We’ve reached the quarter(ish) mark of the 2026 NFL regular season with Week 4 upon us. As Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell likes to point out every year, this is the time of year when we really start to learn what each team’s identity is after a data-filled month.
The week begins Thursday night with an AFC North battle between the 2-1 Cleveland Browns and 2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers. I think it’s fair to wonder if any of these teams can seriously be considered a contender.
The Steelers probably have the better resume with wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals, but sandwiched between those wins was a 20-3 loss to a New England Patriots team that looked awful in the other two games.
The Browns, on the other hand, picked up narrow wins over the Buccaneers and Panthers, but started the season by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-10.
It’s never easy to win in a shortened week, but both teams have a chance to show that their early success is real, and their one slip-up is just that—a slip-up.
And if you want to watch the game, here’s the game day info you need:
Date: Thursday, Oct 1, 2026
when: 8:15 pm ET
where: Huntington Bank Field — Cleveland, OH
TV: Prime Video
Streaming: Prime Video, Twitch