The Cleveland Browns have suddenly become one of the most high-profile teams in the NFL, thanks solely to rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel. But he's not the starter to open the season; Brian Hoyer, who was 2-0 as the starter last season before tearing his ACL, was able to beat out Manziel for the starting job despite an unimpressive preseason.
How to watch Browns vs. Steelers 2014: Time, TV schedule, online streaming, radio and more
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cleveland Browns Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Browns are rolling with QB Brian Hoyer over Johnny Manziel, as the Steelers look to avoid another slow start to the season.
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The Browns, as you might imagine, have an embarrassingly ugly history in openers since the franchise was reconstituted in 1999. They are 1-14 in the first game game of the season, with an astounding 13 of those losses coming at home on Lake Erie in some of them most ridiculous, heartbreaking ways. So Mike Pettine’s group may be happy to hit the road, even if it is a against a division rival that’s owned them during that same time span.
The Steelers will be trying to avoid another slow start to the season, and they couldn't be opening against a better opponent. Pittsburgh has won 19 of its last 21 meetings against the Browns, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger continues to find new ways to crush his division rival.
Here are your media details for Sunday’s AFC North opener.
How to watch
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
When: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Radio: Browns local listings | Steelers local listings
Online streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket, Verizon NFL Mobile
Nuts and Bolts
The Browns offense struggled mightily as Hoyer and Manziel duked it out, and things won't get any easier in the regular season, thanks in large part to wide receiver Josh Gordon's year-long suspension for disregarding the league's substance abuse policy. Instead, tight end Jordan Cameron and running backs Ben Tate and Terrance West will be relied upon heavily for production.
But if things don’t get off to a good start in Cleveland -- and a season opener on the road against the team’s biggest rival only adds to the pressure -- Hoyer will have Manziel quickly breathing down his neck.
After finishing 8-8 once again in 2013, the Steelers have a lot of questions on defense as they attempt a rebuilding process with a focus still on contending. But we do know that they have plenty of weapons on offense, and they are going to be a lot for the new-look Browns defense to handle.
Further Reading
Get everything you could need on the Steelers from SB Nation’s Steelers blog, Behind the Steel Curtain. For more on the Browns, be sure to check out Dawgs By Nature.
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