Browns Top Ohio NFL Searches, but Steelers and Bengals Hold Turf
Geography and weekly win-loss records dictate whether Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati dominates local search traffic across the state.
The Cleveland Browns lead Ohio in NFL search interest following a 13-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 18, 2026, but the state remains fractured along geographic lines, according to Google Trends data analyzed by USA TODAY. Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals fans still dominate the eastern and western borders.
A recent USA TODAY story definitively stated, based on Google Trends, that the Browns are the most popular team in the state today. The reality is messier. Over the past five seasons going back to 2021, fandom in the Buckeye state has split into three distinct territories. Search volume shifts weekly depending on who wins.
Northeast Ohio—encompassing the Cleveland-Akron-Canton corridor—belongs to the Browns. That dominance evaporates at the state line. In Youngstown and the Steubenville-Wheeling W. Va. regions, the Pittsburgh Steelers eclipsed Browns interest this weekend after beating the Tampa Buccaneers. Proximity to Pittsburgh and six Super Bowl titles keep those counties loyal to black and gold.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) on Oct. 18, 2026, in Cleveland.
The AFC North is locked in a scrum. The Browns, Steelers and Baltimore Ravens all sit at 4-2. The Cincinnati Bengals, on a bye this past weekend, trail at 3-2. Cleveland currently claims first in the division based on tie-breakers.
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Oct 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns fans before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
(Scott Galvin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Oct 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns fans before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
(Scott Galvin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Oct 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) gestures before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
(Scott Galvin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Oct 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
(Scott Galvin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Bengals own the Cincinnati-Dayton area and western portions of Ohio, such as Lima. More surprisingly, Google Trends from the weekend showed Cincinnati outranking Cleveland in search volume in Zanesville and Columbus. The Bengals also are considered the favorite pro team for Kentucky.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium.
Ohio hasn’t seen its three NFL franchises clustered this tightly near .500 or better this early in a season since 2020. The last time Cleveland held sole possession of first place in the AFC North past Week 5 was 2020, when they finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Search spikes fade by Tuesday. Winning keeps them around longer. George M. Thomas covers sports and pop culture for the Beacon Journal.
