For first time since helmet-swing melee, Steelers to play night game at Browns

Larry Ogunjobi either knew the question was coming, or he was amused by its phrasing.

In light of the Pittsburgh Steelers-at-Cleveland Browns game scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Thursday, many are reminiscing about the teams’ most recent primetime game in Cleveland. The 21-7 Browns win was secondary to a late-game incident in which Cleveland’s Myles Garrett removed the helmet of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and swung it at Rudolph’s head.

Garrett, then-Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and then-Browns defensive lineman Ogunjobi were suspended by the league for varying numbers of games as a result of the melee that ensued.

“Yeah,” Ogunjobi said through a wry smile, “I don’t expect anything like that to happen this time.

”It should be fun. I have been in a couple of (Steelers-Browns games), so I am excited for it.”

One of the oldest rivalries in the NFL, Steelers-Browns typically produces a raucous atmosphere for the games in Cleveland. The Steelers played Sunday afternoon season openers at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2017 and 2018 and again played afternoon games there in 2020 and 2021.

The 2019 version of the Browns was arguably the team’s best over the decade leading up to it, in part resulting in a lively crowd for that game, which, at the time, ended up a rare Cleveland win in the series.

“I am excited for this because this is my first time being (in Cleveland) for a primetime game,” Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “I am really excited because I heard the atmosphere is crazy there for primetime games. I know they will be loud. I know it will be very hostile. I know it’s gonna be a challenge.

“The first two times we played there, it had been awesome, so I am looking forward to going into that environment and causing havoc. That’s what we have to do: cause havoc and take the crowd out of it.”

The 2019 victory is one of only five the Browns have against the Steelers at their current home stadium, which was built in 1999. Though the Browns won two consecutive in 2019 and 2020, the latter was a regular-season finale in which the Steelers rested many key starters.

“One of the best parts of this (sport) is playing in a game like this,” Steelers center Mason Cole said. “Divisional game, on the road, at night. It’s cool. It’s a fun part of this league, and to go in there and get a win in that environment, winning on the road in this league is hard but winning on the road in primetime, it’s a special thing. So to go in there and get a win would be huge for us and sets us up for a good long weekend and come back and back at it.”

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