- Browns-Steelers rivalry
The Browns-Steelers rivalry is one of the most storied rivalries in the NFL. The rivalry has been called locally the Turnpike Rivalry [ [http://kdka.com/local/Steelers.Browns.rivalry.2.564970.html kdka.com - Steelers To Take On Browns For First Place In The AFC North] ] , due to the two cities being connected via the Pennsylvania and Ohio Turnpikes. The Browns and Steelers first met in 1950, the Browns' first in the NFL after dominating the AAFC. At 113 meetings and counting, it is the oldest rivalry in the AFC.
Early on, the Browns, one of the NFL's best teams during this period, dominated the rivalry. The Steelers didn't even get their first win against the Browns until 1954. As a result, the rivalry was mainly fueled by the proximity between the two cities, only 112 miles apart. The cities are so close that the
Youngstown, Ohio television market has dual rights to both teams, as Youngstown is roughly located at the halfway mark between the two cities and is within the 75-mile blackout radius for both teams. (Both teams have such strong fan bases that neither team has had a blackout since the current rules were implemented in 1973.) The fan base in that area is roughly split 50/50 between the Steelers and Browns.The rivalry would carry over to the newly-formed AFC in 1970 as the two teams and the then-Baltimore Colts joined the former AFL teams in the conference as part of the
AFL-NFL merger . The newly-merged league needed to move three teams from the "old" NFL to the AFC so that the two conferences had 13 teams even. (The rest of the "old" NFL teams joined the newly-formed NFC.) Then-Browns ownerArt Modell immediately volunteered the Browns to move to the AFC because of a potential intrastate rivalry with theCincinnati Bengals (as well as his personal animosity withPaul Brown at the time), and was able to convinceArt Rooney to join him in the AFC in order to continue their own rivalry.However, in the 1970s the Steelers had begun to even the playing field with the Browns, led by head coach
Chuck Noll , a Cleveland native and former Brownslinebacker . By then, the rivalry between the two clubs was more hostile and personal, as evident in the 1976 matchup atCleveland Municipal Stadium , whenJoe "Turkey" Jones viciously sackedTerry Bradshaw after the whistle had been blown. Bradshaw would suffer a neck injury from the play, and the footage of the sack has since become immortalized inNFL Films as part of the rivalry. During this decade, the Steelers would win fourSuper Bowl s.While the two would exchange victories in the 1970s and 1980s, by the 1990s the Steelers would become the dominant team in the rivalry. Since the Browns' last series sweep in 1988, the Steelers have an overwhelming 28-8 mark against the Browns, enough that in 2007 the Steelers took over the lead in the all-time series (which they currently lead at 58-55) for the first time, and have won the last ten in a row dating back to the 2003 season, the longest such streak in the rivalry to date. During most of this time,
Bill Cowher was head coach of the Steelers. Cowher, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Crafton, also played linebacker for the Browns (though unlike Noll, Cowher mostly playedspecial teams ), and also served as an assistant in Cleveland underMarty Schottenheimer , himself a native of another Pittsburgh area suburb, Canonsburg.The Steelers also have a 2-0 record against the Browns in the playoffs, with both games taking place in Pittsburgh.
