Valley fans of rival Browns, Steelers whoop it up

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was written before the Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in their wild card playoff game late Sunday night.

WARREN -- In hindsight, 2020 was a rough time to be a sports fan.

Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and many other professional sports leagues were on the verge of canceling the entire season.

With a new year comes new promise and for Cleveland Browns fans, that promise is a playoff berth -- the first in nearly two decades.

To make the game a little sweeter, it's against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Fans of both the Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers gathered Sunday at Primanti Brothers in Niles and the Ice House Inn in Austintown to watch the game.

Lindsay Hayes, hostess at Primanti Brothers, said fans began coming in right at game time with half the people for the Browns and Steelers.

"Beause of where we are located, we get half for one team and half for the other,'' Hayes said.

She said because of the 10 p.m. curfew she expects most to stay to halftime.

People wearing Browns and Steelers attire could be seen at the bar and at tables.

Chris and Kerri Gregory of Newton Falls said they were there to root for the Steelers.

"We were rooting for the Browns last week to get into the playoffs, which they did. We are hoping Pittsburgh will win," said Chris.

He said the Browns' success this year was due to the new management and the coaches.

"We don't hate the Browns. It's going to be a close game. Pittsburgh has done well and has been very lucky this season. We are hoping for a victory," said Kerri.

Gavin Switzer of Johnston, a Browns fan. said he was excited the team was in the playoffs.

"COVID didn't let them practice much this week which was not a good sign. We are hoping for a victory. They have done well up to this point and am glad they made the playoffs. Pittsburgh's defense has been really good," Switzer said.

Ashley Wagner of Girard, a Browns fan, said Baker Mayfield carried the team through last week's game.

"He carried them through 1,000 percent running the ball in the last quarter to get over the line and get that last week win,'' Wagner said.

Joe Ohlin of Warren, a Browns fan, said this won't be the same game the Browns and Steers played last week. He said the Browns' running backs and lineman are a credit to much of their success.

"This is pro football and with a rivalry, anything can happen," he said.

Michele Funaro of Girard said she was looking for the Browns "to beat the pants off the Steelers."

At the Ice House Inn, fans for both teams were seated around the bar watching the game on several screens.

Craig Mowery of Mineral Ridge, a Browns fan, said whenever there is local rivalry it is a good game.

"The players played well together, which helped. I am looking forward to the Browns winning," he said.

Denzel Jones of Austintown, a Steelers fan, said Ben Roethlisberger did a great job for the team this season.

"Having two local teams always makes it more fun to watch. It has been a long time," he said.

Joe Bailey of Youngstown said he didn't really care which team won.

"I'm not really sure who I am supporting. I just wanted to be here to watch the game and see how they both do. I am glad the Browns made it to the playoffs ," he said.

Dennis Jay of Austintown, a Steelers fan, said the whole team has been great this year working together.

"The Browns were due to be in the playoffs. I think the Steelers will win by 14," he said.

John Porterfield of Normalville, Pa., a Steelers fan, said "I don't see the Steelers losing two times in a row to the Browns.

"If Roethlisberger had been playing last week, I don't think the Browns would have won," he said.

The Browns team this year had their fair share of adversity. With COVID-19 sidelining many players and an ACL injury to a key player in Odell Beckham Jr., the team bounced back and was able to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

This season, the team posted an 11-5 record, the first time the team had a winning percentage above .500 since 2007.

There's no secret the team has had struggles in previous years. Most notably, just a couple of years ago, the 2017 season saw the Browns go winless.

Since the last playoff appearance, the Browns have gone through 10 different head coaches and, according to ESPN, over 20 different starting quarterbacks.

The Browns seemed to find the answer in their 2018 first-round draft pick Mayfield.

With additions like Beckham Jr., Pro-Bowler Jarvis Landry, defensive standout Miles Garrett and a change in coaching, things seem to be coming together for Cleveland.

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