There is no such thing as a must-win football game until a team is in the playoffs or facing elimination from playoff contention. Certainly, the Steelers' game Sept. 14 at Cleveland isn't a must-win. What happens if they lose? Do they pack away the equipment and call it a year after just two games?

Right.

I'm sure Mike Tomlin would go along with that.

But that doesn't mean that the Week 2 game isn't as important and as intriguing as any early-season game in memory.

This is the year many believe the Browns will take control of the AFC North Division from the Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens aren't going to do it. They have a new coach -- the Ravens aren't nearly as much fun to despise without egotistical Brian Billick on their sideline -- and no quarterback to speak well of. The Cincinnati Bengals aren't going to do it, either. They have the ongoing Chad Ocho Cinco soap opera. Coach Marvin Lewis has been emasculated beyond recognition by owner Mike Brown. (Is Chris Henry in trouble with the law yet again?) They're just a mess.

But the Browns?

They are a sexy pick to win the division.

That's why the Steelers could help themselves by giving the Browns a good beat-down early.

That would continue a wonderful trend. The Steelers have won nine games in a row in the series and 15 of the past 16. They have won seven in a row at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Why let the Browns start winning now?

Why not smack them down in that second game and reinforce the idea that they are an inferior team?

I'll give the Browns credit for hanging tough last season after the Steelers flogged them, 34-7, in the opening game in Cleveland. It was almost unbelievable how bad the Browns were that day. I think I wrote that they had a real shot of going 0-16. But they didn't, not even close. Somehow, they beat Cincinnati, 51-45, the next week. They managed to finish with a 10-6 record, same as the Steelers. They missed the playoffs and the Steelers won the division mainly because the Steelers beat them twice -- that laugher in the opener and by 31-28 in November at Heinz Field. That second beating couldn't have done much for the Browns' collective psyche when it comes to facing the Steelers. Cleveland blew a 21-9 halftime lead as Ben Roethlisberger threw for two touchdowns and ran 30 yards for another score.

I'm thinking another 34-7 licking Sept. 14 would add plenty to the Browns' angst.

If it happens that way -- or even if the Steelers win another close one -- it will be hard to imagine the Browns being as resilient as they were last season, especially if they also lose their opening game at home to the Dallas Cowboys and start 0-2. Is Derek Anderson the real deal at quarterback? Who knows? But I'm guessing he's no Big Ben. Will the Browns' defense be significantly improved? We'll see. All we know for sure is the Browns have to play nearly as brutal of a schedule as the Steelers do with games against Dallas, the New York Giants, Washington, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Tennessee. The edge the Browns have over the Steelers -- and it looks to be fairly significant -- is they get to play Buffalo and Denver instead of New England and San Diego.

That makes that Week 2 game all the more important.

It's time to get out the crystal ball: I see the Steelers beating the Browns again, not just in Cleveland but also at Heinz Field in the final regular-season game Dec. 28.

The Steelers always beat the Browns, don't they?

That final game will be for the division championship. The Steelers will finish 9-7, the Browns 8-8 or 7-9. It won't be a great football season around here by any means. The Steelers do not have the look of a great team.

But the playoffs are the playoffs, right?

Things could be worse, anyway.

We could be living in Cleveland, following the Browns.