CLEVELAND (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers got rid of a lingering headache by trading cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys.
Much later in the day, it was replaced by heartache after another loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Andre Szmyt made a career-long, 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Browns a 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
It was the Steelers’ fifth consecutive loss in Cleveland and knocked them out of a first-place tie in the AFC North with the Browns, who are a surprising 3-1.
“It’s very frustrating. Unacceptable the way they moved the ball at the end,” Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt said. “We just have to put it together. You just can’t let them move the ball that easily. You just can’t.”
Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson shredded the Steelers’ secondary for 181 yards and a touchdown in the first half, when the Browns scored 21 straight points to take a 21-7 advantage.
The back-to-back-to-back TD drives proved extra costly as cornerback Jamel Dean suffered an ankle injury and did not return, weakening a position that Pittsburgh was already thin at.
“Some plays, we've just got to do a better job tackling and getting them on the ground,” Steelers rookie cornerback Daylen Everett said. “You know, you're counting on the guys we have.”
Porter was dealt to Dallas in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 and a second-round selection in 2028. The trade was agreed to very early Thursday, ending a protracted contract dispute that left Porter inactive in the first three games.
“On Tuesday, I definitely thought it was a possibility (he would play) and we had a rep count in mind,” Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy said. “You hope business never gets in the way of your preparation and playing, but it’s the modern NFL.
“The timing was the night before a game, and I’m sure that’s what the guys woke up to.”
Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who has spent his entire 16-year career with the franchise, refused to use Porter’s departure as an excuse. He cited the team’s poor “attention to detail” and not living up to an “elementary school” level of fundamentals.
“We’ve been playing without Joey for the last three weeks,” Heyward said. “I wish him the best, but it had nothing to do with it. We’re four weeks down and this needs to get fixed yesterday.”
The Steelers also lost defensive tackle Derrick Harmon to a foot injury in the second quarter, but rallied to tie it at 24 with 1:42 left in the fourth. Aaron Rodgers threw a 3-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth, then called his own number to run in the subsequent 2-point conversion.
“I was like, ‘I can probably get a yard,’” said the 42-year-old Rodgers, who finished with three TDs, two interceptions and 299 yards passing.
Like McCarthy, Rodgers said he “thought Joey might play this week, based on his practice stuff.”
Pittsburgh cornerback Jalen Ramsey experienced a similar contract impasse with the Jaguars in 2019, resulting in a midseason trade to the Los Angeles Rams in his fourth season. Six Pro Bowl selections have followed since leaving Jacksonville, which he believes could be the way Porter's future plays out.
“Everyone is not blessed to play 22 years like (Rodgers), so you've got to do what's best for you,” Ramsey said. “It leaves a sour taste, especially for the fans, but business is business. It's a business decision and you've got to move on. I thought the team handled it well.”
__
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt celebrates 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 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 head coach Mike McCarthy reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns are developing a knack for coming up big in the fourth quarter.
Watson led a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter for the third straight week as he 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.
“I knew it was money. He told me the landmark, so he was just lining it up and we see it all the time,” Watson said about Szmyt’s second field goal, which gave the Browns a 3-1 record for the first time since 2001.
The Browns 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 in for the 2-point conversion.
Watson went 4 for 5 for 46 yards on the winning drive, including two completions to Jerry Jeudy for 27 yards. The 10-year veteran was sacked for a 4-yard loss with 19 seconds left, which put the ball on the Steelers 38, but it ended up not mattering as Szmyt drilled the kick down the middle to extend his streak of made field goals to 22.
"I honestly said, ‘I’ll hit it from anywhere,"' but I told him ‘let’s get to the 42, maybe a 60-yard field goal,' He got me a couple extra yards, so kudos to him," said Szmyt, who had his third field goal in the final 15 seconds since joining the Browns last season.
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.
Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with a touchdown and interception. He passed for 181 yards in the first half, his most since being traded by Houston to Cleveland in 2022.
“Happy for Deshaun. Not happy about the sack there at the end, but three straight fourth-quarter comebacks really cool for him and our team,” Browns coach Todd Monken said.
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 on a Hail Mary throw with 1 second left.
Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren rushed for 93 yards on 17 carries and DK Metcalf had five catches for 115 yards.
“I wouldn't say it was our cleanest game all the way around,” Rodgers said. “They were getting after us on some of the long yardage stuff that we weren't winning a bunch. I missed some throws I usually hit.”
The Browns defense got consistent pressure on Rodgers with five sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
“We had some protection challenges. It was a five-man pressure, man-to-man game. They established that right from the beginning,” Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think it was an aggressive game plan by them. I kind of expected some of it, and we were one play short.”
Pittsburgh controlled the first 15 minutes and took a 7-0 lead when Roman Wilson took a shovel pass 12 yards around left end on a jet sweep.
Momentum shifted on the second play of the second quarter after Denzel Ward picked off Rodgers’ pass intended for Michael Pittman Jr. at the Browns 44.
The rest of the first half was all Browns. 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.
“Denzel flipped it, and then we kind of got things going a little bit, got in a good rhythm,” Monken said.
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.
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.
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)
