Andre Szmyt’s Game-Winning Field Goal Lifts Browns Past Steelers, 27-24

The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers rarely make things easy on each other. Thursday night was no different.

Cleveland escaped with a dramatic 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh, with kicker Andre Szmyt delivering the game-winning field goal to finish another memorable chapter of one of the NFL’s oldest rivalries. (theScore)

The Browns looked firmly in control early, overcoming a slow start and exploding for three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 21-10 lead into halftime. Deshaun Watson completed 14 of 17 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown in the first half, while Cleveland also found the end zone on runs from Jaleel McLaughlin and Quinshon Judkins. Denzel Ward helped swing momentum with an interception of Aaron Rodgers. (BrownsZone with Scott Petrak -)

But Browns-Steelers games have a habit of getting uncomfortable.

Pittsburgh erased the deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points to pull even at 24 and turning what once looked like a comfortable Cleveland lead into a fight to the finish.

That left the game in the hands — or more accurately, on the right foot — of Szmyt.

With the pressure at its highest, the Browns kicker came through, drilling the deciding field goal and sending Huntington Bank Field into celebration. It was another clutch moment for a kicker who entered Thursday having made all six of his field-goal attempts through Cleveland’s first three games. (NFL)

For Cleveland, this was more than another win over Pittsburgh. The Browns entered the night tied with the Steelers at 2-1, with first place in the AFC North at stake. Now 3-1, Cleveland walks away from Thursday Night Football with a rivalry win, three straight victories and an early statement inside the division. (CBS Sports)

And when the Browns needed one final play to finish it, Szmyt delivered.