Although a 41-32 loss the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football” guaranteed the Browns season will end without a playoff game, the team has at least become more competitive and entertaining since Jameis Winston replaced the injured Deshaun Watson as its starting quarterback.

Winston’s boom-or-bust nature was perfectly encapsulated against the Broncos on Monday when he passed for a personal- and franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns but also threw three costly interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.

Maximizing the “good” Winston and minimizing the “bad” one will go a long way to determining if the Browns (3-9) can snap a 20-game regular-season losing streak to the Steelers in Pittsburgh when the teams play at 1 p.m. Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The losing skid, which dates back to a 33-13 Browns win on Oct. 5, 2003, doesn’t include a 48-37 playoff win on Jan. 10, 2021.

The Steelers (9-3) are coming off a 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals behind Russell Wilson’s 414 yards and three touchdowns passing.

What gives the Browns hope Winston can rise to the occasion against the AFC North-leading Steelers is the fact he did just that on Nov. 21, when he led Cleveland to a 24-19 win over Pittsburgh on “Thursday Night Football.”

That victory narrowed the Steelers’ lead in the all-time series to 81-64-1, but Pittsburgh has still dominated 41-12 since the Browns returned to the NFL.

Each team has a regular contributor who previously played for the other team. Browns linebacker Devin Bush played four seasons with the Steelers after he was their first-round pick in 2019. And Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi is in his third season in Pittsburgh after playing four seasons for the Browns, who made him a third-round pick in 2017.

In addition, Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth is a Cleveland native, a St. Ignatius and John Carroll graduate, and was University of Akron head coach from 2018 to 2021.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Pittsburgh-area auto repair shop is getting ready for the busy winter season amid a stretch of bitterly cold weather.

“We get more check engine lights,” Tim Dietz, owner of Troubleshooters in Ross Township, said. “And we get more ‘My tire pressure monitoring lights coming on.’”

This bitter blast of cold weather that the Pittsburgh area has been experiencing has provided a wake-up call for some that winter is knocking at the door.

For a lot of people, it also may provide a wake-up call for the fact that they need to get their cars ready for this time of year.

“We see a lot of cars coming in here with low tire tread,” Dietz said.

It’s something Dietz claims people neglect, especially with the holidays coming up.

“If it’s a decision of getting four new tires for the winter or buying toys for your kids or clothes for your children – usually the tires lose out,” Dietz said.

Monday was another busy day — busy enough to get worn out, like what many people do to their oil.

“A lot of people are just neglecting that,” Dietz said.

He then explained that changing it regularly can help this time of year with the cold temps.

“The car will start quicker with a fresh oil change – it’ll start easier,” he said.

A fresh battery, especially with the below-freezing temps, can also help the car start more easily.

“For the most part, we’ll get batteries that people can’t get started,” Dietz said. “If the battery’s older than 4 years old, replace it.”  

Dietz said the cold temps even make people more likely to tow cars for things like flat tires. He’s expecting a busy time at the shop.

“So you’re gonna be getting a lot of phone calls?” KDKA-TV asked Dietz. 

“I hope so,” he responded.