CLEVELAND, Ohio — For the first time in more than a decade, the Cleveland Browns find themselves sitting atop the AFC North six weeks into an NFL season.
Cleveland completed another improbable fourth-quarter comeback Sunday afternoon, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 at Huntington Bank Field on a 37-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt as time expired. The victory improved the Browns to 4-2, placing them in a three-way tie with Baltimore and Pittsburgh atop the division while holding the early divisional tiebreaker advantage.
It marks the first time since 2014 that Cleveland has held first place in the AFC North this late into a season, an accomplishment few would have anticipated entering the 2026 campaign. After years of disappointing finishes, coaching changes and uncertainty surrounding the franchise, the Browns suddenly find themselves in an unfamiliar position: playing meaningful football from the top of the standings rather than chasing the rest of the division. (CBS Sports)
A Comeback That Looked Unlikely for Much of the Afternoon
For the first 30 minutes, there was little indication that Cleveland would leave Sunday afternoon with a victory.
Baltimore, playing without injured starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, opened the game with consecutive scoring possessions behind backup Tyler Huntley. The Ravens marched 66 yards on their opening drive, finishing with a two-yard touchdown pass from Huntley to tight end Josh Cuevas.
A 34-yard field goal from Tyler Loop extended Baltimore’s advantage to 10-0 before the end of the opening quarter.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s offense struggled to establish any consistency. Quarterback Deshaun Watson faced constant pressure, and the Browns managed just 46 total yards and three first downs throughout the opening half.
The offense failed to score on any of its five first-half possessions, leaving Cleveland’s defense responsible for keeping the game within reach.
Despite Baltimore’s early success, the Ravens would not score another point for the remainder of the afternoon.
Cleveland finally broke through midway through the third quarter when Szmyt connected on a 48-yard field goal, cutting Baltimore’s advantage to 10-3.
The defining moment came early in the fourth quarter when Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger forced a fumble from Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Cornerback Tyson Campbell recovered the football at Baltimore’s 35-yard line, giving Cleveland its best opportunity of the afternoon.
Seven plays later, newly acquired running back Audric Estimé powered into the end zone from two yards out, tying the game at 10-10 with 8:33 remaining.
Estimé’s touchdown carried additional significance considering he had joined Cleveland just days earlier after being signed from Minnesota’s practice squad.
Suddenly, a game Baltimore had controlled for much of the afternoon was even. (Cleveland Browns)
Another Fourth-Quarter Comeback, Another Game-Winning Kick
Cleveland had an opportunity to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but Szmyt missed a 48-yard field goal attempt, ending a streak of 25 consecutive successful kicks dating back to last season.
Rather than allowing the missed opportunity to determine the outcome, Cleveland’s defense delivered another stop and gave Watson one final possession.
With the score tied at 10-10 and time running out, Watson connected with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy for a critical 33-yard completion on third-and-five, moving the Browns deep into Baltimore territory.
The completion helped set up Szmyt for another opportunity to decide the game.
After an initial kick was blocked on a play wiped out by an offsides penalty against Baltimore, Szmyt received another chance. This time, he converted from 37 yards as the clock expired, sending Cleveland’s sideline onto the field in celebration.
Watson finished the afternoon completing 16 of 26 passes for 164 yards, while Jeudy led Cleveland’s receiving corps with four receptions for 69 yards.
For the fourth time in six games, the Browns had orchestrated a fourth-quarter game-winning drive.
It was hardly an offensive masterpiece, but Cleveland had once again found a way to win. (NBC Sports)
First Place for the First Time This Late Since 2014
Perhaps the most significant storyline from Sunday’s victory has little to do with the final score.
For the first time in 12 years, the Cleveland Browns are leading the AFC North after six weeks of football.
The last time Cleveland occupied first place this deep into a season was 2014, when the Browns, coached by Mike Pettine, briefly emerged as one of the NFL’s most surprising teams.
That season, Cleveland started 6-3 and moved into first place following a convincing 24-3 Thursday night victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10.
However, the optimism proved short-lived. The Browns lost six of their final seven games, finishing 7-9 and missing the postseason.
The collapse became another chapter in Cleveland’s long history of promising starts that ultimately failed to produce meaningful postseason success.
Twelve years later, the Browns have another opportunity to change that narrative.
Under first-year head coach Todd Monken, Cleveland has developed a reputation for winning close games, relying heavily on its defense and making critical plays when the outcome hangs in the balance.
The Browns’ 4-2 record is particularly impressive considering all four victories have featured game-winning drives in the fourth quarter.
Still, the AFC North remains extremely competitive.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh also sit at 4-2, meaning Cleveland’s position is far from secure. However, victories over both division rivals give the Browns an important advantage in the early tiebreaker picture. (NFL.com)
Cleveland’s Defense Continues to Define Its Identity
While Watson and Szmyt will receive much of the attention for Sunday’s comeback, Cleveland’s defense deserves considerable credit for making the victory possible.
After allowing Baltimore to score on its first two possessions, the Browns held the Ravens scoreless for the final three quarters.
Schwesinger delivered one of the most important performances of the afternoon, recording 13 tackles and forcing the fourth-quarter fumble that completely shifted the momentum.
Cleveland also limited Henry to just 58 rushing yards on 17 carries, preventing Baltimore from controlling the game through its rushing attack.
The defense has become the foundation of Monken’s team, consistently providing opportunities for an offense that has struggled to produce sustained drives.
That formula has worked through six games, although the Browns will eventually need more consistent offensive production if they hope to remain competitive against the AFC’s strongest teams.
Cleveland has demonstrated an ability to survive close games. The next challenge will be proving it can control them. (Cleveland Browns)
Can the Browns Turn an Unexpected Start Into Something Bigger?
The Browns will travel to Tennessee next Sunday for a Week 7 matchup against the Titans before returning to divisional competition against Pittsburgh on November 1.
Those games will provide another opportunity to determine whether Cleveland’s surprising start represents a genuine turning point or simply an early-season surge.
There are still legitimate questions surrounding the offense, particularly its ability to generate points without relying on late-game heroics.
Yet there is something different about a team that repeatedly finds ways to win games it appears destined to lose.
Six weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the Browns have already matched a historical milestone that has eluded the franchise for more than a decade.
For a fan base accustomed to looking up at Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the AFC North standings, seeing Cleveland at the top represents a welcome change.
The Browns have not won a division championship since 1989, when they competed in the old AFC Central. Their most recent playoff appearance came during the 2023 season.
There is still a long way to go before either of those milestones can be seriously discussed.
But after Sunday’s comeback against Baltimore, Cleveland has given its fans something they have rarely experienced over the past decade: a reason to look at the AFC North standings in October and see their team in first place.
And for now, that is a meaningful accomplishment in itself.
