Though the glory days of the Browns-Steelers rivalry are a distant memory for those of us who were even alive in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and the old AFC Central Division has been abolished, the fact that it’s Steelers week here in Cleveland still means something.
For a variety of reasons (some personal, some professional and many historical), as a fan I still get fired up when the team from Pittsburgh comes to our place. Now, to be honest, in recent years it’s been a one-sided rivalry. That doesn’t change the fact that we fans (or at least the ones I hang around with) take a special joy in beating the Steelers, no matter what the circumstances are.
One of my favorite recent memories was our 1999 win at Three Rivers, a 16-15 shocker during our inaugural expansion season. Most folks are more likely to remember our “welcome” back into the NFL after three years without a team — a 43-0 pasting on national television. At home. To start the season.
That game effectively ended Ty Detmer’s run as the Browns’ starting quarterback and sealed the fate of Tim Couch, whose career was probably derailed after the abuse he took in those first two years.
Still, there was hope then, late in the 1999 season, that the Browns-Steelers game was still a game where “anything could happen” — a game where television announcers urged viewers to “throw the records out the window” and just enjoy the spectacle of fierce competition.
Now, eight years later, the Steelers will come to Cleveland on Sunday riding the momentum of a seven-game winning streak against our Browns. In fact, we’ve only beaten them twice since that improbable victory in 1999. Despite the fact that for the first time since 1992 (the year I graduated high school) the Steelers will not have Bill Cowher’s chin on their sideline, most experts are predicting that the Steelers will make it eight.
Personally, I don’t care overly much for the outcome. I just want to see a great game — a memorable game. See, after 110 contests spanning 56 years, the all-time series is tied 55-55. I want the Browns to play hard, to look like a professional football team, to bloody some noses and maybe for Kamerion Wimbley to Turkey Jones Big Ben (if that last bit didn’t mean anything to you, click here).
My game face is on. How about yours?
