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Cleveland held off a fierce Pittsburgh rally to win 27-24, with Deshaun Watson setting up a game-winning field goal after Aaron Rodgers tied it in the fourth quarter.
The Cleveland Browns needed a late field goal to fend off a spirited Aaron Rodgers -led fightback and beat their AFC North rivals Pittsburgh 27-24 on Thursday.
Having dominated the first half, with divisive quarterback Deshaun Watson continuing to impress home fans, Cleveland conceded two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Steelers tied up the game. But after Watson moved the ball with 56 yards, a field goal from Andre Szmyt edged the Browns back ahead with 10 seconds remaining. Rodgers' deep throw to get into field goal range was picked off to hand Cleveland victory.
Browns Beat Steelers After Watson Leads Rally
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. It was another impressive night for Watson, who led the Browns to a third consecutive late win.
Having been booed by his own fans in the offseason, and embarking on the final year of a $230 million (€203.58m) contract ravaged by injuries and off-field controversy, he completed 268 passing yards and a touchdown to Harold Fannin Jr. Running backs Quinshon Judkins and Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for touchdowns - McLaughlin with his second carry of the season. 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.
Watson Impresses as Rodgers Fights Back
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. But McCarthy's offence came up with a gem. As the offensive line shifted right, Roman Wilson sprinted the opposite direction to collect a jet sweep for a 12-yard touchdown.
But the Browns suddenly woke up. Their electric defence repeatedly swarmed Rodgers, while the offence piled up three touchdowns in the second quarter. McLaughlin weaved 28 yards through the Pittsburgh defence, bouncing two tackles, for his touchdown. Judkins added a second before Watson's short pass found Fannin for a 21-10 half-time lead.
Browns Defence Powers Second-Half Surge
The Steelers stirred in the fourth quarter. Setting the tempo, TJ Watt stripped Watson and recovered the fumble. Sacked for a fifth time, Rodgers recovered to scramble and sling it superbly to Darnell Washington for a 21-yard touchdown. Cleveland re-widened the cushion to eight points with a field goal.
After Pat Freiermuth 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.
NFL Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Deshaun Watson Aaron Rodgers Field Goal Touchdown
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