It’s awfully premature considering we don’t know who the teams are drafting, but the fires are already sufficiently stoked. Browns fans are ready to flex their newfound confidence in one of the most talented young rosters in the NFL. Steelers fans continue to cling to glory built around Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin but an unproven cast around them.
The fierce rivalry between Cleveland and Pittsburgh has lacked teeth for years, but it’s back with a vengeance. The Browns sudden rise from 0-16 to AFC North favorite has revitalized the long-running enmity between the two cities separated by some two hours.
Adam Rank of NFL.com thinks it’s strong enough to rank as the NFL’s top rivalry for the 2019 season. Rank understands why folks might think it’s an odd choice, and he addresses it in his explanation,
I understand that it would be fitting to have Browns-Ravens as the rivalry here — because Baltimore stole the Browns years ago, and the Ravens are the reigning AFC North champions — but there is something that just feels right about Browns-Steelers being the pick. Because there will be no in between with these two. Either the Browns fulfill their destiny this season and win the division in convincing fashion, rollicking past the competition while the Steelers fall into further chaos. Or the Browns finish 5-11, while the Steelers claim the top seed in the AFC. I’m telling you: It’s one or the other.
The cheeky downplaying of the Ravens aside, seeing such high expectations for the Browns and being nationally relevant for positive reasons for the first time in, well…it’s a great and exciting time to be a Cleveland Browns fan.
