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 that said, here are our choices for winners and losers from the pivotal game.
Winner: Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson turned back the clock in the first half of Thursday's win over the Steelers. He looked like he was with the Houston Texans and was the player the Browns traded for and paid for when they did. The team is now 3-1 and the conversation about a new quarterback in 2027 is getting quieter. Are they silent? No, but winning cures these things, and he is finding ways to win.
Loser: Defense due to the Mason Graham injury
The defense did well on the fly to utilize a next-man-up approach when Mason Graham went down early in the game against the Steelers. However, their sack leader in 2026 is vital to their success on defense, so losing him for any stretch is going to be rough for this team. Todd Monken has no update yet on his injury, but the team is expected to evaluate things more today and through the weekend. He will have some extra days to recover before Week 5, but expect the team to take things slow with their breakout defender.
Winner: Todd Monken
This team plays with their coach's mindset. He is a goonie in that he never says die. They show up in every game, believe they can win every game, and it translates into the team having his identity. On Thursday, it became even more evident that he was the perfect hire for the job, and he should cement himself as a legit Coach of the Year candidate, as he has the Browns alone atop the AFC North for the first time since 2014. October will expose them one way or another, but the schedule could have them set up for something special in November and beyond at this rate.
Loser: Tyson Campbell
Aaron Rodgers picked on Tyson Campbell in Week 4. The veteran quarterback recognized that Campbell was having a hard time with the size of DK Metcalf and being aware of the back shoulder throws. The result was that in the second half, they made adjustments to target him, and the end result was that big plays were coming the way of the Steelers. Eventually they made adjustments, but it has been a rough 2026 for Campbell at this point.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Winners and Losers from the Browns win over the Steelers in Week 4
