The Cleveland Browns improved to 3 and 1 after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27 to 24 on Thursday Night Football.
Andre Szmyt delivered the decisive moment. He drilled a 56 yard field goal with only 10 seconds left, ending a seven play, 36 yard Cleveland drive.
The result gave Cleveland an early share of the AFC North lead after four weeks. Pittsburgh dropped to 2 and 2.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What Happened | Cleveland Browns defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 27 to 24 |
| Location | Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland |
| Date | October 1, 2026 |
| Winning Kick | Andre Szmyt made a 56 yard field goal |
| Time Remaining | 10 seconds |
| Cleveland Record | 3 and 1 |
| Pittsburgh Record | 2 and 2 |
| Final Play | Grant Delpit intercepted Aaron Rodgers |
| Division Impact | Cleveland secured a share of the AFC North lead |
Browns Win a Thriller Against Steelers
Following Pittsburgh’s late rally, Cleveland appeared to be in for a rough finish.
Aaron Rodgers contributed to the Steelers’ success. He connected with Pat Freiermuth for a three-yard touchdown throw. Rodgers then ran for a successful two-point conversion.
That play evened the score at 24.
Cleveland responded with a brief but critical scoring drive. The Browns gained 36 yards in seven plays. Szmyt then stepped up to convert the 56-yard try.
With only 10 seconds remaining, his kick gave Cleveland a 27-24 lead.
Rodgers had one more shot to salvage Pittsburgh.
During the last seconds of the game, the Steelers quarterback attempted a desperation pass. Grant Delpit intercepted the pass, ending Pittsburgh’s comeback chances.
The Browns then scored a thrilling win in front of their home fans.
Cleveland Reaches 3 and 1
Cleveland now has a 3-1 record through four games.
The Browns last started a season 3–1 in 2021. They finally concluded the season with an 8-9 record.
This year’s team has already demonstrated a new approach. Cleveland started the season with a 34-10 defeat against Jacksonville. The Browns replied with wins over Tampa Bay and Carolina before upsetting Pittsburgh.
Deshaun Watson Shows Improvement
Deshaun Watson enters the season under scrutiny following his poor first performance.
His performance improved during Cleveland’s following two games. Watson has 238 yards passing against Tampa Bay and 144 versus Carolina.
He did not require great statistics to help Cleveland win those games. A youth support group also made gifts to the Browns.
Cleveland still has offensive difficulties to resolve. The running game entered Thursday’s game ranked at the bottom of the league.
Quinshon Judkins carried a significant portion of that effort. He rushed for 124 yards in the first three games, averaging 3.0 yards per attempt.
Steelers' Offense Had Shown Signs of Life
Pittsburgh entered the game after a 30 to 27 victory over Cincinnati.
Rodgers threw for 292 yards in that win. Jaylen Warren also rushed for 127 yards.
Warren carried a heavy workload against Cleveland because Rico Dowdle missed the game with a toe injury.
AFC North Race Tightens
The Browns’ victory adds another layer to a tightly packed AFC North race.
Cleveland moved to 3 and 1, while Pittsburgh fell to 2 and 2. The result also ended the Steelers’ chance to remain level with Cleveland after four weeks.
The Browns now have momentum heading into the next stage of the season. However, the team still needs more consistency on offense.
Browns Seal Dramatic Steelers Victory
Pittsburgh will try to respond after losing a game it nearly rescued in the final minutes.
Both teams now face the challenge of turning their early season performances into sustained success.
Andre Szmyt’s 56 yard field goal gave Cleveland a dramatic 27 to 24 victory over Pittsburgh.
Rodgers and the Steelers fought back late, but Grant Delpit’s final interception ended the comeback. Cleveland now sits at 3 and 1 and holds a share of the AFC North lead.
