CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson passed for 268 yards and moved the Browns into position for Andre Szmyt's career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining that gave Cleveland a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.
Watson, who completed 24 of 33 passes with a touchdown and interception, was 4 of 5 for 46 yards as he led a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter for the third straight week.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrates after scoring against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson celebrates after their win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns place kicker Andre Szmyt kicks the game winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson plats against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The Browns — who are 3-1 for the first time since 2021 — had a 21-7 lead late in the first half before the Steelers rallied to tie it at 24-all. Aaron Rodgers threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth with 1:44 remaining and Rodgers sneaked it in for the 2-point conversion.
Rodgers, who was 22 of 40 for 299 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, had one final chance to get the Steelers in field goal range, but he was picked off by Grant Delpit at the Browns 18 with 1 second left.
Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren rushed for 93 yards on 17 carries and DK Metcalf had five catches for 115 yards.
Cleveland's defense sacked Rodgers five times.
Cleveland has won eight straight Thursday night games, the longest active streak and fourth longest in NFL history. Four have come against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh (2-2) is 0-10 on the road against AFC North rivals on Thursdays.
After Cleveland went three-and-out on the opening possession, Pittsburgh went 78 yards in 17 plays, capped by Wilson taking a shovel pass 12 yards around left end on a jet sweep. It was the second straight game in which Steelers have reached the end zone on their first drive.
The rest of the first half was all Browns. Watson had 181 yards passing by halftime, his most in the first 30 minutes since joining the Browns in 2022.
Jaleel McLaughlin tied it at 7 with 12:14 remaining in the first half on a 28-yard run around right end. The fourth-year running back broke a pair of tackles at the 22 and went through a narrow opening at the 15 before scoring.
The drive was set up after Denzel Ward picked off Rodgers' pass intended for Michael Pittman Jr. at the Browns 44 on the second play of the second quarter.
Cleveland took a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter on Quinshon Judkins’ 2-yard run off right guard. The touchdown came three plays after Watson found Denzel Boston for a 60-yard completion to the Steelers 14 on the first play of the drive.
Harold Fannin Jr. then hauled in his third touchdown in two games on a 2-yard pass from Watson on third-and-goal with 1:22 remaining.
It was the first time since Week 13 of the 2020 season against Tennessee that the Browns scored at least 21 points in the second quarter.
The Steelers got within 21-10 on Boswell’s 31-yard field goal with 8 seconds left before halftime.
Rodgers rolled right and connected with Washington for a 21-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to bring Pittsburgh within 21-16. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.
Steelers: DT Derrick Harmon (foot) was carted to the locker room during the second quarter and did not return. CB Jamel Dean (ankle) went out late in the second quarter and did not return.
Browns: DT Mason Graham (left knee) was injured in the first quarter and did not return. DT Mike Hall Jr. (right ankle) went out late in the second quarter but came back in the third.
Steelers: Host Indianapolis on Oct. 11.
Browns: At the New York Jets on Oct. 11.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrates after scoring against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson celebrates after their win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns place kicker Andre Szmyt kicks the game winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson plats against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Chris Sale came out of the bullpen on one day of rest to get the final four outs and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night in the decisive Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series.
Surprise starter Ray Kerr threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings for Atlanta, and Ozzie Albies launched a two-run homer in the fourth. Matt Olson added a solo shot in the seventh as the Braves advanced to a best-of-five Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I told our guys, `Man, all year long when the stakes have been the highest, when the challenges have been the toughest, we’ve been at our absolute best.' So it doesn’t surprise me that we played the way we did tonight,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said.
The Braves took a postseason series for the first time since winning the 2021 World Series and earned their first playoff series win against the Phillies. Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NL Championship Series and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
After winning the NL East by six games over Philadelphia this year, the Braves came out on top in their postseason matchup, too.
“Those guys kind of went start to finish in this division,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “Over the course of the 162 (games), they were the best team in our division.”
Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola was pulled after allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings. Nola walked Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson with one out in the first before giving up the homer to Harris, who hit into two double plays in Wednesday's 4-3 loss in 10 innings which forced Thursday night's game.
Kerr made his postseason debut in only his fourth career start. Braves manager Walt Weiss wanted a left-hander to face Phillies left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper at least once.
Kerr allowed only one hit — to Schwarber in the first — and one walk — to Schwarber in the fourth. Kerr left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd and acknowledged the cheers by lifting up his arm as he approached the dugout.
“Hopefully, Ray Kerr became a bit of a household name tonight. He deserves it,” Weiss said. “He’s got an amazing story. Perseverance. Like I said, he’s very grateful to be here. He’s got a grateful heart, and he was very excited about the challenge tonight. As you saw, he wasn’t rattled at all. Looked like a 10-year vet making a start, and he was phenomenal.”
Right-hander Grant Holmes followed Kerr and allowed one run in two innings to earn the win.
Sale, the starter in Atlanta's 5-3 win in Tuesday's series opener, struck out Harper to end the eighth and closed out the win in the ninth by striking out Bryan De La Cruz and pinch-hitter Otto Kemp.
Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, the winning pitcher in Sunday's 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay that clinched the wild-card spot, walked Austin Riley in the fourth before giving up Albies' homer to right field that gave Atlanta a 5-0 lead. Wheeler allowed two runs in four innings. Jonathan Bowlan, Philadelphia's fourth pitcher, gave up Olson's homer to center field.
Kerr, 32, flourished in the postseason spotlight. He pitched in only nine games after being recalled by Atlanta on Aug. 16. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and didn’t pitch in 2025.
Philadelphia's 2022 World Series loss to Houston began a streak of five straight postseason appearances with progressively quicker exits — the NL Championship Series, two NLDS exits and now the Wild Card Series loss.
“If you don’t win the last game, it’s a crash landing no matter what. It doesn’t matter where it is,” Mattingly said.
The game drew a sellout of 41,731 after the Braves fell short of sellouts in the first two games of the series, with school and work conflicting with the 2:15 p.m. first pitch for many fans. Afternoon starts also hurt attendance in other Wild Card Series games this week.
The announced attendance at Truist Park was 30,127 on Tuesday and 37,150 on Wednesday.
Edmundo Sosa remained in the Phillies' starting lineup at third base after he appeared to aggravate a groin injury running to first base and left Wednesday's game in the ninth inning. Mattingly said second baseman Luis Arraez, who was left off the roster for the series due to a left ankle sprain, has progressed to working in the weight room.
Weiss said Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, who allowed only one run in seven innings on Wednesday despite feeling an abdominal pull in pregame warmups, was “feeling pretty good” on Thursday.
The Braves will play at Dodger Stadium on Saturday in the opening game of their Division Series against the two-time defending World Series champions.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II celebrates his three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Ray Kerr waves as he walks to the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, third from left, celebrates his three-run home run with Mauricio Dubón (14), Matt Olson, second from left, and Ronald Acuña Jr., right, against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
