The Rivalry with Pittsburgh Steelers
The oldest and most frequently played matchup in the AFC, fueled by proximity and shared history.
The Browns–Steelers rivalry or Turnpike Rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. The rivalry originated during the 1950 season, following the AAFC–NFL merger, which placed the Browns and Steelers in the same conference, the NFL American Conference (later referred to as the NFL Eastern Conference starting in the 1953 season). This alignment led to the teams facing each other twice each year. Since the AFL–NFL merger, the Browns and Steelers have been competing in the AFC North (previously known as the AFC Central until 2001). The rivalry, which has featured 149 meetings, is the oldest and most frequently played matchup in the American Football Conference. The two divisional opponents share a natural rivalry due to geographic proximity and similarities between the cities. It is sometimes referred to as the Turnpike Rivalry or Turnpike War because travel between the two cities primarily involves the Ohio Turnpike and Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Steelers lead the overall series, 83–65–1. The two teams have met three times in the playoffs, with the Steelers holding a 2–1 advantage.
Quick Facts
- League
- National Football League (NFL)
- Conference
- American Football Conference (AFC)
- Division alignment
- AFC North
- Geographic region
- Ohio-Pennsylvania Border
- Rivalry status
- Active Division Rivals
Lore & Background
The rivalry was primarily fueled by the close proximity between the two cities, as Cleveland and Pittsburgh are roughly 135 miles apart. Many fans make the two-hour drive by car to away games. The city of Youngstown, Ohio is roughly located halfway between the two cities, is split roughly 50/50 between the two teams and was within the 75-mile blackout radius for both teams before blackouts were abolished in the mid-2010s. The Youngstown television market is a secondary market for both teams because of its proximity to both cities, meaning that road games for both the Browns and Steelers are by NFL rule to be shown in Youngstown. Both teams have such strong fan bases that neither typically had blackout issues, although the final two games of the 1995 season were blacked out in Cleveland (the last two prior to the original Browns' move to Baltimore). WKBN-TV broadcasts both teams; when they play at the same time the station chooses one game, and gets many calls from disappointed fans of the other team. In recent times, Pittsburgh-area businesses have entered the Cleveland market by buying out local Cleveland-area competitors such as Giant Eagle, Dollar Bank, Howard Hanna Realty, and PNC Financial Services acquisition of National City Corp. Among other reasons, some Clevelanders didn't like the idea of a Pittsburgh-based bank buying National City because of the rivalry between the Browns and Steelers. PNC and Giant Eagle are official team sponsors for both teams. In addition, natural expansion has occurred with companies with Western Pennsylvania roots with Vocelli Pizza and Altoona-based Sheetz making successful expansions into the Cleveland market. Conversely, Eaton Corporation was founded in Cleveland and has long had significant operations in Pittsburgh. Forest City Enterprises owns billions of dollars of Pittsburgh-area real estate. The Cleveland branch of the Federal Reserve includes Pittsburgh in its territory. Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams has locations throughout Pittsburgh and nationally is one of the top competitors to Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries. Two former Cleveland-based businesses, Picway Shoes and Revco, had locations throughout Pittsburgh before being bought out by Payless ShoeSource in 1994 and CVS/pharmacy in 1998, respectively.
Reader's Guide
The Browns and Steelers first met in 1950, the Browns' first NFL season after dominating the All-America Football Conference. The Browns continued their dominance in the NFL as they appeared in six straight NFL Championship games from 1950 to 1955, winning the NFL title in 1950, 1954, and 1955. During that time the Steelers were among the NFL's worst teams. The Browns won the first meeting on October 7, 30–17 as they forced six Steelers turnovers. Later that season in Cleveland, the Browns won in a blowout, 45–7. The Browns would win the first eight meetings before the Steelers would finally beat their rivals. The Steelers won 55–27 in a game in which Ray Matthews had 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Browns continued their dominance throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, marked by several strong rushing performances by Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. The Browns would hold a 31–9 series advantage through the first two decades of the rivalry. After the NFL merged with the former American Football League (AFL) in 1970, the Browns and Steelers were placed in the Central division of the newly formed American Football Conference (AFC). The Browns and Steelers, along with the Baltimore Colts were placed in the AFC with the former members of the AFL to allow each conference to have the same number of teams. The NFL tried to move the Steelers to the new conference, but then-Steelers owner Art Rooney initially refused. However, Rooney reconsidered after then-Browns owner Art Modell volunteered the Browns to shift to the AFC, partly because the NFL had offered $3 million as an incentive to move but also because of the potential for an intrastate rivalry with the AFL's Cincinnati Bengals. The financial boost combined with the prospect of losing his most lucrative division rival quickly persuaded Rooney to join Modell in the AFC in order to continue their own rivalry, although the team did lose its in-state rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles as a result. In the 1970s the Steelers began to even the playing field with the Browns, led by head coach Chuck Noll, a Cleveland native and former Browns linebacker. By then, the rivalry between the two clubs was more hostile and personal, as evident in the 1976 matchup at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, when Joe "Turkey" Jones tackled Terry Bradshaw with a pile-driving sack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Browns vs Steelers rivalry considered so intense?
Geographic proximity fuels a deep-seated regional battle for supremacy between Ohio and Pennsylvania. Every game often impacts AFC North standings, making each matchup critical for playoff positioning.
How often do Cleveland and Pittsburgh play each other?
As division rivals within the AFC North, Cleveland and Pittsburgh face off twice every regular season. This frequency keeps the competition fresh and the animosity high year after year.
Who leads the all-time series between the Browns and Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold a slight edge in all-time head-to-head victories against Cleveland. However, both franchises have enjoyed periods of dominance throughout their long history together.
Do these games impact AFC North playoff seeding?
Yes, because the winner often secures crucial divisional points that determine AFC North champions. Many seasons see the division title decided by a single game between these two teams.
What creates the unique atmosphere for this matchup?
Fans from both cities create an electric and hostile environment filled with passionate support for their respective teams. The intensity peaks during late-season meetings where playoff spots are on the line.
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