CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are 3-1 and tied for first in the AFC North.
Who had that on their bingo card? You? Bee-Ess.
Cleveland knocked off Pittsburgh, 27-24, Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field, surviving a furious fourth-quarter comeback before Andre Szmyt drilled a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give the Browns their third consecutive victory and their first AFC North win of the season.
Pittsburgh controlled the opening quarter, using a bruising 17-play, 78-yard drive that ate nearly 10 minutes before Aaron Rodgers found Roman Wilson for a 12-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Cleveland’s offense struggled through its first two possessions, but the entire game changed early in the second quarter when Denzel Ward intercepted Rodgers at the Browns’ 44.
Four plays later, Jaleel McLaughlin broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown to tie things up at 7-7.
Cleveland then started to take control of the game.
Deshaun Watson hit rookie Denzel Boston for 60 yards on the Browns’ next possession, setting up Quinshon Judkins’ 2-yard touchdown run and a 14-7 lead. After Chris Boswell missed a 48-yard field goal, Watson put together an 11-play, 62-yard drive and found Harold Fannin Jr. for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the half.
Just like that, Cleveland had scored 21 unanswered points.
Pittsburgh managed a field goal before halftime, but the Browns entered the locker room leading 21-10 after easily their best offensive quarter of the season.
The third quarter became a defensive fight. Cleveland failed to score and Watson lost a fumble when T.J. Watt stripped him near midfield, but the Browns defense refused to allow Pittsburgh to capitalize. Cleveland repeatedly pressured Rodgers, including sacks by Adin Huntington and Mike Hall Jr., and carried the 21-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
Then things started to turn, and none of it was cool.
Watson was intercepted by R.J. Spears-Jennings early in the fourth, and Rodgers responded by driving Pittsburgh 77 yards before finding Darnell Washington for a 21-yard touchdown. The Steelers failed on the two-point conversion, leaving Cleveland ahead 21-16.
Watson answered with one of the biggest plays of his night, scrambling 21 yards to move the Browns into Pittsburgh territory. Szmyt eventually converted from 44 yards to stretch the lead to 24-16 with 6:37 remaining.
But Pittsburgh would not go away.
After Cleveland pinned the Steelers at their own 20 with 3:32 remaining, Rodgers marched the offense 80 yards in less than two minutes. He found Pat Freiermuth for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:42 remaining, then after an off-sides on Jared Verse, Rodgers ran in a qb-sneak two-point conversion to tie the game at 24.
For a Browns team that has seen more than its share of games end badly against Pittsburgh, this had all the makings of another one.
Instead, Cleveland responded.
Starting at his own 26, Watson completed a 17-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy, followed by completions to Fannin, Jeudy again, and KC Concepcion to move Cleveland into Pittsburgh territory. A false start and late sack threatened to derail the drive, but the Browns got close enough to give Szmyt a chance.
From 56 yards, the Syracuse product buried the kick to give the Browns a 3-point lead with only 10 seconds remaining.
Pittsburgh got one final play with nine seconds remaining, but Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers’ desperation throw to end it.
Watson finished 24-of-33 for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The numbers were not perfect, and his third-quarter fumble and fourth-quarter interception gave Pittsburgh opportunities, but when Cleveland needed him most, he delivered the drive that won the game.
Boston continued his impressive rookie season with four catches for 89 yards, including the 60-yard reception that set up Cleveland’s second touchdown. Judkins rushed 17 times for 53 yards and a score, while Fannin caught the Browns’ other touchdown.
The defense came up repeatedly in critical situations, intercepting Rodgers twice and generating enough pressure to keep Pittsburgh from completely taking control despite the Steelers’ late rally. Cleveland managed all of that despite committing 14 penalties for 88 yards and losing key pieces of the defense for stretches, including Mason Graham, who was ruled out with a knee injury, and Mike Hall Jr., who left with an ankle injury before returning in the second half.
And now, somehow, the Cleveland Browns are 3-1.
After getting blown out in Jacksonville to open the season, Cleveland has beaten Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Pittsburgh in succession. A team that entered September with plenty of questions now enters its extended break with three straight wins, a division victory, and one of the more surprising starts in the NFL.
Not bad.
What’s Next
The Browns get some extra rest following Thursday night’s game before traveling to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. ET.
