Yep, you heard me, two straight victory Mondays. This one was all about the Browns defense. They pressured and covered. The defensive line harassed Bryce Young all game long. Remember, this was the best passing offense after two weeks in the league. Young was first in touchdown passes and the team was averaging 312.5 yards a game passing, 409 yards a game in total offense and 35.5 points per game. The Browns have now gone 48 straight games without allowing a 300-yard passer. They did this without cornerback Tyson Campbell. Myles Hardin decided to have a great game. Both linebackers were outstanding especially Quincy Williams. While some fans are complaining Jared Verse hasn’t had a sack yet, he and Michael Hall are making the first-round trade in 2025 look like a stroke of genius. Mason Graham and Maliek Collins are playing great.
As for the offense, I hate that the Browns are making me root for Deshaun Watson. Through three quarters he was 10 of 21 for 67 yards. Yikes. He still stares down his first wide receiver and panics when there’s pressure. Yes, he’s only thrown one interception, but Sunday he almost added three more and on one he got bailed out by a roughing the passer. The run game was better, but a lot of those yards came from Watson. The good news was his longer runs came in key moments when the Browns needed a first down. The offensive line committed seven of the twelve penalties committed by the team, which now has 34 penalties after three games. They’re second only to the Green Bay Packers. Tytus Howard might be replaced by Dawand Jones Thursday night against the Steelers. Speaking of the offensive line, center Elgen Jenkins turned up on the injury list yesterday with a concussion. If he doesn’t clear protocol that means either Luke Wypler or Parker Brailsford will have to go against Cam Heyward. Yikes, yikes. As for the special teams, not a great game returning the ball, but a good game covering kicks.
I love coach Monken, but his play calling on third and fourth down in short yardage situations is not daring it’s painful. Just do a quarterback sneak please. Getting back to Watson, while he’s been average to okay during the first three quarters, he’s been the best QB in the league in the fourth quarter after three games. But that’s the way he’s always been, a slow starter and a quick finisher. If only he could play that way for a full game. Because the Browns are 2-1, the media and some fans are wondering if the Browns will try and resign Watson. If they do, they’ll have to work out something prior to March 13, 2027, because that’s when a $200 million roster bonus kicks in. I still say that no matter what happens with the 2026 season he’ll be cut March 11, 2027. Stay safe and GO Browns.