Final update: October 1
Cleveland beat Pittsburgh 27–24 on Thursday after Andre Szmyt’s late 56-yard field goal answered a Steelers comeback. The Browns improved to 3–1, while Pittsburgh fell to 2–2.
Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter. Darnell Washington’s 21-yard reception cut into Cleveland’s 21–10 halftime lead, though Pittsburgh’s first two-point attempt failed. After a 44-yard Szmyt field goal, Rodgers found Pat Freiermuth for a three-yard touchdown and ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 24.
Cleveland then moved 36 yards in seven plays to set up Szmyt’s winning kick with 10 seconds remaining. Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers on Pittsburgh’s next possession, ending the Steelers’ last chance to answer.
The Steelers began with a 17-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that took 9:48 and ended with Rodgers’ 12-yard pass to Roman Wilson. Cleveland took control in the second quarter through touchdown runs by Jaleel McLaughlin and Quinshon Judkins, followed by Deshaun Watson’s two-yard scoring pass to Harold Fannin Jr. Chris Boswell’s 31-yard field goal supplied Pittsburgh’s other first-half points.
See our Steelers–Browns availability coverage for the game’s injury reports and pregame inactive announcements.
Pregame analysis
Aaron Rodgers is treating Pittsburgh’s offensive breakthrough against Cincinnati as a starting point, with a Thursday trip to Cleveland leaving the Steelers little time to build on it.
Speaking in comments published by the team Tuesday, Rodgers said he wanted to string together stronger performances after Sunday’s 30-27 win. Pittsburgh had scored only three points in its previous game at New England.
“We have one decent performance so we’re gonna try and stack a few,” Rodgers said.
That leaves coach Mike McCarthy with two jobs in a compressed week: prepare for another division opponent and keep developing an offense still learning to work together.
Big plays came in different forms
The Bengals game supplied more than an improved scoreline. Pittsburgh finished with 411 net yards and converted seven of 12 third downs. Jaylen Warren rushed for 127 yards on 17 carries, giving the passing game substantial help.
There were gains downfield and after the catch. Roman Wilson scored on a 38-yard reception, while Darnell Washington turned a short throw into a 47-yard gain on the drive that produced the winning field goal.
Rodgers highlighted teammates’ blocking when discussing the longer catch-and-run plays. That gives Pittsburgh something specific to reproduce: finishing assignments after the ball has reached another player.
Less preparation time, careful choices
McCarthy explained Tuesday that the Steelers scheduled a late-afternoon walkthrough to preserve recovery time and give coaches room to complete their game planning.
He also described the need to control the number of plays in the plan without giving up opportunities to attack favorable matchups. With limited shared experience in this offense, his priority is executing a manageable package well.
That makes Cleveland a useful test of what carries over. Pittsburgh does not need every explosive play to look like Sunday’s. It does need the blocking, timing and decision-making behind those gains to survive a different opponent and a shorter preparation schedule.
The Steelers visit the Browns on Thursday, October 1. Game coverage begins at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with WTAE carrying the broadcast in the Pittsburgh market.
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