Todd Monken spent the offseason insisting he could turn the Browns into winners in Cleveland, and while many dismissed him at the time, the results are starting to speak for themselves. One month into the season, Cleveland sits atop the AFC North after a chaotic 27-24 victory over the Steelers on Thursday night — Andre Szmyt drilled a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give the Browns a 3-1 record, not bad for a team that totaled just eight wins across the previous two seasons.
1) Deshaun Watson appears to have settled the quarterback question — at least for now. Monken had warned he was searching for a QB this summer, but Watson looked largely excellent against Pittsburgh, completing 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sharper in the first half and finished the game strong (4-for-5 for 46 yards), showing the arm strength, accuracy and mobility that kept the Steelers’ pass rush guessing. Watson is 31 and has played little over the past five years, so durability and longevity remain unknowns, and rookie Shedeur Sanders’ candidacy is likely on hold while Watson produces. Long-term roster decisions will also be complicated by Watson’s massive fully guaranteed contract when it comes up, but for now he’s delivering wins.
2) Aaron Rodgers flashed his old brilliance at times — a couple of big throws and a gutsy two-point conversion — but overall the performance underlined how his game has changed. Rodgers went 22 of 40 for 299 yards with three TDs and two interceptions, but struggled to consistently push the ball downfield, often airing up wobbly deep attempts. He’s still a cerebral, technically gifted passer with a quick release and late-game poise, yet his pocket mobility and big-play consistency have diminished, and the Browns sacked him five times as he too often looked slow to escape pressure.
3) Cleveland’s roster shows both the upside and the shortcomings of youth. GM Andrew Berry has assembled a young, dynamic group on both sides of the ball, and that talent was on display — rookie receivers Denzel Boston (4 catches, 89 yards) and KC Concepcion (5 for 64), tight end Harold Fannin (3 for 27 and a TD), and running back Quinshon Judkins (17 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown plus six catches for 43 yards) all contributed. The defense also features promising youngsters like Jared Verse and Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger. But inexperience bit them Friday: the team was flagged 14 times, including five penalties in the final 5½ minutes (one declined), such as a defensive holding that extended a Steelers drive and an offside by Verse on the subsequent 2-point try. Those kinds of mental errors could be costly against stronger opponents even as the young core grows.
Fan take: This game mattered because it showed the Browns can compete now — a revitalized Cleveland, led by a high-ceiling (if age- and injury-limited) Watson and a bold coach, makes the AFC North more unpredictable. For the sport, it’s a reminder that quick rebuilds powered by young talent can shift divisional dynamics fast, while veteran stars like Rodgers may still win games but aren’t always the difference-maker they once were.
Source: www.foxsports.com
