Andre Szmyt kicked a 55-yard field goal at the gun to give the host Cleveland Browns a stunning 13-10 comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The improbable outcome was sweet redemption for the rookie kicker, who missed an extra point and a field goal in Week 1 home loss to Cincinnati. Two weeks later, he helped the Browns (1-2) take down the Packers (2-1), a team many consider the league’s most complete and snap an eight-game skid dating back to last season.
Szmyt was able to play the hero because Shelby Harris blocked a 43-yard field goal try by Green Bay’s Brandon McManus with 27 seconds left. Cleveland got the ball at its 47, and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco moved his team 16 yards to set up the game-winner. That included a key spike with two seconds to go after an 8-yard pass to David Njoku with 12 seconds left when the Browns did not have a timeout.
What started out as a grinding game between two stellar defensive teams became a nailbiter late as the Browns overcame a 10-0 fourth-quarter deficit with less than four minutes left.
The Browns tied the game thanks to two scores just 37 seconds apart. A Quinshon Judkins 1-yard scoring plunge with 3:01 left in regulation came after Grant Delpit picked off Jordan Love at the Packers 29 and returned it 25 yards.
Judkins, a rookie from Ohio State, ran 18 times for 94 yards. Flacco completed 21 of 36 passes for 142 yards and one interception.
Love threw for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 18-of-25 passing. His 3-yard scoring pass to John FitzPatrick with 3:23 remaining in the third put the Packers ahead 10-0.
Green Bay’s two scoring drives each took more than seven minutes off the clock, and for the first 3 1/2 quarters, it appeared those drives would help the Packers earn a win in their first road game.
The Browns sacked Love five times with six players earning at least a half-sack. Rashan Gary put Flacco down twice for the Packers.
McManus connected on a 39-yard field early in the second quarter for the only points of the first half.
Szmyt put Cleveland on the board with 3:38 left in regulation, booting a 35-yard field goal to make it 10-3 and set the stage for his last-second heroics.
–Field Level Media