Browns Edge Steelers 27-24 on Late Field Goal in AFC North Thriller

The Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field, moving into first place in the AFC North with a 3-1 record. A 56-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt with 10 seconds remaining provided the winning margin in a game that featured 21 unanswered points by Cleveland in the second quarter.

Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding two rushing touchdowns as the Browns recorded their first rushing scores of the season. Watson was sharp in the first half and engineered a late drive to set up the decisive kick.

“He seemed to think it might even be a season-long search. But it seems pretty clear that he's got his guy — at least for the short term.”

Aaron Rodgers threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns for Pittsburgh but was sacked five times and threw his first career interception against Cleveland. The 42-year-old quarterback kept the Steelers alive with a touchdown pass to Darnell Washington and a failed two-point conversion that made it a five-point game late.

Tensions flared between Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy during the Steelers' opening drive when the quarterback expressed frustration over play-calling delays. The pair, who won Super Bowl XLV together in Green Bay, exchanged heated words on the sideline.

Cleveland's victory marks a stunning turnaround for a franchise that won only eight games over the previous two seasons. First-year head coach Todd Monken's early quarterback questions appear answered for now, pushing second-year prospect Shedeur Sanders further down the depth chart.