Watch: Highsmith returns pick-six on first play of 'MNF'

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Cleveland Brownsduring the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Alex Highsmith returns pick-six on first play of 'Monday Night Football'

By Nicholas Nathanson | Last updated 9/18/23

The Cleveland Browns have not won a regular season game in Pittsburgh since 2003 and are 1-20 in their last 21 when facing the Steelers on the road.

Suffice to say, playing Pittsburgh on the road hasn't historically been easy for Cleveland. Monday night, things got off to a bumpy start for the Browns from the get-go.

On the very first play of the game Browns' quarterback Deshaun Watson's throw slipped from the hands of tight end Harrison Bryant and into the hands of Steelers defender Minkah Fitzpatrick before finally landing in the hands of Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who returned it for six.

STEELERS PICK-SIX DESHAUN WATSON ON THE FIRST PLAY OF THE GAME! #CLEvsPIT pic.twitter.com/e60WEs2eul
— ESPN (@espn) September 19, 2023

Highsmith's pick-six was the first interception return TD on the first play of a game since 2018, when the Lions returned a score against then Jets quarterback, Sam Darnold.

According to Stathead, the last QB to throw a pick-6 on the first play from scrimmage was Sam Darnold of the Jets at Detroit on Opening Day in 2018.

It was the first play of his NFL career.

The last one before that was Geno Smith of the Jets at Minnesota in 2014.
— Kurtis Seaboldt (@KSeaboldt) September 19, 2023