After narrowly defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 during Thursday Night Football, the Cleveland Browns are 3-1 to begin the 2026 season.
This is a significant achievement for the Browns; the last time they started a season 3-1 before 2026 was in 2020, when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Before that, the previous time they achieved a 3-1 record was in 2001.
Furthermore, quarterback Deshaun Watson opens the season 3-1 for the first time in his career with the Browns. Prior to the 2026 NFL season, Watson had not been able to do so, hampered by suspensions, injuries, and mixed on-field performances.
Watson signed with the Browns on March 18, 2022, agreeing to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract after a trade from the Houston Texans. He hasn't had the best career with the organization, but Thursday's victory wasn't just a win over an AFC North rival; it was a statement win as the Browns now take the No. 1 spot in the AFC North for the first time in 12 years. Nov. 9, 2014, was the last time the Browns sat alone at the top of the division standings following a Week 10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
However, achieving such history was no easy task against veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 27-24 victory was hard-fought; it began with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson and an early 7-0 lead for the Steelers. The Steelers defense did a good job of containing the Browns in the first quarter, but the second quarter is where Watson and his offense came alive.
Running backs Jaleel McLaughlin and Quinshon Judkins opened the quarter with back-to-back rushing touchdowns within the first six and a half minutes to put the Browns ahead 14-7, and Harold Fannin topped it off with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Watson with under two minutes remaining before halftime, sending the team into the break with a 21-10 lead at Huntington Bank Field.
In the third quarter, both the Browns and the Steelers remained scoreless, but in the fourth, the Steelers threatened as Rodgers connected with Darnell Washington on a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-16. By the 1:42 mark, the game was tied 24-24 after Andre Szmyt kicked a 44-yard field goal for the Browns, Pat Freiermuth caught a 3-yard touchdown pass, and Rodgers rushed for the 2-point conversion.
Despite the Steelers' posing a comeback, the Browns held them off after Szmyt kicked a 56-yard field goal and Grant Delpit intercepted a pass intended for Wilson.
The win marks five straight home victories against the Steelers and extends the Browns' winning streak to three. They face the New York Jets on Oct. 11 at noon ET at MetLife Stadium on CBS.