Despite coming off their biggest win of the young season, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't have much time to celebrate. They are coming off a tough AFC North win at home, but they cannot afford to overlook the Cleveland Browns on a short week. Recently, the Steelers' record on Thursday Night Football and in any game in Cleveland has seemed to curse the team to any sort of success.
The Steelers haven't won a game in Cleveland since 2021, and they have lost all four Thursday Night Football games all-time against the Browns. Perhaps with a new coach in the fold, that will change. Mike McCarthy could be the savior that Pittsburgh has been waiting for as this curse continues to follow.
The road club needs this AFC North victory, and McCarthy might be the solution.
For one reason or another, Pittsburgh hasn't found wins in Thursday games, whereas the Browns have. Cleveland has a dominant 11-2 record on Thursday Night Football games. It only looks better when you see that they have won their past nine games on Thursday Nights. Even though the Steelers might be considered favorites going into this game, they shouldn't be considered so highly.
Mike McCarthy might save Pittsburgh Steelers from their ongoing Cleveland curse
It's not going to be an easy environment for the Steelers to play in. The last time these two clubs faced each other, Pittsburgh wasn't able to achieve much success during their time in Cleveland. Their time against this AFC North rival has been difficult. It's seen them produce a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games across the way in Ohio.
They'll pray for a different outcome this time around, but their odds of winning are bleak due to their history.
One of the biggest things working in the Steelers' favor is their new head coach, Mike McCarthy. He has found plenty of success on short weeks throughout his career. That includes an impressive 17-8 record on Thursday games. His teams have actually gone undefeated in his prior six games on Thursdays. That could be the trend that ends the Steelers' hiccups in Cleveland.
Other than McCarthy's impressive showings on Thursdays in the past, he has been able to turn the Steelers around.
We will see if that continues or if the curse will live on, but Pittsburgh seemed like a different team against the Bengals this past weekend. Their offense was moving the ball effectively for most of the game, and their offensive line saw a surge by implementing two new players into the lineup.
Pittsburgh shouldn't be considered favorites to overcome the curse in Cleveland going into this game, but it's certainly one they should win. For one reason or another, they have failed to find success in that city since 2021, and Thursday Night Football might be more of a negative going against the Steelers. With McCarthy, this is their best shot at finally overcoming those demons.
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