In a surprising matchup that would decide who was leading the AFC North coming out, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers faced off on the shores of Lake Erie in Week 4’s Thursday Night Football. Injuries and big plays highlighted the game, with the Browns holding the lead from the middle of the second quarter, but the veteran Steelers keeping the game close in the second half.
A stressful back-and-forth game that the Browns pulled out the victory late in the game, running their record to 3-1
and sitting atop the AFC North as Week 4 gets started with a huge Cleveland victory.
Andre Szmyt crushed the 56-yarder and has made 22 in a row
Just an impressive clutch kick late in the game by the young kicker. A kick to, basically, win the game against a division rival in primetime, and Szmyt’s kick would have been good from about 65 yards or so.
Mason Graham injury
Graham had a great start to the season, but his early injury took away the defense’s best player. The Browns defense was still competitive during the game, but the loss of Graham was problematic and limited Mike Rutenberg’s unit.
Crowd was a huge benefit
The stadium was clearly rocking, even after Graham’s injury and the Browns starting with a three-and-out and then giving up a 17-play touchdown drive. The camera was shaking at times, caused multiple penalties, and frustrated the Steelers offense a lot.
Boswell’s missed FG
A generally consistent kicker, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell pulled his field goal attempt left in the second quarter, keeping the score a 14-7 Cleveland lead.
Mike Hall’s return – Sack plus touchback combo
Joining Graham in the locker room, Hall was actually carted off the field with an ankle injury. No one expected him to return, but there he was back on the field in the third quarter. All of a sudden, Hall shot through the offensive line and sacked Aaron Rodgers. The play pushed the Steelers out of field goal range, and the ensuing punt went out of the end zone, so the Browns were not pinned deep.
Using KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston to strengths
There are times that it is a good idea to get “cute” by using players in different ways than the opponent might expect. Right now, HC Todd Monken isn’t doing that with the two Cleveland rookies. Use deep balls, out routes, and slants to take advantage of Boston’s size. Using quick routes and screens to get Concepcion the ball in space, exactly what his skill set calls for.
Getting everyone involved on offense
Seven different Browns players catching the ball and four different players getting runs, Cleveland’s offense wasn’t a one- or two-person show, and it kept the Steelers from focusing on only a few. WR Jerry Jeudy made some huge plays late in the game, for example.
Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell coverage key
The Browns defense wasn’t perfect, but CBs Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell made things difficult for the Steelers for most of the game. Late, Rodgers forced some very good throws toward his guys, but Ward and Campbell forced him to look elsewhere, leading to a ton of pressure on the oldest player in the NFL. Huge to have two lockdown cornerbacks.
Creative blitzing is fun
Just really fun to get to enjoy the Browns defense bringing pressure in a variety of ways. Not only that, but the pressures made sense as they were paired with the right coverage behind them.
Deshaun Watson doing enough and not enough
Watson continues to be inconsistent. A really good second quarter, followed by not a lot of success in the second half until the last drive. Still concerns about his arm strength and ball security when running with it. A win is a win, but there are some weaknesses, including the inconsistencies, that are concerning.
Running game got going in the 2nd half
While the team only had 112 yards rushing, they had more than the Steelers and really got things going in the second half, when they were milking the big lead. Monken went a bit away from it as Pittsburgh made their comeback, but it was good to see some pressure being placed on the defense from Cleveland’s rushing attack.
Tipped pass to INT instead of DPI
A good play by former Ohio State Buckeyes LB Jack Sawyer to get his fingertip on it. Instead of a big defensive pass interference penalty, Pittsburgh gets the interception. Goes from Cleveland being in scoring position to giving the ball away.
“Find Myles Harden” plan goes well much of the game
Harden looked terrible in Week 1, better the last two weeks, but Week 4 was “find CB Myles Harden” and throw the ball to whoever he is guarding. The PFF grades and data will be negative, and Harden’s spot on the roster could be in jeopardy.
Sacks, hits on QB impacted Aaron Rodgers
The veteran closed the 4th quarter very well, but throughout the game it was clear how the pressures, sacks and hits on the quarterback were impacting Rodgers.
Quincy Williams all over the field, quick
Nice to see LB Quincy Williams making big plays, especially in coverage and on a few blitzes, complementing LB Carson Schwesinger. LB Devin Bush played well for Cleveland, but Williams’ speed is just at a different level.
Big 4th-quarter miss by Watson to Fannin
A tough throw, running left trying to hit a player in front of you, but Watson had to make that throw and could have potentially ended the game. TE Harold Fannin Jr. was wide open with no defender around him. As Watson noted after the game, he made things harder on his team than he had to.
Tight games are rough on the stress level
Some of us are too old for these kinds of stressful games. I was shaking, buzzing for most of the 4th quarter. Would love a few easy wins after this.
Jared Verse’s penalty leads to an easy 2-pointer, tying the game
While Graham’s absence was huge on Rodgers’ QB sneak for the two-point conversion, that isn’t the play call if DE Jared Verse doesn’t go offsides on the first attempt, moving the ball to where it could have snuck in.
Winning games is so much fun
The Cleveland Browns are 3-1 heading into some extra rest for Week 5. Leading the AFC North through the first quarter of the 2026 NFL season is surprising to almost everyone. And so much fun for fans.
What were your takeaways from the Week 4 victory for the Browns over the Steelers?
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