A little more than two months removed from a rude awakening back to the NFL at the hands of its arch rivals, Cleveland got its revenge in stunning fashion at Three Rivers Stadium.
A 39-yard field goal from Phil Dawson in the game's final seconds sent the Browns to a stunning, 16-15 victory over the Steelers on Nov. 14, 1999.
The win was Cleveland's second and final of its inaugural 1999 season. The loss dropped Pittsburgh, which beat the Browns 43-0 in the season opener, to 5-4 and served as the first of six in a row.
From a points perspective, the game was the best of the season for Cleveland's defense, which limited the Steelers to just 137 yards through the air and kept Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis just below the century mark (26 carries, 99 yards). The Browns intercepted quarterback Kordell Stewart twice, the second of which coming at a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter.
John Thierry's interception of Stewart came midway through the final quarter at Pittsburgh's 23-yard line with the Steelers ahead, 15-7. The Browns capitalized on the turnover and drew within two following Marc Edwards' 5-yard touchdown catch from Tim Couch.
The Browns forced a punt and took possession at their own 20-yard line with 1:51 to play and a chance to win. The game-changing play came on the second of the drive, as Couch connected with Darrin Chiaverini on a 23-yard pass that was moved 15 yards farther down the field after a roughing-the-passer penalty. After a Terry Kirby 7-yard catch and two Karim Abdul-Jabbar runs, Dawson calmly nailed the game-winning field goal.
