Browns survive spirited Steelers fightback to prevail with late field goal

[p]Having dominated the first half, with divisive quarterback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watson-deshaun/8nYPdu3C/"]Deshaun Watson[/a] continuing to impress home fans, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-browns/KfzTWqa1/"]Cleveland[/a] conceded two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-steelers/AXWJxS6R/"]Steelers[/a] tied up the game.[/p][p]But after Watson moved the ball with 56 yards, a field goal from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/szmyt-andre/E3ezvBaU/"]Andre Szmyt[/a] edged the Browns back ahead with 10 seconds remaining. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodgers-aaron/dvZCmchC/"]Rodgers[/a]' deep throw to get into field goal range was picked off to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/football/cleveland-browns-KfzTWqa1/pittsburgh-steelers-AXWJxS6R/?mid=KGWhEFTO"]hand Cleveland victory[/a].[/p][p][b]A fifth straight home win against their local rivals meant the largely unheralded Browns moved to 3-1, while the Steelers sank to 2-2.[/b][/p][embed guid="5fa539b9-17c8-4136-b805-0fb30955b21a" url="https://x.com/Browns/status/2105877938029937063" social-type="twitter" /][p]It was another impressive night for Watson, who led the Browns to a third consecutive late win.[/p][p]Having been booed by his own fans in the offseason, and embarking on the final year of a $230 million contract ravaged by injuries and off-field controversy, he completed 268 passing yards and a touchdown to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fannin-jr-harold/hUkal1XM/"]Harold Fannin Jr[/a].[/p][p][b]"Those guys just look at me, and they just want me to lead the show,"[/b] said Watson.[/p][p][b]"This is what it's all about. Nights like this in Cleveland, in front of our home fans, getting them Ws, getting them wins."[/b][/p][p]Running backs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/judkins-quinshon/4zSXmbn6/"]Quinshon Judkins[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mclaughlin-jaleel/GML7ttQ8/"]Jaleel McLaughlin[/a] rushed for touchdowns -- McLaughlin with his second carry of the season.[/p][p]Rodgers, after a rough start to a game in which he was sacked five time, led the fightback with 299 passing yards and three touchdowns.[/p][p]The Steelers had struck first. Frustrated by slow play-calling, Rodgers shouted expletives at head coach Mike McCarthy, who responded with similar language in a moment that quickly went viral.[/p][p][b]But McCarthy's offense came up with a gem. As the offensive line shifted right, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wilson-roman/AiiGSBwr/"]Roman Wilson[/a] sprinted the opposite direction to collect a jet sweep for a 12-yard touchdown.[/b][/p][p]But the Browns suddenly woke up. Their electric defense repeatedly swarmed Rodgers, while the offense piled up three touchdowns in the second quarter.[/p][embed guid="2cf2e5fb-39bf-4480-ae9b-5ccba3a956cd" url="https://x.com/Browns/status/2105890520140554657" social-type="twitter" /][p]McLaughlin weaved 28 yards through the Pittsburgh defense, bouncing two tackles, for his touchdown. Judkins added a second before Watson's short pass found Fannin for a 21-10 half-time lead.[/p][p]The Steelers stirred in the fourth quarter. Setting the tempo, TJ Watt stripped Watson and recovered the fumble.[/p][p]Sacked for a fifth time, Rodgers recovered to scramble and sling it superbly to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/washington-darnell/W4fCyaCe/"]Darnell Washington[/a] for a 21-yard touchdown. Cleveland re-widened the cushion to eight points with a field goal.[/p][p]After [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/freiermuth-pat/Ch2Y9p9g/"]Pat Freiermuth[/a] added another touchdown, the 42-year-old Rodgers sneaked the ball into the endzone himself on the two-point conversion to level the scores, before Watson set up Szmyt to quash the comeback.[/p][p][b]"I just asked (Szmyt), 'where do you need to kick,'"[/b] said Watson.[/p][p][b]"He told me 'get me to the 40-yard line, and I'll make it.' So I just looked at him and said, 'Yes, sir.'"[/b][/p]