The rivalry took a brief hiatus from 1996-1998 due to the . Partially due to the rivalry and partially out of respect, Pittsburgh was one of the few cities alongside Cleveland to protest the move. While Browns fans still consider the Steelers as their main archrival, a small number of Steeler fans consider their rivalry with the
Baltimore Ravens the "spiritual" successor to this rivalry due toArt Modell moving the his franchise to Baltimore and establish the expansion Ravens, even though the recent one-sidedness of this rivalry in favor of the Steelers has influenced this thinking as well. Nevertheless, it is still heated between both teams and one of the most heated heated rivalries in the NFL.1950s (Browns 16-4)
Year Date Result Location 1950 October 7 Browns
30-17Forbes Field October 29 Browns
45-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1951 October 21 Browns
17-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 9 Browns
28-0Forbes Field 1952 October 4 Browns
21-20Forbes Field Browns' Otto Graham rallies from 13 point deficit, Pittsburgh loses game on missed PAT.November 16 Browns
29-28Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1953 November 8 Browns
34-16Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 22 Browns
20-16Forbes Field 1954 October 17 Steelers
55-27Forbes Field Steelers' first win of the series. December 12 Browns
42-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1955 November 20 Browns
41-14Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 4 Browns
30-7Forbes Field 1956 October 6 Browns
14-10Forbes Field November 28 Steelers
24-16Cleveland Municipal Stadium Steelers' first win in Cleveland. 1957 October 5 Browns
23-12Forbes Field November 10 Browns
24-0Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1958 October 5 Browns
45-12Pitt Stadium October 19 Browns
27-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1959 September 26 Steelers
17-7Forbes Field November 22 Steelers
21-20Cleveland Municipal Stadium With less than 2 minutes remaining Bobby Layne takes the Steelers 72 yards (this after his running back tells him he is too hurt to catch or rush, he can only block) for the winning TD.Lou Groza misses an FG as the clock runs out.1960s (Browns 15-5)
Year Date Result Location Notes 1960 October 2 Browns
28-20Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 20 Steelers
14-10Forbes Field 1961 October 22 Browns
30-28Forbes Field Pittsburgh's Buddy Dial sets a franchise record 235 receiving yards, along with an 88-yard reception for touchdown, game turns on aLou Groza field goal after aJohn Henry Johnson fumble in the final two minutes.November 5 Steelers
17-13Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1962 October 28 Browns
41-14Pitt Stadium November 25 Browns
35-14Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1963 October 5 Browns
35-23Pitt Stadium November 10 Steelers
9-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1964 October 10 Steelers
23-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium Another "Saturday Night Classic" Steeler John Henry Johnson at 35, schoolsJim Brown in his prime, outgaining him 200 to 59 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns in Pittsburgh's romp.November 1 Browns
30-17Pitt Stadium 1965 October 9 Browns
24-19Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 28 Browns
42-21Pitt Stadium 1966 October 8 Browns
41-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 6 Steelers
16-6Pitt Stadium 1967 October 7 Browns
21-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 5 Browns
34-14Pitt Stadium 1968 October 5 Browns
31-24Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 17 Browns
45-24Pitt Stadium 1969 October 18 Browns
42-31Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 16 Browns
24-3Pitt Stadium 1970s (Steelers 15-5)
Year Date Result Location Notes 1970 October 3 Browns
15-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium Last of the memorable "Saturday Night Games" between the two clubs,
fans will remember more action in the stands than on the fields during most
of those contests.November 29 Steelers
28-9Three Rivers Stadium 1971 October 10 Browns
27-17Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 7 Steelers
26-9Three Rivers Stadium 1972 November 19 Browns
26-24Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 3 Steelers
30-0Three Rivers Stadium 1973 September 23 Steelers
33-6Three Rivers Stadium November 25 Browns
21-16Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1974 October 20 Steelers
20-16Three Rivers Stadium November 17 Steelers
26-16Cleveland Municipal Stadium Steelers' first sweep of Browns since 1959. 1975 October 5 Steelers
42-6Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 7 Steelers
