Andre Szmyt’s 55-Yard Field Goal Lifts Browns to Dramatic 13-10 Win Over Packers

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CLEVELAND — In a game that seemed destined to end in disappointment, rookie kicker Andre Szmyt turned from scapegoat to savior as he nailed a 55-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Cleveland Browns to an improbable 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. “It was exciting. It was good to pull through for my teammates,” Szmyt said postgame. The first-year kicker had faced criticism following a Week 1 loss to the Bengals, where missed kicks cost the Browns a win. However, redemption came in dramatic fashion as Cleveland (1-2) erased a 10-point deficit in the final 3:38 of the game. According to Sportradar, this marks the first time in Browns history that the team has come back to win a game in which it had scored no points and trailed by at least 10 with under four minutes left. The last similar comeback in the NFL occurred on December 11, 2011, when the Denver Broncos defeated the Chicago Bears. Szmyt’s game-winning field goal capped a series of clutch plays on both sides of the ball. After the defense sacked Packers quarterback Jordan Love four times, safety Grant Delpit intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards to the Green Bay 4-yard line with 3:18 left, setting up Cleveland's first touchdown.

Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins powered in from one yard out to tie the game 10-10 with 3:02 remaining. Judkins finished with 94 yards on 18 carries, showcasing his promise as a backfield threat. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for 142 yards and one interception, acknowledged the game’s intensity: “It’s hard when you’re in your own stadium and you can’t put points on the board... but you've got to keep going out there and doing your job.” The special teams also stepped up. Defensive lineman Shelby Harris blocked a 43-yard field goal attempt by Brandon McManus, potentially saving the Browns from overtime. Greg Newsome II recovered the block at the 47-yard line, giving the Browns a final possession that led to Szmyt's kick. Following the kick, Szmyt ran into the crowd and leapt into the Dawg Pound, joining fans celebrating the 40th anniversary of the iconic fan section. Browns legends Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield—who coined the “Dawg Pound” nickname—were in attendance to witness the special moment.

“I’m really proud of that young man,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s been through a lot in his life. And the kid’s come through.” Szmyt’s mother, Lala, passed away from a brain aneurysm earlier this summer. The loss was a heartbreaker for the Packers (2-1), who had led since the third quarter and appeared to have the game in hand. Jordan Love finished 18 of 25 for 183 yards and one touchdown—a 3-yard strike to tight end John FitzPatrick. “That was extremely disappointing, obviously,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur. “To have an opportunity to win the game and have them flip the script late is tough to deal with.” The loss was eerily similar to a 1967 game, when the Packers lost to Johnny Unitas’s Colts after giving up two touchdowns in the final three minutes to fall 13-10. Green Bay also suffered several injuries. Right tackle Zach Tom re-injured his oblique on the first play. Offensive guard Aaron Banks left with a groin injury, and safety Javon Bullard exited in the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet collision. For Cleveland, right tackle Dawand Jones left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

Up Next:

• Packers: Travel to Dallas next Sunday night in a much-anticipated game, featuring linebacker Micah Parsons facing his former Cowboys teammates.

• Browns: Host the New Orleans Saints in a Week 4 matchup.