You might think that tomorrow’s game is the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, there is a third player in the mix and she’s not playing fair. Mother Nature looks like she’s going to dump tons of wind and heavy rain on Cleveland tomorrow and that could have a huge impact on the outcome of the game. Are we sure they are gonna play this game Sunday? This weather looks miserable. #Browns #Steelers pic.twitter.com/M0AwGkOLtv — Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) September 7, 2018 The NFL and both teams are currently in communications and monitoring the situation. We assume that means the potential to move the game is a possibility. Considering the weather is supposed to worsen as the day goes on, the most logical move could be to make it a Monday night game instead. This is an issue we will keep a close eye on and if there is any change to the schedule, we will be sure to let you know.<doc-sep>The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are supposed to kick off at 1 PM ET Sunday at Cleveland's First Energy Stadium. The remnants of tropical storm Gordon is dousing the country with rain this week and it could affect kickoff in Week 1. Cleveland 19's Jeff Tanchak shared the following on Facebook via Dustin Fox: "Unless something significantly changes (which I doubt), we are looking at a HIGH impact weather event Sunday and Sunday night. The latest data I'm seeing [Friday] morning is calling for widespread 5+ inches of rain and locally 7+ inches. The heavy rain will start late Sunday night. So that means all day Sunday and Sunday night we are looking at continuous heavy rain. Winds will be gusting up to 40 MPH at times. I have not seen a worse weather forecast for a Browns game in the almost 16 years I have been here and that includes snow events. I have no idea how they will be able to play football or how people will be able to sit in that stadium and watch a game." According to Weather.com, the odds of precipitation reach 50-percent at 1 AM ET Sunday morning. The chance of precipitation increases to 95-percent at 8 AM ET and does not dip below 55-percent until 6 AM ET Monday morning. Stream the Steelers vs. Browns LIVE on CBS All Access across all of your devices. Start your free trial now! NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala adds that the league is monitoring the forecast and has been in communication with both teams. Head coach Hue Jackson says that the team is monitoring the weather. "I heard that there may be rain. It was supposed to be raining out there today, and it did not. I know the weather is kind of tricky here. It probably is going to rain on Sunday, but hopefully, none of that will affect what we are trying to accomplish," Jackson said. The team will have to adjust their game plan depending on the conditions that they face. “We do, but at the end of the day, we feel like we are a weather-proof offense. Whether it is rain, sun, mud or whatever, you have to be able to line up and play. I think Todd understands that. I think that our offensive players understand that. We are going to do what we do. Are there certain situations where you have to be aware of in weather? Yes. For the most part, we feel like our offense is weather-proof.” The defense is impacted more by inclement weather than the offense. “I think it is the defense, personally because the offense knows where they are going and sometimes slipping and those kinds of things. I think the offense – if they have the right shoes on – kind of has the upper hand in that way. They know exactly where they are trying to get to. Unless the defense has studied you very well and they know where you are trying to get to, too, I think the offense has a little bit better advantage," he coached. The Browns haven't won an opener since 2004 when they beat the Ravens, 20-3. That's 13-straight opening day defeats and 18 out of 19 since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999. Besides the opening day record, the Browns have lost six-straight games to the Steelers and are just 2-14 since 2010 against them. The last win over the Steelers was a 31-10 thrashing on Oct. 12, 2014 when Mike Pettine was still the coach. Browns and Steelers kick off on CBS from First Energy Stadium at 1 PM ET on Sunday.<doc-sep>
Going to the Browns-Steelers game on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium? You are going to get wet. If the forecast holds true, you might need extra precautions. Rubber boots and perhaps even a snorkel might be advisable. Maybe a flotation device just to be safe. The remnants of what was once Tropical Storm Gordon will be camped over northeast Ohio on Sunday. The leading edge of the storm has already dumped a full day of heavy rain in Cleveland, and the forecast doesn’t show it relenting before game time on Sunday. From Jeff Tanchak, meteorologist for Cleveland’s WOIO-TV: Heavy rain and a high chance of flooding are in the forecast Sunday and Sunday night. Many spots could be looking at over 2 inches of rain. Wind will be a factor as well. Weather will end up being the top story for the Browns game. The region is already under a flash flood advisory. Adding several more inches of rain could turn the field into a soggy puddle of turf. FirstEnergy Stadium does have an updated drainage system installed in 2016, but it has never really been tested for a game like this before. In addition to the deluge of rain, winds are expected to be in the 15-25 mph range throughout the game, with gusts over 30 mph possible. No lightning or severe weather is expected, so there should be no delays in the action. Areas to the south and east of Cleveland (including Pittsburgh) are forecast to get as much as six inches of rain in the next 36 hours.