Browns Victory Over Steelers Sealed by 56-Yard Kick

The Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns victory was sealed when kicker Andre Szmyt drilled a career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining. The win moved Cleveland to 3-1 and into sole possession of first place in the AFC North, and it was the team's third victory in a row.

Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he delivered the decisive drive after Pittsburgh tied the game late. According to ESPN, Watson is the second Browns quarterback since the 1970 merger to lead a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime of three straight games, joining Brian Sipe, who did it in 1979. The Browns victory was Cleveland's third straight game decided by a late scoring drive.

A fourth quarter that swung twice

Cleveland carried an 11-point lead into the final quarter after Watson's near-flawless first half, in which he threw for 181 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers adjusted after halftime, and Aaron Rodgers found his rhythm in the second half. Rodgers finished 22 of 40 for 299 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions, though the Browns sacked him five times.

Pittsburgh's comeback began with a defensive stand. On the second play of the fourth quarter, a tipped-pass interception of Watson was upheld on replay after a pass-interference flag was waved off, according to NBC Sports. Rodgers followed with a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darnell Washington, and a failed two-point attempt left the Steelers trailing by five.

Rodgers then engineered an eight-play, 80-yard drive, finding Pat Freiermuth for a three-yard touchdown with 1:42 left on the clock, and he sneaked in the tying two-point conversion himself.

Watson responded with a seven-play, 36-yard drive, connecting twice with Jerry Jeudy, including a 17-yard strike to midfield. When the drive stalled at the 38-yard line, Szmyt trotted out and sent the kick through the uprights for the lead. Rodgers got one last chance from his own 35, but safety Grant Delpit intercepted his final pass with a single second left to end the game.

Ward's early interception set the tone for Cleveland's defense. Browns cornerback Denzel Ward picked off Rodgers in the first quarter, then joked afterward that he was exhausted by the man-to-man assignments, saying he would "have to talk to" defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg about "all these man-to-man plays," per Heavy.com. Rodgers still managed 154 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone, but the five sacks and two turnovers defined his night as much as the late rally. The Browns victory was built on that defensive effort as much as on Watson's late drive.

What Thursday night's Browns victory means in the division

Thursday night's Browns victory gave Cleveland its first winning streak of three games since weeks 14 through 17 of the 2023 season, according to ESPN Research. The result also extended two home streaks at once: five straight wins over Pittsburgh and eight consecutive Thursday night victories, the longest active streak in the NFL. The Browns sit alone atop the AFC North, a half game ahead of Cincinnati and Baltimore, while the Steelers fell to 2-2.

Thursday night also marked the 150th meeting between the rivals, who play about 135 miles apart. For Pittsburgh, Rodgers became the third quarterback aged 42 or older with multiple touchdown passes in back-to-back weeks, joining Tom Brady and Vinny Testaverde. Jaylen Warren ran for 93 yards, and DK Metcalf caught five passes for 115 yards, but the two late interceptions ended the comeback bid.

Several of Cleveland's younger players played key roles in the Browns victory. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught a touchdown pass from Watson, Denzel Boston added four receptions for 89 yards, and rookie running back Quinshon Judkins scored on the ground. The Steelers, meanwhile, played much of the night shorthanded after defensive players Derrick Harmon and Jamel Dean exited before halftime with injuries, according to CBS News.

After the game, Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said the offense's opening drive was "hectic," per Athlon Sports, though he added that the communication settled down after that series. The Browns victory gives Cleveland an extended break before the trip to face the New York Jets on Oct. 11. The rematch in Pittsburgh is set for Nov. 1.

Sources: ESPN, NBC Sports, theScore (AP)