31-17Three Rivers Stadium 1976 September 19 Steelers
31-14Three Rivers Stadium October 10 Browns
18-16Cleveland Municipal Stadium Third string QB Dave Mays leads the Browns to victory after both teams' starters were injured. Terry Bradshaw's neck was injured on a tackle by Joe "Turkey" Jones. 1977 October 2 Steelers
28-14Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 13 Steelers
35-31Three Rivers Stadium 1978 September 24 Steelers
15-9 (OT)Three Rivers Stadium Overtime toss won by Pittsburgh only to be fumbled on kick return. Browns with the ball in FG range were interrupted by ref calling fumble play dead with claim that whistle blew before the fumble. Bradshaw leads Pittsburgh down the field and calls a Blier-Swann-Bradshaw double reverse for the winning TD. October 15 Steelers
34-14Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1979 October 7 Steelers
51-35Cleveland Municipal Stadium Steelers up 27-0 at one point before Cleveland's Brian Sipe threw five TD's to eventually cut the deficit to nine points, despite being the apex of the Steel Curtain. The Steelers then sealed the victory with a long clock-eating drive ending with Sidney Thornton's TD in the final minute. Steelers maintain division lead of a single game with the win. Highest scoring game in the series to date.November 25 Steelers
33-30 (OT)Three Rivers Stadium Matt Bahr kicks a last minute FG to tie it, then with :09 left in OT kicks a 37 yarder to win it. Game lasted over 4 hours.Franco Harris with 232 total yards andL.C. Greenwood with five of the seven sacks onBrian Sipe stand out. Steelers came back from being down by 14 points twice, never leading until the very end.1980s (Browns 12-8)
Year Date Result Location Notes 1980 October 26 Browns
27-26Cleveland Municipal Stadium Brian Sipe rallies the Kardiac Kids from a 26-14 4th quarter deficit over an injury riddled Steelers team. November 16 Steelers
16-13Three Rivers Stadium Terry Bradshaw's TD pass to Lynn Swann with eleven seconds left keeps the Browns winless at Three Rivers Stadium. 1981 October 11 Steelers
13-7Three Rivers Stadium November 22 Steelers
32-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1982 December 19 Browns
10-9Cleveland Municipal Stadium January 2, '83 Steelers
37-21Three Rivers Stadium 1983 October 16 Steelers
44-17Three Rivers Stadium December 18 Browns
30-17Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1984 September 23 Browns
20-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 9 Steelers
23-20Three Rivers Stadium 1985 September 16 Browns
17-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 3 Steelers
10-9Three Rivers Stadium Gary Anderson 's kick wins it in final seconds, after the Steelers hold Kosar to just 96 total yards during a driving rain storm. The AFC Central is all tied up with every team at 4-5 after this game.1986 October 5 Browns
27-24Three Rivers Stadium Browns' first win ever at Three Rivers Stadium .November 23 Browns
37-31 (OT)Cleveland Municipal Stadium Gary Anderson kicks a 40 yard FG with 7 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it at 31.Bernie Kosar sets Steeler franchise records for most passing yrds. given (414) and the Browns set other Steeler records in total yrds and 1st downs allowed (536 and 35). Steelers eliminated from Playoffs with the loss, earlier than in any season since '69. It does take Kosar 2 possessions in OT to win though. Browns' first sweep of Steelers since 1969.1987 September 20 Browns
34-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 26 Browns
19-13Three Rivers Stadium The Browns clinch the AFC Central Division title by holding the Steelers to one offensive play in the 4th quarter. 1988 October 2 Browns
23-9Three Rivers Stadium November 20 Browns
27-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium Browns' last sweep of Steelers to date. 1989 September 10 Browns
51-0Three Rivers Stadium Biggest margin of victory within the rivalry to date. Also the worst loss for the Steelers in franchise history. October 15 Steelers
17-7Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1990s (Steelers 10-5)
Year Date Result Location Notes 1990 September 9 Browns
13-3Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 23 Steelers
35-0Three Rivers Stadium 1991 October 27 Browns
17-14Cleveland Municipal Stadium Bernie Kosar has his ownImmaculate Reception after a 90 degree deflected pass ends up on top of a knocked down Brown in the Steelers endzone, giving Cleveland the lead.Gary Anderson 's last minute FG hits the goal post.December 22 Steelers
17-10Three Rivers Stadium Steelers head coach Chuck Noll 's final game. He retired four days later after 23 seasons.1992 October 11 Browns
