Deshaun Watson went from getting booed by the fans to hearing them cheer as the Browns beat the Steelers, and Watson praised the fans.
The Cleveland Browns pulled off a thrilling Thursday Night Football victory over their AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing a gritty 27-24 win at home. Quarterback Deshaun Watson delivered a stellar prime-time performance to propel his team into first place in the division with a 3-1 record, giving the home crowd a night to remember.
Watson commanded the offense with poise throughout the matchup, completing 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also added 22 rushing yards on seven carries to keep Pittsburgh’s defense on its heels. After jumping out to a second-quarter lead, Cleveland faced adversity late in the fourth quarter when the Steelers rallied to tie the game at 24-24 with under two minutes remaining.
With the pressure mounting, Watson stepped up when it mattered most. The veteran signal-caller orchestrated a razor-sharp, seven-play, 36-yard drive to move Cleveland within scoring range. That set up kicker Andre Szmyt, who calmly drilled a career-long 56-yard field goal with just 10 seconds left on the clock to seal the dramatic win.
Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers put up a valiant effort for the visitors, completing 22 of 40 passes for 299 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, safety Grant Delpit picked off Rodgers on the game’s final play to lock up Cleveland’s third consecutive victory.
Following the wild finish, Watson praised the atmosphere at Huntington Bank Field and thanked the crowd for feeding the team endless energy throughout the night. “It was electric. It was amazing. This is what it’s all about. Nights like this in Cleveland, in front of our home fans, getting them wins,” Watson said.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson on the Cleveland fans:
“It was electric. It was amazing. This is what it’s all about. Nights like this in Cleveland, in front of our home fans, getting them wins.” pic.twitter.com/XSsCvGp877 https://t.co/ZABpGtWEax
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 2, 2026
Cleveland now sits alone atop the AFC North, and Watson’s late-game heroics offered proof that the Browns can close out tight games against elite rivals. If the fans keep bringing that high-voltage energy, winning in Cleveland will only get harder for visiting teams to handle.
The Cleveland Browns pulled off a thrilling Thursday Night Football victory over their AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing a gritty 27-24 win at home. Quarterback Deshaun Watson delivered a stellar prime-time performance to propel his team into first place in the division with a 3-1 record, giving the home crowd a night to remember.
