Steelers' AFC North Rival Embarrassed During Pro Bowl Weekend In A Way That Would Make Pittsburgh Fans Cringe

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a strong hatred for every other team in the AFC North as playing all three teams at least twice a season will do that. The AFC North has historically run through the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens with both the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals having had some rough years since the NFL's realignment in 2002. However, in recent years, all four teams in the AFC North have been competitive, with three teams making the playoffs in 2023. Despite recent success, the Browns will always be made fun of for their rough stretch of seasons in the 2000s.

Steelers Rival Belittled At Pro Bowl Games

Even with the Browns making the playoffs in 2023, no one is forgetting their horrific stretch of seasons during the 2000s. From the 2000 season through the 2019 season, the Browns only had two winning seasons. At one point they finished last in the AFC North seven seasons in a row, and went winless during the 2017 season as they finished with an 0-16 record. 

During the Pro Bowl Games, a game of Madden 24 was played between the AFC and NFC. Tyreek Hill and Browns tight end David Njoku played for the AFC while Micah Parsons and Puka Nacua played for the NFC. Each player played a half for their team, and Njoku and Nacua squared off in the first. Parsons gave his assessment of the first half, which the NFC won 15-3. 

"I thought [Nacua] played amazing, he made great adjustments. [Njoku] obviously showed why Cleveland is Cleveland." 

This insult sounds familiar. It's almost the exact same thing former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said prior to the Steelers playoff matchup with the Browns during the 2020 NFL season. Obviously, his comments came back to bite him as the Steelers were upset by Cleveland 48-37. The Steelers were never really in the game, as they were playing from behind the entire time. Smith-Schuster made this comment after being asked if he felt the Browns team they were playing seemed any different from the ones they played in years past.

"Nah, I think they are still the same Browns team we play every year. I think they're nameless grey faces. Yes, they have a couple good players on their team, but at the end of the day, like, the Browns is the Browns."

This comment from Smith-Schuster made a lot of Steelers fans turn on him, especially because of the outcome of the game. This comment came before Wild Card Weekend in 2020, which was the same season the Steelers began the year 11-0. Smith-Schuster was often accused of being cocky throughout the season, especially because he had a pregame routine of doing a dance on the logo at midfield and posting it on social media. He would do this at both home and away games, so when it was the opposing team's logo people got upset. 

Smith-Schuster did this routine throughout the entire season, but people only got upset with him once the team started losing. The Steelers were 11-0 to begin the year, and then finished with a record of 12-4. They lost some games they should have won, and many Steelers fans took their anger out on Smith-Schuster and his 'antics' while calling him immature. 

Once Smith-Schuster made the comments ahead of the playoff loss, many fans wanted him gone as he hit free agency due to all the drama that surrounded him. Smith-Schuster was still a good player, as he had nearly 900 receiving yards in 2020 and caught nine touchdowns. He even caught 13 passes for 157 yards in the playoff loss to Cleveland. The Steelers decided to bring him back on a one-year contract, but he got hurt and missed the majority of the 2021 season and was not brought back the following year. 

Parsons obviously made his comment in a less serious environment, but he and the Dallas Cowboys better not underestimate the Browns when they play them in 2024. 

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