NFL Thursday Night Football preview: Suddenly hot Browns with Deshaun Watson take on Steelers

The Cleveland Browns lost 34-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their opener. There was a question whether Deshaun Watson would get benched before Week 2. It seemed likely that if he got another start he'd still be replaced by Week 3, which was Cleveland's home opener.

The Browns have won two straight games. They had late rallies to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Watson hasn't been great, but he has been better than his first few disastrous seasons with the Browns, and there's no longer daily conversation over whether he'll get benched. This week the Browns go for a three-game winning streak Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers , who are also off to a 2-1 start and tied for first place in the AFC North. All four teams in the division are 2-1.

The Steelers had a huge win Sunday, beating the Bengals 30-27. An offense that had scored only one touchdown through two games came alive. Aaron Rodgers had 292 yards passing, and Jaylen Warren had 127 yards rushing. Warren will be in for another big workload this week with Rico Dowdle ruled out due to a toe injury.

For the Browns, the offensive resurgence has been incremental. Watson had 238 and 144 yards in Cleveland's last two games, but that has been enough to help the team to wins. There is a good young core around the quarterback that is emerging and contributing each of the past two weeks. After the first game of the season it seemed impossible that the Browns might spend any days alone in first place of the division, but that's where they'll be with a win Thursday night.

The rivalry between the Browns and Steelers goes back decades and runs deep. This time there are some considerable early-season stakes.

It's a dead heat. Both teams are 2-1. Both have questions about their long-term viability as contenders in the AFC North because of their uneven offenses. Perhaps the Browns get the edge because it's a home game and if they lose, it will be tough to find road wins in the division to even it out. But these two teams should be pleased to be 2-1, and one of them is going to be 3-1 (let's assume there won't be a tie) and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North for a few days.

The Browns are 2-1, and one would assume that means they've run the ball well. Actually, Cleveland has been one of the worst teams in the NFL on the ground. The Browns are 29th in rushing yards, 29th in rushing yards per attempt and have zero rushing touchdowns. They're 31st in EPA ( expected points added ) per rush. Judkins, in his second season, has just 124 yards and is averaging 3 yards per attempt. Last season he was averaging 3.6 per attempt before dislocating his ankle and fracturing his fibula.

Perhaps that leg injury is lingering. With Deshaun Watson not producing many yards in the air, the Browns need the running game to emerge to have a consistent offense. Judkins is the key to that. He has 42 rushing attempts this season and no other running back has more than four. Judkins has to start producing for the Browns' offense to stay afloat.

We probably won't be telling our grandkids about this game, but it remains an important game in the AFC North. The Steelers opened as 2.5-point road favorites, and the line has moved to Pittsburgh -3 at several sportsbooks. The total is a low one at 38.5, up slightly from the opener. This will be the eighth straight game that Cleveland has been an underdog and the 12th time in its last 13 games, dating back to last season. Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh's offense looked downright functional in Week 3 against Cincinnati , while Deshaun Watson did enough to lead the Browns past Carolina late on Sunday. Cleveland's defense (17th in EPA/play) hasn't been as strong as it has been in previous seasons. I'd look to the over in this game, even as ugly as it feels to take.

Check out more of Ben's work at the Yahoo Sports betting hub .

Fantasy football storylines, by Scott Pianowski

Expectations have to be somewhat muted as the Steelers and Browns kick off Week 4, as the 38.5 total is the lowest of the week. Here are three fantasy themes to consider as you watch the game.

1. Is Harold Fannin Jr. the first read in Cleveland's passing game? Fannin had a quiet opener, but he's posted a 12-105-2 line since, taking advantage of 15 targets. He overcame the messy QB play in Cleveland last year, and Deshaun Watson's play the last two weeks has been encouraging.

2. Will the Jaylen Warren show continue? Warren finished as the RB8 last week, given the backfield to himself with Rico Dowdle unavailable. Dowdle won't play here, which means Warren can push for 20 or more touches against a Cleveland run defense that's been ordinary (4.5 YPC allowed).

3. Can Quinshon Judkins find room to run? Judkins has seen a touch increase every week, but he's still struggling to find space to operate (3.0 YPC). Cleveland's offensive line is one of the worst in football, but at least it's up against a Pittsburgh front seven that's been merely average.

Check out more of Scott's work at the Yahoo Sports fantasy hub .