CLEVELAND — The first-place Cleveland Browns.
The idea seemed ludicrous after they were embarrassed in the opener.
Less than three weeks later, it’s reality after Andre Szmyt made a career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to cap a third straight winning drive in the fourth quarter by quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Browns beat the Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field for their third straight victory. At 3-1, they are alone atop the AFC North.
The Ravens and Bengals are 2-1 heading into Sunday, and the Steelers dropped to 2-2.
Browns coach Todd Monken on the remarkable turnaround after opening loss. pic.twitter.com/HyO60266vB
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“If you said that was the way we would start the season after the way we worked, I would have said you’re nuts,” first-year coach Todd Monken said of the 34-10 loss to the Jaguars. “And if you’d have said we’d be 3-1 after that first game, I would’ve said you’re nuts. But that’s a credit to our players, because all they do is just work. It’s them. They didn’t blink.”
Cleveland’s mastery on Thursday night continued. It’s won eight straight overall — the longest active streak in the NFL — and 10 straight at home, including five against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is 0-10 on the road inside the division on Thursday night.
The Browns erupted for 21 second-quarter points after a slow start, then needed another clutch drive from Watson and Co. to save the night.
After the Steelers tied it with a touchdown and 2-point conversion with 1:42 left, the Browns went 36 yards in seven plays before Szmyt sent it through the Dawg Pound uprights for his 22nd straight make.
“That was money. I just knew, I knew it was money,” said Watson, who went 4-for-5 for 45 yards and a sack on the final drive.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson on what he was thinking before Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard winner. pic.twitter.com/XKO36yBkMm
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“He’s a great kicker, best kicker in the league and grateful that he was able to get that done for us and get the win,” said cornerback Denzel Ward, who sparked the second-quarter outburst with an interception of Aaron Rodgers.
Watson had his best first half in five years with the Browns, going 14-for-17 for 181 yards, a touchdown and a 130.6 passer rating. He struggled in the second half, losing a fumble, throwing an interception and recovering another of his fumbles.
He finished 24-for-33 for 268 yards, a touchdown, an interception, a lost fumble, two sacks and a 94.0 rating.
“Deshaun’s just been doing him. He’s been executing at a high level, so that’s what he do,” said receiver Jerry Jeudy, who had catches of 17 and 10 yards on the winning drive after being invisible most of the year.
The Browns are 3-1 for the fourth time since returning in 1999 (2001, 2020-21). They’ve won three in a row for the first time since 2023.
They’ve won five straight from the Steelers on the lakefront. The game was chippy throughout, as would be expected from such a longtime rivalry with first place on the line.
“They be barking, we be biting. That’s it,” linebacker Quincy Williams said.
The news wasn’t all positive, as defensive tackle Mason Graham left in the first quarter and didn’t return. He sustained a left knee injury when he got caught in a pile, limped off the field, then into the locker room. He exited the stadium in a brace and on crutches.
The No. 5 pick in 2025 was off to a great start with four sacks in the first three games.
“It’s difficult seeing one of your brothers going down, but you gotta keep that next-man-up mentality,” said defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., who was carted off the sideline with an ankle injury, only to return and get one of the team’s five sacks. “You got to be out there and work even harder for him.”
The Browns continue to come through in the clutch and show the resilience to rebound from mistakes and struggles. Watson epitomizes that.
He was booed at home during the preseason and was another poor performance from getting benched after the opener but has flipped the script. He was introduced last Thursday night and received a positive reception. He looked outstanding in the second quarter before the pair of second-half turnovers. Then he led two field goal drives in the fourth quarter.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson on electric atmosphere and win over Steelers. pic.twitter.com/H9OjQK7MyO
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“It was electric. It was amazing. From the time we came out pregame, it was super dope to be called out, hear the crowd and feel the energy,” said Watson, who criticized the fans after he was booed during the preseason. “To get a big victory against a divisional rival on primetime, this is what you dream about. This is what you work for.”
Watson was charged with getting the ball to the Pittsburgh 42-yard line because Szmyt was comfortable from 60. Watson did 4 yards better.
“This is what it’s all about. For the fans, for the city,” Watson said. “These last three weeks there have been some ups and downs, but at the end, we finish with that joy and those cheers, and we want to continue to bring that.”
“It’s just showing his resilience and his fight,” Ward said. “He’s mentally strong and even with all the odds against him, he’s been coming out here making plays and leading us to victory. So definitely back behind him and we gotta keep rolling.”
For many on the young roster, it was the first primetime game in the NFL. The group rose to the occasion.
Rookie receiver Denzel Boston caught four passes for 89 yards, including a 60-yard catch-and-run. Rookie receiver KC Concepcion caught five for 64. Second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught a 2-yard touchdown, giving him three in two games. Szmyt is also in his second season.
The Browns didn’t score in the second half until Szmyt made a 44-yard field goal with 6:37 left for a 24-16 lead. A 21-yard scramble by Watson on third down extended the drive.
The Steelers had cut the lead to 21-16 on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to tight end Darnell Washington. Rodgers moved right outside the pocket and made a great throw back over the middle into the end zone.
They went for 2, and linebacker Quincy Williams made a big hit and tackle after a catch by running back Jaylen Warren.
The Browns defense was called on twice more in the last 6:33. It got the first stop but not the second.
Rodgers looked for big receiver DK Metcalf early in the drive, then the giant Washington in the red zone. After Washington drew a pass interference penalty on rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on fourth-and-10 from the 11, Rodgers found tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 3-yard touchdown. Rodgers sneaked for the 2-point conversion after end Jared Verse was penalized for jumping offside, which moved the try to the 1.
Watson, the offense and Szmyt took it from there, and safety Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers’ desperation heave with a second left.
“It feels crazy. It feels good, to say the least,” Delpit said. “Winning is fun, let’s put it that way.”
In his first experience in the rivalry, Verse never stopped talking and scuffling with the Steelers and had to be pulled away by teammates on multiple occasions.
“This isn’t the old Browns,” he said. “We’ve got new swag. We’re a lot more aggressive, a lot more getting after it. This is something different here. We’re going to make this whole city rock.”
They certainly did Thursday night.
