Steelers' frustrations in Cleveland continue with late loss to Browns

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Oct 1, 2026

Published in Football

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CLEVELAND — Some things never change, which the Steelers painfully discovered again in their personal house of horrors.

They lost to the Cleveland Browns, 27-24, on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field, and it should come as no surprise.

It was the Steelers’ fifth consecutive loss in Cleveland and dropped their record here to an embarrassing 1-7-1 since 2018.

What’s more, it continued their doldrums on Thursday nights, where the Steelers have lost 10 consecutive games against AFC North opponents.

If that weren’t enough, Browns kicker Andre Szmyt kicked a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to add to the frustration.

Aaron Rodgers (299 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT), though, almost saved the Steelers. He threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, tying the game with a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth and then sneaking 1 yard for the two-point conversion.

How bad has it been in Cleveland?

Deshaun Watson, who threw for 181 of his 268 yards in the first half, is the fifth different quarterback to beat the Steelers during their five-game losing streak in Cleveland.

There were the obligatory mistakes by the lake, too.

Rodgers threw his first career interception against the Browns with the Steelers seemingly in control, which led to a touchdown.

Rookie cornerback Daylen Everette stepped on the field and immediately got beat for a 61-yard completion that led to the second touchdown.

And kicker Chris Boswell missed his third field goal this season when he hooked a 48-yard attempt that led to another Browns touchdown and a 21-7 deficit.

All that came after the Steelers scored on their opening possession for the second game in a row, when receiver Roman Wilson took a shovel pass from Rodgers for a 12-yard touchdown. That capped a lengthy 17-play drive that lasted nine minutes, 48 seconds and made it look as though the Steelers might finally have an easy time in Cleveland.

But the game turned on one play, even though it was early.

With the Steelers seemingly in control — they had run 20 plays to seven by the Browns — Rodgers tried to force a pass to receiver Michael Pittman Jr. that cornerback Denzel Ward intercepted at the Steelers 44.

The Browns needed only four plays to score on a 28-yard run by running back Jaleel McLaughlin, but the sudden momentum shift felt like a giant wave from Lake Erie crashing on the shoreline.

After the Steelers went three and out on the ensuing series. Watson completed a 61-yard pass to rookie receiver Denzel Boston to the Steelers 14. Boston got behind Everette, who just came into the game.

Three plays later, the Browns scored again for a 14-7 lead, and the Steelers were playing catch-up the rest of the night.