CLEVELAND (AP) — Even as a kid growing up in Alabama, Jameis Winston appreciated the Steelers-Browns rivalry with its tradition rooted in neighborly nastiness.
For Winson, all it took was for him to hear NFL Films narrator John Facenda — nicknamed “the voice of God” — to understand that Pittsburgh facing Cleveland meant a little more than your average football game.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) attempts a pass as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) applies pressure during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) smiles as he come off the field following a game against the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts with teammates Najee Harris, left, and Darnell Washington at the end of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 18-16. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Primal pigskin.
“Seeing the blood, sweat, tears that happened. These games are hard-nosed, hard-fought,” Winston said, balling his fist and punching his other hand for emphasis. “True definition of cold-weather football game. This is premiere.”
On Thursday night, Winston, who passed for 395 yards last week, gets thrown into one of league's fiercest feuds as the Steelers (8-2 ) visit the Browns (2-8) in a game that looked more tantalizing on the schedule in September than it does now.
After navigating through some starting quarterback issues, Pittsburgh again is atop the tough-as-it-gets AFC North while Cleveland's season has dissolved into an ugly mess that may require another major offseason overhaul for a franchise that was convinced the worst was behind it.
The Steelers are rolling. They've won five straight and are coming off an 18-16 win at home over the Baltimore Ravens. While not aesthetically pleasing, the victory had many familiar traits from Pittsburgh's recent past — stout defense and solid special teams.
Chris Boswell's six field goals carried the Steelers and the defense came up with enough big plays to corral Lamar Jackson. It's the second time this season that Boswell has accounted for all of Pittsburgh's points, a testament to coach Mike Tomlin's trust in his kicker and team.
“It’s whatever’s required to win and whatever that means,” said Winston, whose 102nd career game as a pro will be his first against the Steelers. "Is it six field goals? Is it two blocked punts? Is it five touchdowns? Whatever’s required.”
If the Browns have anything going for them it's that Thursday has been their day.
Cleveland has won eight straight home games on Thursdays, including two in the past five years over the Steelers.
Of course, there will be the usual army of Terrible Towel-waving Pittsburgh fans who will venture into enemy territory to help make their team feel at home. However, the Steelers expect to get the best the Browns can offer in prime time.
“We’re going into a hostile environment," defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. "We respect the background. We understand what those fans and their team is capable of. It’s like those big rivalries in college football. It doesn’t matter what the record is. You’re going to get their best shot.
"You have to respect that. And, you know, we’re looking forward to going up there.”
There's a simmering subplot in this year's matchup.
Partly a media creation, the competition and comparisons between Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett intensified this week.
When Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year last season, Watt, who finished second, posted “Nothing I’m not used to,” on social media the night of NFL Honors.
This week, Garrett responded to Watt's comment, which was open to interpretation.
“I’ve never complained about the trophy not being at my house and vice versa. He shouldn’t be feeling two ways about knowing it’s going to me,” Garrett said. “So just going to play the game. I don’t play against T.J., he doesn’t play against me.”
Garrett was asked if Watt had reached out to him to clear the air.
"No, he didn’t say nothing to me,” Garrett said. “He’s going to have to apologize when I see him.”
The Steelers unveiled a new look last week, using backup quarterback Justin Fields to replace Russell Wilson for a handful of snaps, including on Pittsburgh’s final drive when Fields ran for a 9-yard gain that helped kill the clock.
It could become a fixture as Pittsburgh moves forward, though offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is quick to point out Fields is not in there as simply a wildcat-type threat. Fields, after all, did account for 10 touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) while filling in for Wilson during Pittsburgh’s 4-2 start.
“I don’t view Justin in this role as a gadget guy,” Smith said. “We’ve got two starting quarterbacks and he’s a hell of a football player.”
Smith used a similar setup while calling the plays for Tennessee in 2019, bringing in Marcus Mariota occasionally to spell Ryan Tannehill to give opponents a different look.
The Browns' struggles have been followed by another time-honored Cleveland tradition: job speculation.
Coach Kevin Stefanski has been widely criticized for the team's collapse, caused by too many variables to list. And while he's aware his approval rating has taken a big hit, Stefanski said growing up around sports talk radio in Philadelphia as a kid prepared him.
"Probably because I grew up listening to that, I’m smart enough to not worry about outside noise,” he said. “I get that’s part of this gig. That’s life in the big city. My sole focus is getting this team ready to get a win on Thursday night. That’s it.”
Stars like Watt and Heyward aren’t the only ones making plays for the NFL’s second-stingiest defense.
Pittsburgh is getting plenty of contributions from down the depth chart. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson made a tumbling “gimme that” interception against the Ravens. Fellow rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop already has three picks and second-year linebacker Nick Herbig — filling in for an injured Alex Highsmith — forced a fumble last week and created the pressure that blew up a late 2-point conversion attempt by Baltimore.
