The Cleveland Browns did it. In primetime, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns held onto the win and are now atop the AFC North. And not only are they the leaders in the AFC North, but they are also the sole leader, which hasn't happened since 2014.
The Browns came out firing on all cylinders in the first half as they were up 21-10. In the second half, the Browns faltered a bit but got it together in the fourth quarter to add two field goals to their total, which was enough to fend off the Steelers. The final field goal came with 10 seconds left when they saw Andre Szmyt connect on a new career-long field goal from 56 yards out.
The Browns' defense was the star of the show, but the attitude and approach from this coaching staff, led by
Todd Monken and Mike Rutenberg, should be talked about more. The team is playing like they can win any game now, and that is scary for opposing teams and the fanbase equally.
With the stage set, here is the good, the bad, and the ugly from their late-night win.
The Good: How the defense bounced back from Mason Graham's injury
When Mason Graham went down in the first quarter, there was a moment of "the game is over." Graham had been such a pivotal piece in the defense that many wondered if they would be able to create pressure and hold back the Steelers' offense. However, the way they responded, led by Isaiah McGuire and Mike Hall Jr., was monumental to their win in primetime. This unit needs Graham, but they showed in Week 4 that they can survive without him on the fly if tasked with it.
The Bad: Deshaun Watson in the second half
Deshaun Watson's first two wins of the season were highlighted by poor first halves and great second halves. In Week 4, he reversed that order, so he remains without a complete game in 2026. That is eventually going to be an issue if they cannot get that type of performance out of him or if they are unable to get the run game going to help him. Watson impressed a lot of people last night, but there is still a long road to cementing himself with this team beyond 2026, and a complete game or two or three does that.
The Ugly: Penalties
The Browns are averaging a whopping 10.75 penalties per game right now, and that ranks among the worst in the NFL. The team averages a 3.3-point win margin, that also isn't sustainable. At that rate, the penalties are going to catch up with them. They have to get those cleaned up because this defense cannot afford to keep bailing them out. Against teams like the Ravens, Texans, Saints, or Bengals, they will make them pay. They do not need to make their job any easier for folks.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly from the Browns' Week 4 win
