Each week for our Browns Reacts results, we have been showing you the fan confidence meter with respect to the direction of the team. This week, we’re also showing the season-wide progress of that fan confidence, so you can see how it has fluctuated amidst the team’s 5-4 record.
After the team’s opening loss to the Jaguars, the confidence rightfully tanked, as fans wondered if this team could even win a game this year. Then, the script flipped after the win against the Buccaneers in Week 3, and the momentum
continued to build as Deshaun Watson performed better than expected. Things were at a high near when Cleveland defeated their division-rival Baltimore Ravens (after already having beaten the Steelers). However, things are on shakier ground now that Cleveland has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season (to Pittsburgh and New Orleans).
As noted above and below, the Browns’ fan confidence took another hit this week, although not a substantial one. Week-to-week, fan confidence decreased by 3 percentage points down to 57%. We are nearing a breaking point, though, since Cleveland has to capitalize on this upcoming four-game home stretch that they gave. By comparison, 24% of Texans fans are confident in the direction of their team.
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Besides the confidence meter, the main question we asked this week was who should (or should have) started at quarterback against the Texans: Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. We know that Todd Monken is starting Watson, but we still wanted to gauge what fans preferred heading into the game, after last week’s situation.
59% of fans cast their vote for Watson, while 41% said Sanders. That’s something to keep in mind regarding fan sentiment if Watson struggles during this upcoming four-game home stretch. Here’s what one fan who voted for Watson said:
At this point a playoff spot is in the picture, you have to start the guy who gives you the best chance to win. Easily Watson at this point; he’s not great, but he operates the offense better than Shedeur does on a down-to-down basis. Shedeur probably gives you more splash plays (in either direction) so if we need variance, that’s the way I’d go, but I don’t think this schedule demands variance; I think it needs more consistency.
According to FanDuel, the Browns are 4.5 point underdogs against the Texans this week, with the over/under being 40.5.
