Deshaun Watson finally gave Cleveland a prime-time night to remember. The Browns quarterback led a last-minute game-winning drive as Cleveland stunned the Steelers 27-24 on Thursday Night Football. The win moved the Browns to 3-1 and into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Watson finished 24-of-33 for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His best work came early. He threw for 181 yards in the first half alone, his most in a half since joining the Browns in 2022. But when Pittsburgh stormed back to tie the game late, Watson steadied the ship.
With the score tied at 24-24 and the clock winding down, Watson completed four passes for 45 yards on the deciding drive. Before kicker Andre Szmyt trotted out, Watson asked his teammate exactly where he needed the ball.
“I just asked him where I needed to get him. He said the 42, 40-yard line and I’m going to make it,” Watson said after the game. “I made it a little harder for the team but we got the job done.”
Szmyt drilled a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds left. Aaron Rodgers got one final chance. But Browns safety Grant Delpit intercepted him at the Cleveland 18 to seal it.
How Deshaun Watson and the Browns Beat the Steelers
The night started rough for Cleveland. After a three-and-out on the opening possession, Pittsburgh marched 78 yards in 17 plays. Roman Wilson took a jet sweep 12 yards for the score. It was the second straight game the Steelers scored on their first drive.
Then Watson found his rhythm. Denzel Ward picked off Rodgers at midfield. On the next drive, Jaleel McLaughlin broke tackles on a 28-yard touchdown run to tie it at 7-7. A 60-yard strike from Watson to rookie Denzel Boston then set up Quinshon Judkins’ two-yard touchdown run. Finally, Watson’s two-yard toss to Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:22 left in the half made it 21-10.
The second half belonged to Rodgers for a stretch. A Watson interception sparked a Steelers rally. Pittsburgh clawed all the way back to 24-24. Cleveland has lived this script before and lost it. This time, Watson answered.
Deshaun Watson’s Comeback Story Gains Steam
Thursday’s win was Cleveland’s third straight comeback victory. It keeps changing the conversation around Watson. He missed the entire 2025 season after re-tearing his Achilles tendon. He also heard boos from home fans during the preseason. First-year coach Todd Monken still named him the Week 1 starter over second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Watson keeps rewarding that faith.
Before kickoff, Watson sat down with Taylor Rooks on Prime Video. He addressed the skepticism head-on. He said he understood criticism of his play, but pushed back when it got personal.
“I understood some of it, but a lot of it, especially when it becomes more character, that’s where I didn’t agree with it,” Watson said. “If you can talk about performance and things like that, of course. The last couple of years I wanted to play and play better, and it just didn’t happen that way.”
The Prime Video postgame crew noticed the shift too. Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez called Watson’s resurgence one of the biggest stories in the NFL. He praised what Watson has overcome on and off the field.
“You have to take your hat off to him and say wow, because he looks fantastic,” Gonzalez said. “This is a very good football team, but Deshaun Watson, to me, man, I’m so proud and happy.”
What the Steelers Loss Means for the AFC North
The win pushed Cleveland to 3-1, a half-game ahead of the Bengals and Ravens. The Browns have now won eight straight Thursday night games. That is the longest active streak in the league and the fourth longest in NFL history. Four of those wins came against Pittsburgh. The Steelers fell to 0-10 on the road against AFC North rivals on Thursdays.
Rodgers finished 22-of-40 for 299 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaylen Warren ran for 93 yards. DK Metcalf caught five passes for 115 yards. It was not enough. Cleveland’s defense sacked Rodgers five times.
“It was electric. It was amazing,” Watson said of the home crowd. “From the time we came out pre-game, it was super dope to be called out, hear the crowd and feel the energy. To get a big victory against a divisional rival on prime time, this is what you dream about.”
The Browns now get extended rest before visiting the New York Jets on October 11. For a quarterback playing on the final year of his contract — and playing some of the best football of his Cleveland career — the timing could not be better.
For more NFL drama this week, check out Taylor Swift cheering on Travis Kelce’s first touchdown of the 2026 season. And don’t miss Nicolas Cage unrecognizable as John Madden in the first ‘Madden’ trailer.
What did you think of Watson’s performance — is this finally the Browns’ year? Drop your take in the comments.