The Browns took a win Thursday night, and then they took a victory lap.
Chief among those celebrating the 27-24 victory over the Steelers was defensive end Jared Verse, who helped lead a physical effort that put Cleveland atop the AFC North with a 3-1 record.
“This ain’t the old Browns,” Verse said. “We’ve got new swag. We’re a lot more aggressive, a lot more, you know, getting after it. This is something different here. We’re going to make this whole city rock.”
In what was a chippy win — the Browns racked up 14 penalties for 88 yards — the trash talk began early.
“They were talking crazy,” Verse told reporters. “I was telling them, ‘You’re double-teaming, y’all sliding, y’all garbage.’ I don’t got no respect for anyone who plays dirty and does extra sh-t after the game.”
Verse avoided infamy after his offsides penalty allowed Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers to tie the game at 24 with a two-point conversion with 1:42 to play, getting bailed out by some vintage Deshaun Watson play to drive the Browns downfield for a game-winning field goal.
Rodgers was among the targets of the Browns’ revelry, notably cornerback Denzel Ward, who snared one of the QB’s two interceptions on the night.
“I hope he keeps throwing at me,” Ward said.
While the Steelers now sit in the AFC North basement at 2-2, the Browns have reeled off three straight wins. The vibes are good in Cleveland, even if coach Todd Monken is trying to keep them in line.
“It’s still only three [wins],” he said. “And there’s a lot of things we can continue to get better at, and we will, because our guys are humble and they’re still hungry. And it’s really cool, because it means the next one continues to matter. That’s all you want to be. You just want to be in a position where the games matter, right? That’s what we want to be in, that’s what our fans want to be in, and that’s what we’re going to fight for every day.”
Cleveland will have another shot at its divisional rival in Week 8, heading to Pittsburgh on Nov. 1.
Consider the tone set.
“They be barking,” linebacker Quincy Williams said. “We be biting. That’s it.”
