What Are The Browns Saying About Their Rematch With The Steelers?

The stage is set for the meat grinder that is the AFC to take it's latest turn as the Cleveland Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers on the shores of lake Erie.

For the second straight week, Cleveland faces a division rival with major AFC playoff seeding implications. A win for either of these 6-3 teams keeps them right in the thick of a run to the top of the AFC North. A loss, and it may be wild card dreaming instead.

Earning a win over the Steelers, who have been a thorn in the Browns side for decades, got a lot harder with week with the news that Deshaun Watson's season was over. The NFL rests for no one though, and the Browns have attempted to keep their wits about them as they look to win unconventionally down the stretch of the regular season.

Ironically, that's been Pittsburgh's mentality all season with an offense that struggles mightily at times. Here's what Browns players and coaches are saying about their showdown with their most hated rival:

Head Coach Kevin Stefanski

"6-3 Steelers, 6-3 Browns at our place down there on the lake. Going to be a beautiful day, I’m told. So we’re excited to play in front of our fans. We’re excited to have that atmosphere. The energy that they bring has been unbelievable and they got to do it again. It’s an all-hands-on-deck week and that includes the fans. So somebody set the air horn off in the Muni lot at about 12:35 and get everybody’s butt in that stadium because we’re going to need them early. We want to start fast. But excited about this opportunity. We know what the AFC North type of games entail and we’re excited about it."

Defensive End, Myles Garrett

"They play harder for longer, they know how to finish on the stretch. Sometimes teams just stop the gaps a little bit and later in the third and fourth quarter, that’s when they really turn it up.”

Linebacker, Anthony Walker Jr.

“Yeah, the same thing I just said, running the football well and stopping the run and playing good defense and then just find a way, whatever it takes to get the win. That’s what they do and that’s what we have to do.”

Guard, Joel Bitonio

"Anytime you play the Pittsburgh series of AFC North game, like they’re 6-3, we’re 6-3. It’s a big game for us. So, we’ve really been focused on that. Obviously, we’re trying to play our best for those guys that are hurt, Nick (Chubb) and Jack (Conklin) and Deshaun (Watson) and know I was watching the first game and I saw Nick obviously, in the first quarter running, I’m like, man, that guy’s pretty good. That’s a heck of a player. So, yeah, anytime we go out there, we want to represent Nick and play the right way and you know, Pittsburgh’s up next and they’re the big challenge for us.”

Defensive Coordinator, Jim Schwartz

“Well, if you just look at their offensive stats, it’s not eye-popping, but you look at their win total. I think I’ve been on the record of saying how we’re doing is always 5-3, 6-3. That’s how we do. And I think Pittsburgh lives that a little bit. The stat that pops out the most about them is their turnovers. They don’t turn the ball over. Now, we got two in the first game, but their defense got three, four, whatever it was, and they’re one of the best teams in the NFL at turnover margin. And we all know what an indicator for winning games that is. And that’s our big challenge, is taking the ball away from those guys because they do a good job of taking care of the ball, and that puts them in the win column more often than not.”

Wide Receiver, Elijah Moore

“Yeah. I mean, another big game, just like the Baltimore week. I feel like we attack every week the same. We’re going to put our best forward for them just like we did last week.”