Browns Edge Steelers 27-24 to Claim AFC North Lead
Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh 27-24 on Thursday night, moving the Browns to first place in the AFC North.
Cleveland (3-1) took a 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh (2-2) on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field, putting the Browns atop the AFC North. The Steelers opened the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Roman Wilson. Cleveland answered in the second quarter when Deshaun Watson connected with Jaleel McLaughlin for a 28-yard touchdown after an interception, tying the game at 7-7. Watson then led a 74-yard drive that resulted in a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Quinshon Judkins, giving the Browns a 14-7 lead. A subsequent 2-yard pass to Harold Fannin Jr. extended the lead to 21-7, and a 31-yard field goal by Chris Boswell trimmed the deficit to 21-10 at halftime.
No points were scored in the third quarter. In the fourth, Rodgers threw a 21-yard touchdown to Darnell Washington, narrowing the gap to 21-16. Andre Szmyt responded with a 44-yard field goal, making it 24-16. Rodgers later tied the game at 24-24 with a short touchdown pass to Pat Friermuth and a two-point conversion run of his own. With ten seconds remaining, Szmyt kicked a 56-yard field goal to put Cleveland ahead, and a late interception by the Browns sealed the win.
"We executed when it mattered most," said a Browns spokesperson after the game.
The result marked the Browns' first place in the division and left the Steelers winless on the road against AFC North opponents on Thursday nights.