The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) are coming off a bounce-back victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. This week, they will face the Cleveland Browns (3-9) in a rematch from just two weeks ago. I reconnected with Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature to discuss this matchup and Cleveland’s future.

You can read my questions and his answers below:

1. When we spoke two weeks ago, we discussed how AFC North games rarely go as predicted. Throw in the short week and a snowstorm and it’s safe to say the game delivered on that notion. Will the Steelers get that version of the Browns again, or can we chalk the previous meeting up to AFC North chaos?

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The Browns are 2-1 against the AFC North this year, defeating both of the playoff-caliber teams in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Against everyone else, including some bad teams like the Giants, Raiders, and Saints, Cleveland is 1-8. Go figure.

I think the key element is that Jameis Winston introduces that unpredictable chaos, whether it’s a win or loss. The Browns are 2-3 with him as a starter, and even against good defenses, he’s throwing 497 yards with ease through the air. Unfortunately, that also comes with a pick six or two out of no where — but he at least gives them a shot. It makes predicting the game difficult, other than expecting him to at least keep it close.

2. With the loss on Monday Night Football, any hopes of sneaking into the playoffs are all but over for Cleveland. They’re also one game back from the No. 1 overall pick, currently projected to hold the sixth pick. Are Browns fans rooting to tank for the best pick they can get at this point?

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I still want the Browns to win and try to develop this team as much as possible. I don’t expect the coaching staff to be completely fired, but the team needs to have a better pulse on what they have in players on offense and defense, and what areas they need to address in the draft (and this will be our first first-round pick in awhile, thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade). We need to be certain who can play, who can’t, etc, so we can acquire the right personnel for 2025.

3. I’m sure you’re tired of talking about it at this point, but I have to ask… is Jameis back next year or will he be run out of town like Joe Flacco to accommodate number 4?

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Your guess is as good as mine. Joe Flacco got comeback player of the year, and was not even given a contract offer by the Browns. Jameis Winston will have more starts under his belt than Flacco did, so one could say that the evaluation of him will be greater. I feel like the organization will be so hell bent on trying one more time with Deshaun Watson, though, that they’ll just bring in a different veteran quarterback again.

4. Nick Chubb is a player that even fans of rival teams can root for. He’s an UFA in 2025. Do you expect Chubb to be back in Cleveland next year or is December the final chapter in his Browns career?

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I hope he’s back. There was a report earlier this year that indicated that the Browns knew his impact on fans and the community was too great to let him go (not to mention his talent, of course). Chubb is also, at least statistically, having a very medicore comeback season, so I don’t think he’s going to get a massive contract elsewhere, since teams can’t be certain that the old, dominant Chubb is still there. I think we’re all just kind of assuming he’ll be back next year, none of us are thinking we’re watching his final games.

5. One more time — predictions for the game?

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The Browns have been able to stay motivated and make more clutch plays against the AFC North for some reason. Pittsburgh’s decision-making in the last game was questionable in my opinion, and I can see George Pickens doing something that costs his team more than helping them, with some degree of antics. I’ll go with Cleveland pulling off the upset and leaving the Steelers wondering, “how the hell do we beat everyone else, but not the Browns this year?”