17-9Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 27 Steelers
23-13Three Rivers Stadium 1993 October 24 Browns
28-23Cleveland Municipal Stadium The Metcalf Game. Eric Metcalf returns two punts for TDs, including one in the final three minutes for the winning score. January 2, '94 Steelers
16-9Three Rivers Stadium 1994 September 11 Steelers
17-10Cleveland Municipal Stadium December 18 Steelers
17-7Three Rivers Stadium Steelers dominate Browns from start to finish in clinching the AFC Central Division title. January 7, '95 Steelers
29-9Three Rivers Stadium Divisional Playoff Game. 1995 November 13 Steelers
20-3Three Rivers Stadium Steelers fans wore orange arm bands in tribute to the Browns. Art Modell had announced plans to move the team to Baltimore. (The team officially suspended operations until being returned in 1999. Officially, the Baltimore Ravens are a 1996 expansion team.) November 26 Steelers
20-17Cleveland Municipal Stadium Final meeting at Cleveland Stadium. Cleveland officially suspended operations 1996-1998. 1999 September 12 Steelers
43-0Cleveland Browns Stadium First game in history of Cleveland Browns Stadium and Browns' first game back after a three year hiatus . Sunday Night Football.November 14 Browns
16-15Three Rivers Stadium Browns gain revenge for season opening humiliation on Phil Dawson's FG as time expires. Their first win in Pittsburgh since 1989. 2000s (Steelers 16-2)
Year Date Result Location Notes 2000 September 17 Browns
23-20Cleveland Browns Stadium October 22 Steelers
22-0Three Rivers Stadium Final meeting at Three Rivers Stadium. 2001 November 11 Steelers
15-12 (OT)Cleveland Browns Stadium January 6, '02 Steelers
28-7Heinz Field Game was intended to be first game at new stadium, played September 16, 2001. Because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks , all Week 2 games were moved to the end of the season.2002 September 29 Steelers
16-13 (OT)Heinz Field November 3 Steelers
23-20Cleveland Browns Stadium December 29 Steelers
36-33Heinz Field Wild Card Playoff Game. Steelers rally from 24-7 third quarter deficit. 2003 October 5 Browns
33-13Heinz Field November 23 Steelers
13-6Cleveland Browns Stadium 2004 October 10 Steelers
34-23Heinz Field November 14 Steelers
24-10Cleveland Browns Stadium 2005 November 13 Steelers
34-21Heinz Field December 24 Steelers
41-0Cleveland Browns Stadium 2006 November 19 Steelers
24-20Cleveland Browns Stadium December 7 Steelers
27-7Heinz Field 2007 September 9 Steelers
34-7Cleveland Browns Stadium November 11 Steelers
31-28Heinz Field Steelers come back from being down 21-6. Browns' Phil Dawson misses a 52 yard field goal attempt to tie with 6 seconds left.2008 September 14 Steelers
10-6Cleveland Browns Stadium The Steelers defeated the Browns as remnants of Hurricane Ike hit Cleveland with rain and winds of convert|60|mph|km/h. The game's only touchdown was aBen Roethlisberger pass toHines Ward .December 28 *1:00 PM Heinz Field * time subject to change [to 4:15 PM]Trivia
*The Three Rivers Jinx. When the Steelers moved to Three Rivers Stadium in 1970, they defeated the Browns 16 straight times before the Browns finally broke through with a win in 1986. The Browns eventually went on to post a miserable all-time mark (5-24, .172) at the stadium from 1970-2000. At Heinz Field (opened 2001), the Steelers lead 7-1. Since the 1970 merger, the Browns are 6-31 at Pittsburgh. Before that, they had won 16 of their first 20 visits (1950-1969).
*Likewise, the Steelers posted a less-than-spectacular record (14-32, .304) at the Browns' old facility, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, from 1950-1995. At
Cleveland Browns Stadium (opened 1999), the Steelers lead 9-1, winning the last eight games. Since 1974 (their first Super Bowl season), the Steelers lead 18-14 in Cleveland. Beforehand, the Steelers had lost 19 of 24 on the road (1950-1973).*The greatest defeat in Steelers history occurred on the season opener (September 10) of the
1989 NFL Season in Pittsburgh when the Browns won 51-0. Nearly ten years to the day (September 12), when the Browns returned to the league in the1999 NFL Season , the Steelers defeated them in their first game back 43-0, still the revived Browns' worst loss as well as the Steelers' most lopsided defeat ever of the Browns.*When the league was voting on the Browns relocation, Steelers owner
Dan Rooney was one of only two owners to vote against the move. In tribute of Cleveland losing the Browns, Steeler fans wore orange arm bands to the final game atThree Rivers Stadium as a sign of mutual respect and sorrow for losing a great rivalry.References
* [http://www.afc-north.com/rivalry/clepit.html http://www.afc-north.com/rivalry/clepit.html]
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