“It’s just a multitude of guys who know what they’re doing,” Heyward said. “You know, vets have helped out the younger guys to bring them up. It allows us to be interchangeable and allows us to have each other’s backs and not blink in those moments.”
AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.
AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) attempts a pass as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) applies pressure during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) smiles as he come off the field following a game against the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts with teammates Najee Harris, left, and Darnell Washington at the end of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 18-16. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Heavy downpours fell over much of Northern California on Friday, causing small landslides, overflowing a river and flooding some streets, including in parts of San Francisco. Meanwhile tens of thousands of people were still without power in the Seattle area after several days in the dark.
The storm arrived in the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, mostly in the Seattle area, before moving through Northern California, where several roads were closed due to flooding and strong winds toppled trees.
Forecasters warned about the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in areas north of San Francisco from this season’s strongest atmospheric river — a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows through the sky over land.
On the East Coast, another storm brought much-needed rain to New York and New Jersey, where rare wildfires have raged in recent weeks. The rain eased the fire danger for the rest of the year was a boost for ski resorts preparing to open in the weeks ahead. Parts of West Virginia were under a blizzard warning through Saturday morning, with up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow and high winds making travel treacherous.
In California's Humboldt County, the sheriff’s office downgraded evacuation orders to warnings for people near the Eel River after forecasters said the waterway would see moderate but not major flooding. Officials urged residents to prepare for storm impacts throughout the week.
Flooding closed scenic Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, in neighboring Mendocino County north of Point Arena near the Garcia River, and there was no estimate for when it would reopen, according to the California Department of Transportation.
A small mudslide threatened a home in the community of Fitch Mountain, near Healdsburg, nestled in hills along the Russian River in Sonoma County. Moderate rain was falling, and officials worried the slide could grow and hit several homes downhill.
“Our concern is while this property may be OK, the earth between it and the road below is slipping, and the mudslide is affecting downhill properties,” said Tennis Wick, permits and resource director for Sonoma County.
Dana Eaton, who lives in one of the downhill properties and was clad in a yellow rain slicker and hat, said she was worried, too. In 2019, mud cascaded into a neighbor’s garage.
Asked what the last few days have been like, she laughed: “Wet. Constant rain. It’s like everywhere else in the county, but so far nothing major, just concerns.”
In Washington state more than 138,000 people were still without electricity, mostly in Seattle's King County, as crews worked to clear streets of downed lines, branches and other debris. Utility officials said the outages, which began Tuesday, could last into Saturday.
People flocked to a suburban senior center in Issaquah to get warm food and plug in their cellphones and other devices. One of them, Melissa Tryon, said she had been unable to charge her electric motorized wheelchair and had to throw out all the food in her refrigerator after it went bad.
“Today I kind of had a little bit of a meltdown,” Tyron said. “It’s hard to be cut off for that long.”
Gale warnings were issued off Washington, Oregon and California, and high wind warnings were in effect across parts of Northern California and Oregon. There were winter storm warnings for parts of the California Cascades and the Sierra Nevada.
The National Weather Service in Reno, Nevada, reported a 128-mph (206-kph) gust of wind in the morning at the top of Palisades Tahoe ski resort, about 10 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe, where some runs were open. Gusts up to 86 mph (138 kph) were recorded at Mt. Rose, which closed due to the weather.
The system roared ashore on the West Coast on Tuesday as a “ bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. It unleashed fierce winds that toppled trees onto roads, vehicles and homes.
Debra Campbell, 65, said she was sitting in the dark with a flashlight that night, unable to sleep as strong winds lashed her house in Crescent City, California. With a massive boom, a 150-foot (46-meter) tree came crashing down on her home and car.
“It was just so incredibly frightening," Campbell said. "Once I realized it wasn’t going to come through the ceiling where I was at, I was able to grab my car keys and my purse. ... And I open the front door and it’s just solid tree.”
She was able to stay with her boyfriend that night, but now, living on Social Security and with no savings, she worries about how she will to pay for repairs.
Officials warned of the risk of flash flooding, rockslides and debris flows, especially where hillsides were loosened by recent wildfires.
In the Northeast, which has been hit by drought, more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain was expected by Saturday morning north of New York City, with snow mixed in at higher elevations.
Despite the mess, the precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions in a state that has seen an exceptionally dry fall.
“It’s not going to be a drought buster, but it’s definitely going to help when all this melts,” said Bryan Greenblatt, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Binghamton, New York.
Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains, prompting a raft of school closures. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities like Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. More than 100,000 customers in 10 counties lost power, and the state transportation department imposed speed restrictions on some highways.
Gary Wilson, 37, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, was heading to his casino job in the Poconos in the morning when he got stuck in standstill traffic, a consequence of accidents and downed wires. At one point he worried about getting stranded because it was snowing hard and plows couldn’t get through. Traffic began moving again only after about five hours, and Wilson never did make it to work.
