CLEVELAND — Andre Szmyt drilled a career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining, and Grant Delpit intercepted Aaron Rodgers’ last-second heave, as the Cleveland Browns held off the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday Night Football at Huntington Bank Field.
The win improved Cleveland to 3-1, its first 3-1 start since 2021, and put the Browns alone in first place in the AFC North. It is the first time Cleveland has sat atop the division since Nov. 9, 2014. Pittsburgh fell to 2-2.
Deshaun Watson led the go-ahead drive for the third straight week. He completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and the Browns’ defense sacked Rodgers five times and intercepted him twice.
Second-quarter surge flips an early deficit
Rodgers opened the scoring late in the first quarter. He finished a 17-play, 78-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson, and Chris Boswell’s extra point made it 7-0 with 2:59 left in the period.
Cleveland answered with three touchdowns in the second quarter. Jaleel McLaughlin burst 28 yards for a score to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:14 remaining. Quinshon Judkins then powered in from the 2-yard line to put the Browns ahead 14-7 with 8:28 left. Watson closed the burst with a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:22 remaining, capping an 11-play, 62-yard drive and making it 21-7.
ICYMI: a breakdown of last night's BIG win against a division rival pic.twitter.com/1dLhV5XxXq
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 2, 2026
Boswell kicked a 31-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the half, and the Browns took a 21-10 lead into the locker room. The third quarter was scoreless.
Steelers rally, Browns answer
Pittsburgh cut the deficit in the fourth quarter. Rodgers found Darnell Washington for a 21-yard touchdown with 10:10 left. The extra point was missed, and the Steelers trailed 21-16.
Szmyt answered with a 44-yard field goal at the 6:37 mark to make it 24-16. Rodgers then drove Pittsburgh the length of the field and hit Pat Freiermuth for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:42 remaining. Rodgers sneaked in for the two-point conversion, and the game was tied at 24-24.
Watson responded again. He went 4 of 5 for 46 yards on the winning drive, including two completions to Jerry Jeudy for 27 yards. A 4-yard sack with 19 seconds left pushed the ball back to the Steelers’ 38-yard line, but Szmyt still split the uprights from 56 yards to give Cleveland a 27-24 lead with 10 seconds left. The kick extended his streak of made field goals to 22.
Rodgers’ desperation throw on the final play was intercepted by Delpit, sealing the Browns’ third straight victory.
By the numbers
Watson also rushed seven times for 22 yards. Judkins carried 17 times for 53 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 43 yards. McLaughlin’s only carry went for 28 yards and a score. David Boston led Cleveland with four receptions for 89 yards. Kevin Concepcion Jr. had five catches for 64 yards, and Fannin finished with three receptions for 27 yards and the touchdown.
Rodgers completed 22 of 40 passes for 299 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaylen Warren rushed 17 times for 93 yards and added three catches for 33 yards. DK Metcalf had five receptions for 115 yards. Wilson (three catches, 74 yards), Washington (three catches, 27 yards) and Freiermuth (three catches, 17 yards) scored the Pittsburgh touchdowns.
Cleveland has now won eight straight Thursday night games, the longest active streak in the NFL and tied for the fourth-longest in league history. Four of those wins have come against the Steelers. Pittsburgh is 0-10 on the road against AFC North opponents on Thursdays.
What’s next
The Browns travel to face the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. ET. They return home on Oct. 18 to host the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers next play on Sunday.
