Three Weeks, Three Comebacks: Szmyt's 56-Yarder Puts the Browns at 3-1 for the First Time Since 2001

Andre Szmyt told Deshaun Watson he'd make it from anywhere. He also asked, politely, for the 42-yard line.

Watson didn't quite get him there. He was sacked for a 4-yard loss with 19 seconds left, leaving the ball at the Pittsburgh 38. Szmyt hit the 56-yarder anyway, a career long, down the middle with 10 seconds to go, and Cleveland beat the Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night.

"I knew it was money," Watson said. The Browns are 3-1 for the first time since 2001, and they lead the AFC North.

Watson's third straight

That's three weeks in a row Watson has led a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. This one was needed because Pittsburgh rallied from 21-7 down late in the first half. Aaron Rodgers hit Pat Freiermuth for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:44 left and then sneaked in the 2-point conversion to tie it at 24.

Watson went 4 for 5 for 46 yards on the winning drive, with two completions to Jerry Jeudy for 27 yards. He finished 24 of 33 for 268 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and his 181 first-half passing yards were his most in a half since Houston traded him to Cleveland in 2022.

Szmyt has now made 22 straight field goals.

Szmyt has made 22 straight field goals, and this was his third in the final 15 seconds of a game since he joined the Browns last season. Rodgers got one last shot, a Hail Mary that Grant Delpit intercepted at the Cleveland 18 with a second left.

Rodgers was 22 of 40 for 299 yards with three touchdowns and two picks. DK Metcalf caught five passes for 115 yards, and Jaylen Warren ran for 93.

The cost: Mason Graham

Cleveland lost defensive tackle Mason Graham on Pittsburgh's opening series. His left leg bent awkwardly while he was being blocked, and he was ruled out with a knee injury. The No. 5 pick in 2025 has four sacks, the team lead and tied for second in the NFL. His replacement, Mike Hall Jr., was carted off with an ankle injury in the second quarter but came back in the third.

Streaks

The Browns have won eight straight Thursday night games, the longest active streak in the league, and four of them came against Pittsburgh. The Steelers (2-2) are now 0-10 on Thursdays on the road against AFC North teams.