“I’m done for the day,” Wilson said. “Five and a half hours in the car, turn around and get home safe.”
Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Hallie Golden in Seattle, Janie Har in San Francisco, Manuel Valdes in Issaquah, Washington, Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C., Michael Rubinkam in Pennsylvania and John Raby in West Virginia contributed.
Cars drive through floodwaters as they rise in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A scooter rider wears a poncho and a plastic bag as a rain cover for the handlebars as they and other scooter riders battle the rain as they ride along Market Street, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A pick-up truck drives through floodwaters as heavy rains fall in Windsor, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Livestock graze on a patch field not flooded by the swollen Eel River in Ferndale, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Livestock graze on a patch field not flooded by the swollen Eel River in Ferndale, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Floodwaters surround a van as heavy rains fall in Windsor, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Damage is seen after a tree crashed through a home and fence during a bomb cyclone storm system in Sammamish, Wash., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jason Skipper via AP)
Leticia Lezama sits in her disabled car as Gabe Sitton works to rescue her from floodwaters on Slusser Rd. as heavy rains fall in Windsor, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flood water covers a vineyard along Windsor Road as heavy rains continue in Windsor, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A driver, left, waits for his truck to be removed from an accident site after sliding into a hillside during snow showers, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, near Quinwood, W.Va. (Jenny Harnish/The Register-Herald via AP)
Nia McKinnon and Elizabeth Hintz, both 14, look at their phones at a charging station located in the Senior Center in Issaquah, Wash., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
People charge their electronics at a charging station set up at the Issaquah Senior Center in Issaquah, Wash., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
Nia McKinnon and Elizabeth Hintz, both 14, look at their phones at a charging station located in the Senior Center in Issaquah, Wash., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
Linda Ryall and Todd Nielsen look at each other's phones at a charging station located in the Issaquah Senior Center in Issaquah, Wash., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
A firefighter drives past flooded vineyards as heavy rains continue in Windsor, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Berger)
A firefighter returns to his truck among flooded vineyards as heavy rains continue in Windsor, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Berger)
Sharon Scofield, 71, checks the debris in her front yard after winds knocked over many signs and halloween decorations, as flood water from the swollen Eel River is seen in the background in Ferndale, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
People gather to charge their electronics at a charging station set up at the Issaquah Senior Center in Issaquah, Wash., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
Jorge Martinez, left, and Manuel Barral pause after the crossed a road flooded by rain waters from the nearby Eel River in Ferndale, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A firefighter drives past flooded vineyards as heavy rains continue in Windsor, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Berger)
A firefighter returns to his truck among flooded vineyards as heavy rains continue in Windsor, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Berger)
Residents work to shore up a mudslide as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Permit Sonoma Director Tennis Wick crosses a mudslide to inspect a home as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Permit Sonoma Director Tennis Wick crosses a mudslide to inspect a home as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Permit Sonoma Director Tennis Wick crosses a mudslide to inspect a home as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A firefighter evaluates a mudslide as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Workers clear walking paths with snow blowers during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Norden, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
A pickup truck makes its way through a flooded street in Santa Rosa, Calif. Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Pedestrians cross a flooded street during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
A worker clears the entrance to a building with a snow blower during a storm, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Norden, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
A downed tree destroys a vehicle and a property during a storm, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Forestville, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
A lone skier rides on a lift Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Norden, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
Salvador Garza shovels snow from the front of his shop Crystal Tones in Mt. Shasta, Calif.,, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, where runoff from rain and melting snow has begun to create standing water after an atmospheric river storm dumped significant precipitation in the area since Tuesday evening. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Big Chico Creek swirls by a swimming area at One Mile Recreation, runoff from Tuesday's rain and melting snow created flooding concerns as an atmospheric river storm dumped significant precipitation in Chico, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A worker clears a road with a snow blower during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Norden, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
A downed tree lands over a property during a storm, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Forestville, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
A member of an emergency crew walks in knee-deep flooded street during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Flood water is seen across State Route 254 near Redcrest, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A rescue team help a stranded motorist in a flooded street during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Snow comes down on trees and a road during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Norden, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
The Baer family, Larry, from left, Tiffany and their daughter Chloe stop to see Big Chico Creek swirling by a swimming area at One Mile Recreation Area, as runoff from Tuesday's rain and melting snow created flooding concerns from an atmospheric river storm that dumped significant precipitation in Chico, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A passenger plane taxies on a water-soaked runway at San Francisco Airport while passengers wait for flights on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Andy Bao)
Cars are covered in snow during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
A downed tree lands over a property during a storm, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Forestville, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
A vineyard is flooded during a storm, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Forestville, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
A pedestrian walks along a flooded street during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
A car is left stranded on a flooded road during a storm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Windsor, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
