The Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night, securing their third consecutive win and taking first place in the AFC North. Andre Szmyt kicked a 56-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for Cleveland. The win improved the Browns to a 2-1 record, their first such start since 2023.
Deshaun Watson led the Browns' offense with 268 passing yards and one touchdown. The quarterback moved Cleveland into field-goal range on a seven-play drive before Szmyt's kick. This performance adds to Watson's candidacy as an early comeback story in the NFL this season.
The game marked the final scheduled Thursday night appearance for Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He entered the contest one win shy of tying Tom Brady's record of 14 Thursday night victories. Rodgers finished with 299 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. His record in Thursday night games fell to 13-8 after the loss.
Pittsburgh's struggles on the road against division rivals continued, as the Steelers dropped to 0-10 in such games. After trailing, Pittsburgh mounted an eight-play, 80-yard fourth-quarter drive to tie the game at 24. The Browns' subsequent possession proved decisive.
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy is 11-5 on Thursday nights, including wins in four of his past five such games. The matchup represented the 150th meeting between the two franchises, which are separated by 135 miles.
Rodgers told reporters before the game that he accepts the physical toll of the schedule due to the financial rewards involved. He stated that he is excited about the upcoming weekend despite the grueling travel and play schedule. Both teams will have extra rest before their next contests.
Cleveland will visit the New York Jets in Week 5. The Steelers will return home to host the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 11.