The all-time series between the Cleveland franchise and the Pittsburgh Steelers is tied, knotted if you will, at 55-55. The Steelers have won nine in a row and 15 of 16 against their brown-and-orange-clad division rivals, who took a break from 96-99 to go to Baltimore and win a Super Bowl, before reappearing with Tim Couch at quarterback for the Steelers. team for the ’99-00 season.

The Browns are better than they were in the Butch Davis years, but in my mind the rivalry is still on hold until they beat the Steelers in a meaningful game. I still have a hard time processing the logic behind it all, “leave franchise history and nickname behind while Art Model moves us to the Baltimore factor.” Watching the expansion Browns struggle as the Ravens put together one of the best defenses ever and beat the Kerry Collins-led Giants in 2000 could be fodder for a sci-fi movie. Perhaps if Art Model had been taken in a Delorian in 1995 and had had the opportunity to see two possible futures for Cleveland and Baltimore respectively, he would have stayed where he was and allowed the Colts to return to Baltimore. Two different time threads, two futures for Cleveland, one involving a Super Bowl, the other involving Doug Pederson and Eric Rhett. “Is this the future that will be, or the future that could be?” Modell would have asked, and then traveled back to 1955 to the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance to make sure Ray Lewis’s parents fell in love.

Robert Heinlein’s “All You Zombies” addresses the issue of multiple timelines, just like The Terminator.

I’m just gad Eric Metcalf is gone. Those were the days. I’m also glad the penguins haven’t moved away.

The Steelers will take the field tonight in Cleveland following an impressive 38-17 victory over the Houston Texans. Last week the Cleveland Brown Again lost at home to the Dallas Cowboys 28-10. There are must-win rumors for Cleveland and it’s only Week 2. The Browns’ schedule is just as tough as Pittsburgh’s, especially considering Derek Anderson won’t be able to get past his own secondary. No matter how intense our northwestern neighbors bring to tonight’s 8:15 pm game, and no matter how objectively I look at the two teams, it’s hard to imagine the outcome will be in doubt during the fourth quarter.

During week 1; Cleveland allowed nearly 500 yards to Dallas while the Steelers scored 38 points against Houston with their backup quarterback playing the fourth quarter. Under the assumption that the Texans’ defense is better than Cleveland’s and the Steelers’ offense is on par with Dallas’, the BCS logic here says the Steelers will put up big numbers. Browns secondary is banged up; Cleveland is without the two starting safeties for tonight’s game.

The Steelers will play tonight without starting CB Deshea Townsend. Not much of a drop from Townsend to backup DB Bryant McFadden but depth chart takes a hit, second-year cornerback William Gay will take over as nickel back, expect three safety formations as Browns move to three and four Wide receivers, either cornerback Anthony Madison or safety Anthony Smith will see time in passing situations with Townsend sidelined. This injury would be more of a concern if the Browns had the manpower to expand the field, but offseason acquisition WR Dante Stallworth will watch this game off the bench as he heals from a leg injury he suffered in warmups before the game. Dallas game.

The Steelers’ pass rush will continue to dominate, the Browns will have to keep extra blockers, thus negating any advantage they have over a Townsendless Steelers secondary, or they will send extra backs and tight ends to passing patterns and feel LaMarr’s wrath. . Woodley; it will be a fun game to watch for Steelers fans.

I predict a final score of 49-12.