Deshaun Watson led a game-winning drive as the Browns beat the Steelers 27-24. Cleveland moved into first place in the AFC North.
Deshaun Watson guided the Cleveland Browns on a game-winning drive capped by Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining, lifting Cleveland to a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. Grant Delpit sealed the victory with an interception on the Steelers’ final possession.
Watson finished 24 of 33 passing for 268 yards and a 2-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr., becoming only the second quarterback in franchise history, after Brian Sipe in 1979, to lead game-winning drives in the fourth quarter of three consecutive Browns games. The win moved Cleveland to 3-1 and into sole possession of first place in the AFC North, the first time the Browns have ended a week atop the division since opening the 2023 season 1-0. Cleveland’s defense forced three takeaways, including a second-quarter interception by Denzel Ward that turned the game in the Browns’ favor, while Szmyt remained perfect on the season at 8 of 8 on field goals and punter Corey Bojorquez averaged 62.8 yards on four punts.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns for Pittsburgh but was sacked five times and threw two interceptions, the second of which ended the game. The Steelers, who fell to 2-2, opened with a 15-play, 78-yard touchdown drive but managed only three points over their next seven possessions before a late rally fell short. T.J. Watt forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, and Robert Spears-Jennings added an interception, but the Steelers’ defense could not generate enough pressure on Watson, who faced pressure on just 21.6% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. The loss snapped first-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy’s seven-game personal winning streak on Thursday nights, a run that extended back to his time with the Dallas Cowboys. The Browns, meanwhile, extended their active streak to eight straight Thursday night wins, the longest in the NFL.
This report is based on information from NFL.com.