NFLOct 2
Watson steers Browns past Steelers 27-24 for sole AFC North lead
Cleveland improves to 3-1 behind a late 56-yard kick and a third straight winning drive from its quarterback.
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Third straight late winner
Deshaun Watson again produced a decisive late drive Thursday night, marching the Cleveland Browns into range for Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in a 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The result marked Watson’s third consecutive game directing a winning possession in the fourth quarter or overtime, making him only the second Browns quarterback since the 1970 merger to achieve that run after Brian Sipe. Safety Grant Delpit ended any final hope by intercepting a desperation heave from Aaron Rodgers. Cleveland moved to 3-1 and took sole possession of the AFC North for the first time since Nov. 9, 2014.
Early surge, late recovery
Watson threw for 181 yards before halftime, his highest first-half total with the Browns, while the offense scored touchdowns on three straight second-quarter drives and led 21-10 at the break. Those 21 points were Cleveland’s most in any quarter since the 2020 wild-card round against the same rival. The attack cooled after intermission. Watson was stripped by T.J. Watt in the third quarter and intercepted on a tipped pass early in the fourth. Pittsburgh scored after the pick but failed on a 2-point try, trailing 21-16 with 10:10 left, then tied the game at 24-24 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Pat Freiermuth and a 1-yard sneak for the conversion after a Jared Verse offsides flag. Watson responded with four straight completions; a 4-yard sack two plays later still left Szmyt comfortably in range.
Streaks and early form
The win was Cleveland’s third in a row after a 24-point road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 and its first 3-1 start since 2021. Through four games Watson has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 855 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions, his strongest completion rate in a Browns season.
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