Andre Szmyt kicked a career-long 56-yard field goal with ten seconds remaining as the Cleveland Browns recovered from surrendering an 11-point lead to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night.

Aaron Rodgers had brought Pittsburgh level with a late touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth and a quarterback sneak for the ensuing two-point conversion, but Deshaun Watson responded by guiding Cleveland 36 yards in seven plays to create Szmyt’s opportunity. The kicker had already converted from 44 yards during the fourth quarter and showed no hesitation when Cleveland’s final possession stalled at the Pittsburgh 38.

“He told me what line to get to and I honestly said, ‘I’ll hit it from anywhere’, but I told him, ‘Let’s get to the 42, maybe a 60-yard field goal’,” Szmyt said of his conversation with Watson. “Obviously, he got me a couple extra yards, so kudos to him. He played a heck of a game. These guys next to me, Corey Bojorquez and Rex Sunahara, make my job easy. The way they execute it is at such an elite level.”

Szmyt drove the kick through the uprights before Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers’ final desperation pass with one second left. The victory moved Cleveland to 3-1 for the first time since 2021 and left the Browns alone at the top of the AFC North pending the rest of the weekend’s games. Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Rodgers finished with 299 yards and three touchdowns but was intercepted twice and sacked five times as the Steelers fell to 2-2.

Pittsburgh had opened with a 17-play, 73-yard drive consuming almost ten minutes. Rodgers ended it with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson, but Cleveland transformed the game during a second quarter in which it accumulated 191 yards and scored on three successive possessions.

Denzel Ward began the recovery by intercepting Rodgers and returning possession to the Browns at their own 44. Jaleel McLaughlin broke through for a 28-yard touchdown four plays later, and Cleveland struck again after forcing a Pittsburgh three-and-out. Watson found Denzel Boston for 60 yards on the first play of the drive before Quinshon Judkins scored from two yards. Harold Fannin Jr then completed an 11-play, 62-yard possession with a two-yard touchdown catch, giving the Browns a 21-7 advantage.

Chris Boswell’s 31-yard field goal reduced the margin before half-time, but Pittsburgh initially failed to take advantage of two second-half turnovers. T.J. Watt stripped Watson and recovered the ball at midfield during the third quarter, only for Mike Hall Jr’s third-down sack to force the Steelers out of scoring range. Rookie safety Robert Spears-Jennings then collected a deflected Watson pass after Mike McCarthy successfully challenged an apparent pass interference penalty, and appeared to have changed the direction of the game. Rodgers connected with D.K Metcalf for 43 yards before finding Darnell Washington for a 21-yard touchdown, although Pittsburgh failed with its attempt at a two-point conversion.

Szmyt’s 44-yarder restored Cleveland’s eight-point advantage with 6:37 remaining, but Rodgers answered with an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Freiermuth caught a three-yard touchdown pass with 1:42 left before the 42-year-old quarterback crossed the line himself to complete the conversion.

The Browns still had enough time to respond, however, and Watson completed four passes for 45 yards on the decisive possession, including a 16-yard connection with Jerry Jeudy, before Szmyt delivered the longest field goal of his NFL career.

“I don’t think I can process making the comparison between the two,” Szmyt said when asked how the kick compared with his winner against Cincinnati last season. “Obviously, it feels good — and to hit that touchback right after that. But it feels good. Just take it in and enjoy it with the team-mates.”

Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cameron Heyward acknowledged that the Steelers had failed to protect the comeback Rodgers had constructed.

“Not close enough, not enough contested throws,” Heyward said. “Our offense gave us a shot, got down there, touchdown, two-point conversion. But, in those weighty moments, we’ve got to have better execution. That’s what it comes down to. I don’t think there’s a guy in this locker room who doesn’t think we should be able to get off the field in that moment.”

Rodgers also accepted responsibility after completing only 22 of his 40 attempts.

“They were getting after us on some of the long-yardage stuff, and we weren’t winning a bunch,” he said. “I missed a couple throws I usually hit.”

Cleveland’s win came at a potentially substantial cost, however, as defensive tackle Mason Graham suffered a left knee injury during Pittsburgh’s opening possession and was ruled out after being examined. Graham, who had started the season in imperious form, reportedly left the stadium on crutches, although the Browns had not confirmed a diagnosis or recovery timetable by Friday morning.

Hall also required assistance after injuring his right ankle during the first half but returned in the third quarter and produced the sack that prevented Pittsburgh from capitalising on Watt’s takeaway. The Browns have now won three straight games after beginning the season with a heavy defeat in Jacksonville.

“This isn’t the old Browns,” defensive end Jared Verse, who arrived from Los Angeles in the Myles Garrett trade over the summer, said. “We’ve got new swag. We’re a lot more aggressive, a lot more getting after it. This is something different here. We’re going to make this whole city rock.”