I remember the pep rallies.
We, the marching band, would play that dirge, and they’d sing: Poor, poor Ravens, the worst is yet to come.
Then I think we burned a big stuffed Raven in effigy.
They were the Ravenna Ravens, and we were told that we, the Roosevelt Rough Riders, had a rivalry with them. And so we played the dirge, and we strung up the fake stuffed bird, and we awaited the game on Friday.
It was a competitive rivalry. Sometimes the Ravens won. Sometimes we won. That’s what made the rivalry interesting. There was always the precious threat in the air that our football game against this most despised rival of ours would not go our way.
Because we could lose. I mean there was a chance. And that is what fed the rivalry.
Which brings me to the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Baltimore Ravens.
In the last decade, the Pittsburgh Steelers have played in three Super Bowl games and have won two Lombardi trophies.
The Baltimore Ravens have played in one Super Bowl game and have won one trophy.
The Browns have not qualified for playoffs in a decade.
In 2010, the Baltimore Ravens were a potential obstacle for the Steelers, challenging them in the divisional championship game. In 2011 and 2012, the Ravens bested the Steelers, taking first in the AFC North.
The Browns have not qualified for playoffs in a decade.
Where’s the rivalry?
If we can agree that a rival should be a worthy competitor, then, Browns fans, you are trumpeting every football season about a rivalry that no longer holds and has not for some time.
Many Pittsburgh fans opted to recognize its rivalry with the team from Cleveland what moved south in 1996, now known as the Baltimore Ravens.
I think they’re right.
And yet, every year I hear from Browns fans. Predictable memes about how bad the Steelers suck. It’s usually early in the season; this year, it was in week six, when the Browns blew the Steelers out 32-10. Last year, it was in week four, when the joke of the season was “knock knock,” “who’s there,” “owen,” “owen who?” “0-4!” (This was the Steelers’ record at the time.)
The Browns ended up FOUR AND TWELVE.
Do you believe in the whatever high atop the thing yet?
Cleveland fans need to face it. There is no longer a credible rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers will face their legitimate rival at 8:15 p.m. Saturday in the wild card round.
And they’re Ravens, too.
Source Material
2004
Steelers: 15 – 1, won the AFC North. Won divisional playoffs versus New York Jets, lost AFC championship to New England Patriots.
Ravens: 9-7, second in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Browns: 4-12, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2005
Steelers: 11 – 5, second in the AFC North. Won wild card playoffs versus Cincinnati Bengals. Won AFC championships versus Denver Broncos. Won Super Bowl XL versus Seattle Seahawks.
Ravens: 6-10, tied for third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Browns: 6-10, tied for third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2006
Ravens: 13-3, first in the AFC North. Lost divisional playoffs to Indianapolis Colts.
Steelers: 8-8, third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Browns: 4-12, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2007
Steelers: 10-6, first in the AFC North. Lost wild card playsoff to Jacksonville Jaguars.
Browns, 10-6, second in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Ravens: 5-11, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2008
Steelers: 12-4, first in the AFC North. Won divisional playoffs versus San Diego Chargers, won AFC championship versus Baltimore Ravens, won Super Bowl XLIII versus Arizona Cardinals
Ravens: 11-5, second in the AFC North. Won wild card playoffs versus Miami Dolphins, won divisional playoffs versus Tennessee Titans, lost conference championship to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Browns: 4-12, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2009
Ravens: 9-7, second in the AFC North. Won wild card playoffs versus New England Patriots, lost divisional playoffs versus Indianapolis Colts.
Steelers: 9-7, third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Browns: 5-11, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2010
Steelers: 12-4, first in the AFC North. Won divisional playoffs versus Baltimore Ravens, won AFC championship playoffs versus New York Jets, lost Super bowl XLV to Green Bay Packers.
Ravens: 12-4, second in the AFC North. Won wild card playoffs versus Kansas City Chiefs, lost AFC divisional playoffs to Pittsburgh Steelers.
Browns: 5-11, third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2011
Ravens: 12-4, first in the AFC North. Won divisional playoffs versus Houston Texans, lost AFC championship game to New England Patriots.
Steelers: 12-4, second in the AFC North. Lost wild card playoffs to Denver Broncos.
Browns: 4-12, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2012
Ravens: 10-6, first in the AFC North. Won wild card playoffs versus Indianapolis Colts, won divisional playoffs versus Denver Broncos, won Super Bowl XLVII versus San Francisco 49ers.
Steelers: 8-8, third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Browns: 5-11, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2013
Steelers: 8-8 Second in the AFC north. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Ravens: 8-8, third in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
Browns: 4-12, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.
2014
Steelers: 11 – 5, first in the AFC North.
Ravens: 10-6, third in the AFC North.
Browns: 7-9, fourth in the AFC North. Did not qualify for playoffs.