards and notable punt and kick returns, while the struggling run game sputters with 17 rushes for just 18 yards, its worst performance of the season. Defensive lapses allow Pittsburgh to outgain New Orleans by 130 rushing yards. Head coach Kellen Moore faces mounting pressure after the loss, with his job possibly on the line before the upcoming bye week and the Browns matchup.
Denzel Ward sealed the Browns' 27-24 win over the Titans with a clutch interception of Cam Ward, a play made astonishing by a dislocated finger and five stitches he received just two days earlier. Despite fresh sutures and heavy taping, Ward's pick sparked a comeback capped by Andre Szmyt’s 32-yard walk‑off field goal, lifting Cleveland to 5‑2 and maintaining the AFC North lead. The article highlights Ward’s resilience, his role alongside Tyson Campbell in the secondary, and the injury’s impact ahead of the Week 8 showdown with the Steelers.