NFLOct 2
Browns edge Steelers 27-24 to claim AFC North lead
Cleveland improves to 3-1 with a late field goal and interception as Pittsburgh’s long skid by the lake continues.
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Late kick and pick decide it
The Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night and moved into first place in the AFC North. After an 11-point lead slipped away in the fourth quarter, Deshaun Watson again produced a late push. Andre Szmyt drilled a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds left, and Grant Delpit intercepted Aaron Rodgers on the final heave. Cleveland is 3-1 and atop the division for the first time since Nov. 9, 2014, while posting its first 3-1 start since the 2021 season. Pittsburgh has now lost in Cleveland for five straight years, has not won there since 2021, and stands 0-10 in divisional Thursday night road games.
Offense surges then steadies
After quiet first halves in the first three games, Cleveland strung together three straight touchdown drives in the second quarter and led 21-10 at halftime. Those 21 points marked the Browns’ highest output in any half since 23 against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 of the 2024 season. Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception, ran for 22 yards on seven carries, and lost a fumble. He threw for 181 yards before the break. The Browns rushed for 112 yards, their second consecutive 100-yard ground game after combining for 131 yards in the first two contests. Watson entered the night with two straight game-winning drives and delivered a third.
Defense pressures Rodgers; flags pile up
Cleveland sacked Rodgers five times and intercepted him twice while landing 10 quarterback hits on the 42-year-old. Pittsburgh erased a 14-point deficit on a late drive that featured two completions of 20-plus yards to DK Metcalf and a quarterback sneak for a two-point conversion. In the final 1:42 the Browns advanced against a secondary missing its top two cornerbacks before Szmyt’s kick. Cleveland was flagged 17 times, the second straight game with at least 14 penalties after entering the week with 34, second-most in the league. Roman Wilson scored Pittsburgh’s first touchdown for the second week in a row, his first consecutive scoring games as a pro, on five targets after three the prior week.
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