Steelers-Browns: Live chat, updates and analysis with Christopher Carter
powered byJotCast
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
Christopher Carter
7:52
Almost game time!

My full scouting report is available here:

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/10/01/cleveland-brow...
7:53
Shoot me your predictions and thoughts leading into the game. Let's get into it.
Brian from Miami
7:53
Hi Chris, thanks for all your coverage of the Steelers.
Christopher Carter
7:53
Thanks Brian!
Brian from Miami
7:53
Wha is your prediction for the game?
Christopher Carter
7:53
Per my scouting report: 19-13 Steelers.
Max
7:53
JPJ situation is unfortunate.  How much of this mess is attributable to Tomlin mismanaging spoiled players like Brown and Bell in past years?  And did the Steeleers get a fair return for him?
Christopher Carter
7:55
How does Mike Tomlin have anything to do with it when he was happy and with the team all throughout Tomlin's tenure but didn't want to touch the field when Mike McCarthy was coach?

Also, how did Mike Tomlin mismanage Antonio Brown? He turned a 6th round pick into a superstar 4x 1st team all-pro who stayed with the team for 9 years before he could barely stay anywhere for more than half a season. What?

No, the Steelers didn't get fair return. Omar Khan was fleeced.
CH Collins
7:55
Chris, consider establishing a Patreon account.  Thanks.
Christopher Carter
7:55
Don't know what this means, but thanks!
MikeC2
7:55
Hi Chris. Do you think the Steelers got a decent return in the trade of Porter?
Christopher Carter
7:57
Hello!

Nope. Anytime you deal away a young starting cornerback who hasn't allowed a single touchdown in three years as a starter and you only get a second round pick two years down the line, you got fleeced.
Ron
7:57
I feel as badly injured the cowboys secondary is I think the Steelers got taken & if this all the cowboys were giving & with our secondary being bang up the Steelers were stupid to do it now
Christopher Carter
7:58
The timing looks mismanaged for sure. Just a completely bungled situation that should've been a foregone conclusion to be able to keep him.
Biff
7:58
I'm glad Joey Pooper jr is gone. I couldn't have taken another game changing penalty. There is no doubt that he thanks very high on the list of most hated ex steelers
Christopher Carter
7:59
He had less penalties last year than defensive player of the year CB Pat Surtain II. The narrative about Porter and penalties was way overblown.
SMP
8:00
Re: JPJ, do Steelers only normally guarantee first year because if they guarantee more years it requires them to carry more cash on hand. I was always curious why they take this approach when most don’t.
Christopher Carter
8:00
It's been a longtime practice, and it's being seen to be more archaic across the league.
Biff
8:00
Does Omar not understand that the longer he waited in porter the less leverage he had? What am I missing?
Christopher Carter
8:00
Correct. It was a mismanaged situation.
Sunner in Orlando Orlando from Lebo
8:01
How’s the overall attitude with the Steeler players after JPJ was traded? There’s some reports that they support him and they congratulated him but how do you think this will affect the team going forward?
Christopher Carter
8:02
I can tell you being in that locker room, everyone appeared to have his back. We spoke to Porter last Thursday and several players came over and expressed their support. There was no division between him and the core of the roster.

I've been told certain things that I'll just say -- the locker room isn't happy with Omar Khan right now.
Sunner in Orlando Orlando from Lebo
8:02
What will be the biggest key to this game? Will it be the Steelers D against the Browns offense or the Steelers offense versus the Browns defense?
Christopher Carter
8:03
Biggest key I think is the offense. The Browns have been terrible at preventing explosive plays, and that's the one thing the Steelers' offense has been able to do well.

Get Warren going, let him have some big runs, and I think you put pressure on a meh Browns offense to have a really good day.

I still think the Steelers win tonight and break the TNF road AFC North curse.
Noah Hiles
8:03
Chris, can you confirm that the record books have been thrown out the window?
Christopher Carter
8:03
I only wish I had a Yoshi Bonk gif I could post in this chat.
8:04
Everyone, be sure to look out for our great coverage on-site where Gerry, Ray and Noah are there in Cleveland covering the game from the press box!
Steeler Nation Rudy
8:04
Not a game question but a question on Steeler management. We got zip for Porter and now the Cowgirls have 3 first round Steeler draft picks. Why wouldn't Khan have made Porter ride the pine and fine him each game that he sat on the bench? Eventually, JPJ would have seen the light and played if only to make him look better to other teams. I also wonder why Steeler's refused to sign a top player before we signed the others. Khan got conned!
Christopher Carter
8:05
I agree that so much of this was mismanaged. They had all the leverage to get what they want, and they blew it.
JeffB
8:05
I have a question on the JPJ saga. Since he claimed injury and that’s now proven false. Then he wasn’t in game condition. Wouldn’t the Steelers be within rights to claim he breached his contract and levy fines on him? Or sue for fraud?  My question is for conversation of course.
Christopher Carter
8:06
Nope. They put him on the injury report so that basically confirmed it. Unless there's some clause I'm not aware about, there's nothing they can get back for those games.
Ken
8:06
My prediction is the Steelers 20 - Browns 13.  There will be momentum going into this game for the offense. The defense will be motivated to prove that they don't need JPJ.
Christopher Carter
8:06
I've got 19-13, so we're close!
JeffB
8:06
Ron- Steelers read the writing on the wall. His malcontent would have been a cancer in the locker room. He wasn’t gonna play. They got what they could in the situation. No other teams stepped up with better offers. Maybe the NFL owners know a thing or two. Maybe Joey isn’t held in the same position by them as he is with Steeler fans.
Christopher Carter
8:07
Jeff, there's not a single report of Porter being a malcontent. He worked hard, came early to practice, and was appreciated by his teammates. The idea he was a cancer is just a falsehood.
Lebo Sunner
8:07
Run to set up the pass or pass the set up the run tonight early?
Christopher Carter
8:07
Like last week, come out passing and getting the ball out in space and get physical on the move.
Lebo Sunner
8:07
Can TJ Watt and Highsmith and Herbig make a difference tonight? They were held in check for most of last week?
Christopher Carter
8:09
They can. The Browns' offensive line has been terrible at protecting the pocket. Their 10.8% sack rate ranks 30th in the NFL, while the Steelers' defense ranks 4th in the NFL in that respect. I think they have a big night.
CH Collins
8:09
You go, Chris -- look up Patreon and consider it.
Load More Messages
Connecting…