The Cleveland Browns extended their winning streak to three games with a dramatic 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night in Cleveland. Pittsburgh started strong, using a long opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Then the game flipped, with the Browns scoring three straight touchdowns before halftime.
The Steelers rallied in the fourth, and Aaron Rodgers tied it at 24-24 with a late two-point sneak. Deshaun Watson then led another late drive, and Andre Szmyt hit the game-winning field goal. But the real turning point came in the second quarter, when Browns star cornerback Denzel Ward intercepted a Rodgers pass intended for Steelers wideout Michael Pittman Jr.
The interception put the Browns near midfield and was Ward's first pick of the 2026 season. Cleveland scored 21 unanswered points from there and led 21-7 with a minute left in the half. After the game, Ward sent a clear message to Rodgers.
When asked if he hopes the future Hall of Fame quarterback stops throwing his direction, Ward said, "I hope not. I hope he keeps throwing at me. Good things happen when he throws at me." More news: NFL Insider Hints Browns Could Shop Shedeur Sanders for the Right Price More news: Giants Face Harsh Backlash After Trading for Quarterback JJ McCarthy Ward was Cleveland's first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in 2018 out of Ohio State and is now one of the NFL's premier corners.
He has earned five Pro Bowl nods and has been the face of the Browns' defense for nearly a decade. He has 19 career interceptions and 105 pass breakups over 111 starts in Cleveland. And he hasn't slowed down.
Last year, he racked up nine pass breakups and one interception, along with 39 combined tackles and two tackles for loss across 15 games. The season before, he led the entire NFL with 19 pass breakups and added 49 combined tackles, including a career-high 41 solo tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. The Browns rewarded him with a two-year, $62.2 million extension in July, making him one of the highest-paid corners in the league.
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