Deshaun Watson entered the season under heavy pressure after his inconsistent play and Cleveland Browns’ quarterback uncertainty. The Browns lost 34-10 to Jacksonville in Week 1, but Watson has now helped Cleveland win three straight. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception, then led the late drive that set up Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard game-winning field goal.
CBS Sports’ John Breech said he is “buying” Browns stock after their 3-1 start. Cleveland could go 3-1 over its next four games and reach 6-2 by the middle of the season. The Browns’ next four opponents are the Jets, Ravens, Titans and Steelers, according to the NFL schedule.
“I think my preseason prediction was that this team would win six games, but my biggest question mark was at quarterback,” Breech said.
“So now that they’re three and one, I do not think they are a fluke at all, you look at their upcoming schedule. They play the Jets next week. They get 10 days of rest before that game. That’s winnable. Of course, you’ve got a big division game against the Ravens.”
The Steelers win gives the prediction some fresh context, where Cleveland led Pittsburgh 21-7 before the Steelers rallied to tie the game late. Watson responded with a fourth-quarter drive.
“I absolutely think they will be a playoff contender. Once we get the Thanksgiving into the later parts of the season,” Breech added lastly.
Deshaun Watson’s Performance Is Turning Around After Rough Start
Week 1 was the major warning sign for the Browns when Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Cleveland’s 34-10 loss to Jacksonville. He was also sacked five times as the Browns struggled to sustain drives. Cleveland’s official recap noted that the team entered the second half down 31-0, making the opener particularly difficult for Watson and the offense.
Watson followed the Jacksonville loss with 238 yards and two touchdowns against Tampa Bay, then added 144 yards and two touchdowns against Carolina. Though not highly efficient against the Panthers, he produced a game-winning touchdown pass with 1:48 remaining. Those performances helped Cleveland move from 0-1 to 2-1 before the Steelers game.
The Steelers game however showed both sides of Watson’s game. He was sharp early and finished with 268 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also threw for 181 yards and a touchdown in the first half as Cleveland built a 21-7 lead. At the same time, he had two fumbles lost and was sacked twice, showing that the offense still has areas to clean up despite the victory.
The Browns have won three straight despite Watson’s uneven efficiency, while their defense produced two interceptions and five sacks against Pittsburgh. The bigger concern is sustaining that production for four quarters, especially after Cleveland allowed Pittsburgh to erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.
