Browns Stun Steelers on Walk-Off 56-Yarder, Seize AFC North Throne
Andre Szmyt's career-long field goal with 10 seconds left capped a wild fourth-quarter swing, lifting Cleveland to 3-1 and first place in the division for the first time since 2014.
Cleveland's Thursday night got loud in the final ten seconds. Kicker Andre Szmyt drilled a career-long 56-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Browns past the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 in a Week 4 thriller that swung the entire AFC North.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson drove Cleveland 40-some yards in the closing minutes, going 4-for-5 for 46 yards on the winning possession — including two completions to Jerry Jeudy covering 27 yards — to set Szmyt up in range. It was Watson's third straight week engineering a game-winning drive, according to ESPN's game recap. Watson finished 24-of-33 for 268 yards and a touchdown.
The Browns had built a big first-half cushion, scoring three second-quarter touchdowns to go up double digits, before 42-year-old Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers nearly stole it back. Rodgers threw for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns, capped by a 3-yard strike to Pat Freiermuth with 1:44 left, then a sneak for the two-point conversion that tied the game at 24-24 — only for Watson and Szmyt to answer right back.
What it means
Cleveland improves to 3-1 and moves into sole possession of first place in the AFC North for the first time since 2014, per Yahoo Sports' report on the game. Pittsburgh falls to 2-2, with Rodgers intercepted on a desperation final-play Hail Mary that sealed it.
"I knew it was money. He told me the landmark," Watson said of Szmyt's kick, according to ESPN.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski's staff pointed to the resilience on display — three consecutive fourth-quarter comebacks for Watson and the offense, a stretch that's quietly turned Cleveland into one of the league's most dangerous closing teams. The Browns' own recap highlighted Szmyt's kick as an instant franchise moment.
For Pittsburgh, it's a bitter pill: five sacks allowed, two Rodgers interceptions, and a blown chance to tie Cleveland atop the division. The Steelers now head into Week 5 needing to regroup fast, while the Browns ride the high into a tougher back half of the schedule still holding the division lead everyone doubted they'd have in October.