The Browns are 3-1 after beating Pittsburgh, but can their defense, Deshaun Watson and divisional schedule sustain a playoff push?
The Cleveland Browns have officially crossed the line between intriguing and relevant. A 3-1 record after four weeks does not guarantee anything in the NFL. Thursday night’s 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, however, provided evidence that Cleveland can survive a heavyweight divisional fight. The Browns blew an 11-point lead and watched Aaron Rodgers engineer a furious comeback. Still, they found a way to win when Deshaun Watson moved the offense into field-goal rang. Andre Szmyt then drilled a career-long 56-yarder with 10 seconds remaining. Cleveland then sealed the victory when Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers with one second left. The Browns are 3-1 for the first time since 2021. Sadly, they missed the playoffs that season. Can things turn out differently this time around?
Signature win
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Nothing encapsulates the seismic culture shift taking place in Northeast Ohio quite like Cleveland’s pulse-pounding Thursday Night Football conquest of the Steelers. The Browns overcame a barrage of penalties and a furious fourth-quarter charge orchestrated by Rodgers. Cleveland built a 21-10 halftime lead before Pittsburgh rallied to tie the game at 24. Watson responded with a seven-play, 35-yard drive that positioned Szmyt for the winning kick. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s defense produced five sacks. Watson finished 24-of-33 for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Rodgers threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off twice.
Cleveland did not play a flawless game. They did, however, make enough winning plays at the moments that mattered.
Defensive identity
Any legitimate argument for the Browns as postseason contenders begins with the defense. Cleveland’s decision to trade away Myles Garrett was one of the offseason’s biggest gambles. The arrival of Jared Verse, though, has helped preserve an aggressive identity up front. Verse, Mason Graham, and Maliek Collins give the Browns a formidable combination of speed and interior power. Mike Hall Jr and Isaiah McGuire provide additional disruption.
Again, Cleveland sacked Rodgers five times. They repeatedly forced the veteran quarterback to operate under uncomfortable circumstances. Ward’s first half interception helped ignite the Browns’ second-quarter surge. Delpit’s late pick prevented the Steelers from getting another chance after Szmyt’s field goal.
There are still concerns, of course. Graham and Hall both dealt with injuries Thursday. Graham did not return after suffering a knee injury. Still, the larger defensive identity remains intact.
Deshaun Watson’s poise
The other reason Cleveland deserves to be taken seriously is Watson. His overall 2026 performance still requires continued evaluation. That said, the quarterback has so far delivered in increasingly important moments. Against Pittsburgh, he was particularly effective early. He threw for 181 yards in the first half and helped Cleveland build its 21-10 advantage. He then responded after Pittsburgh’s comeback by directing the final possession into scoring range.
The supporting cast is also beginning to develop into a legitimate offensive ecosystem. Denzel Boston’s 60-yard reception created Cleveland’s second touchdown opportunity. Harold Fannin Jr continued his strong red-zone production. Quinshon Judkins and Jaleel McLaughlin supplied complementary rushing offense. That included McLaughlin’s explosive 28-yard touchdown run.
Jerry Jeudy remains an important piece of the passing game, too. Cleveland’s ability to distribute the ball among multiple targets makes the offense harder to completely neutralize.
Watson does not need to throw for 350 yards every week. He just needs to avoid crippling mistakes and deliver when the game reaches its final possessions. Against Pittsburgh, he did enough.
AFC North minefield
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The biggest obstacle to Cleveland’s playoff hopes may be the division itself. The Browns are now 3-1. However, the AFC North remains a brutal environment. Divisional games routinely become one-score battles. Cleveland has already demonstrated that it can beat Pittsburgh at home. The challenge will be sustaining that level of competitiveness when the schedule becomes less forgiving.
The Browns’ next game is a road matchup against the New York Jets on October 11. That contest offers an opportunity to improve to 4-1 before Cleveland eventually faces the rest of its divisional schedule again.
The key will be discipline. Cleveland survived a penalty-heavy night against Pittsburgh. Of course, repeatedly putting itself behind schedule is not a sustainable formula. The Browns also cannot depend on miracle field goals every week.
If the defense remains healthy enough to maintain its pass-rush pressure and Watson continues to protect the football, Cleveland has a legitimate path toward the postseason. Right now, that possibility is no longer fantasy. It is beginning to look like a realistic consequence of what Cleveland has built.
The Cleveland Browns have officially crossed the line between intriguing and relevant. A 3-1 record after four weeks does not guarantee anything in the NFL. Thursday night’s 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, however, provided evidence that Cleveland can survive a heavyweight divisional fight.
