Browns Stun Steelers With 56-Yard Field Goal in Final 10 Seconds

CLEVELAND — The Browns gave away an 11-point halftime lead, then found one last answer before the clock ran out.

Andre Szmyt drilled a career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining Thursday night, lifting Cleveland to a 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field. The win moved the Browns to 3-1 and left them atop the AFC North after Week 4.

The kick was the final step in a rapid swing of momentum. Cleveland led 21-10 at halftime, but Pittsburgh rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers capped the Steelers' second scoring drive with a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line and a successful two-point conversion, tying the game at 24 with 1:42 left.

That left Cleveland with little margin for error. The Browns did not need a touchdown, but they did need to move the ball quickly and avoid a mistake that would have ended the game or forced overtime. Cleveland gained 36 net yards on the ensuing possession, pushing the ball to the edge of field-goal range and setting up Szmyt's attempt with 15 seconds remaining.

Szmyt's kick traveled 56 yards — one farther than his previous career best — and gave the Browns a three-point lead. Pittsburgh had one final opportunity, but Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers' last-second deep pass with one second remaining to secure Cleveland's third consecutive victory.

The finish obscured a game that had several distinct phases. Cleveland's offense produced three consecutive touchdown drives in the second quarter, turning an early 7-0 deficit into a 21-10 advantage. Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards and threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr., according to the NFL's postgame account.

But the Browns could not simply protect the lead. Pittsburgh's fourth-quarter comeback exposed the risk of relying on an early cushion against a veteran quarterback who can create scoring opportunities late. Rodgers connected with Pat Freiermuth for a three-yard touchdown before converting the tying two-point play, giving the Steelers a chance to steal a game Cleveland had controlled for much of the night.

Instead, the Browns won the final two high-pressure moments: Szmyt's long kick and Delpit's interception. That combination turned a blown lead into a divisional statement.

The result also gives Cleveland an early advantage in a tightly contested AFC North race. The Browns are 3-1, while Pittsburgh fell to 2-2. Cleveland will next travel to face the New York Jets on October 11. Pittsburgh will host the Indianapolis Colts the same day.

For the Browns, the more important question is no longer whether they can produce a dramatic finish. They have now shown they can. The next challenge is making sure the comebacks they allow remain survivable rather than becoming a weekly requirement.