The Cleveland Browns are 4-2. Yes, you read that right. After trailing by double digits in the first half against a Baltimore Ravens team that was missing star quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Browns scored 13 unanswered points to improve to 4-2 on the season. It wasn’t pretty (in any way), but like before, the team found a way to win when it mattered the most.
1st Down: Another uneven offensive performance
It’s going to be a persistent topic, but Cleveland’s offense struggled once again. Granted, the team wasn’t playing in a monsoon like last week,
but the same issues that have been persistent all season were prevalent today. The run game has been nonexistent, and the passing game has been inconsistent, at best.
Head coach Todd Monken didn’t do his offense any favors in the first half with his play-calling. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter pretty much bottled up the passing game by playing primarily zone, and the Baltimore defense did a great job dropping and getting to their spots. The Browns receivers struggled to get open, and Watson was hesitant to pull the trigger. Watson needs to just let it rip and be okay with making mistakes.
Watson isn’t costing the team with his play, and he’s doing enough when they need him. Is it sustainable? No, but the consistency has to appear at some point. Overall, the offense was ineffective for most of the game but found a way to get something going late in the fourth quarter, again.
2nd Down: Let’s talk about the QB more
In terms of the quarterback performance, Watson didn’t play well at all. However, when the team needed him, he found a way to get the job done.
On paper, the stats are fine and not the worst. The film tells a different story. The flashes are brief, but his flaws are more noticeable. However, the team is finding a way to win despite that. Watson’s level of play isn’t necessarily sustainable, as I’ve mentioned before, but I do believe the Browns will be hesitant to pull the trigger on a quarterback change unless the team starts to lose.
Everyone knows that the future quarterback isn’t on this team, but for years fans complained about not having competent quarterback play, which is what Watson is giving you. It’s not pretty, and it’s not flashy, but it’s better than what the team had previously, including from Watson.
I am not saying that Watson has played well throughout the entire season, but he’s not playing at a level that screams “he needs to be benched.” Can the play be better? Yes. But I don’t believe that the team needs to bench him right now and winning games will certainly keep him in place.
3rd Down: This defense might be really good
How about this defense? Going into the offseason, I said that going from Jim Schwartz to Mike Rutenberg was going to be an upgrade. Six weeks in, the take seems to be aging well. Scheme-wise, it’s a major improvement from last season. One of the many complaints I had about Schwartz’s defense was how the scheme was predictable.
Rutenberg’s scheme is anything but that. It’s more unpredictable, with much more chaos, and the players are thriving in it. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger had a fantastic game, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins continues to be a force in the interior. The Ravens running game was nonexistent today, and the passing defense did enough to contain wide receiver Zay Flowers.
Granted, the Ravens didn’t have quarterback Lamar Jackson, but this was another strong performance by a legit defense. Is it better than last year’s?
4th Down- 4-2 is 4-2.
The Cleveland Browns being 4-2 right now is a surprise, and we don’t have to lie to ourselves about it. The win wasn’t pretty, but the Browns are 4-2.
With that being said, no one knows how good this Cleveland Browns team is right now. I don’t. You don’t. Are they a playoff team? As of now, they have the fourth seed, but on the field they are not playing playoff-level football. The offense still has issues, but the defense is playing at an elite level. It’s a question whether or not this team can find consistency on the offensive side of the ball or will the offense just stay at this level for the entire season. Being 4-2 is a lot better than being 1-5. Or 0-6.
It’s a week-to-week league, and Cleveland is finding ways to win. Can’t complain about that.
Extra points
- Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is giving valid reasons why the Browns shouldn’t trade him. He’s well respected in the wide receiver room, and the team probably loses if he doesn’t have the game he had on Sunday
- Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion both struggled today, but it happens for young players.
- Jared Verse played well in the run game; need the pressures to convert to sacks soon.
- Might as well stop talking about the running game; it was already broken before the season, and it might be a while before it actually gets fixed.
- Whenever Cleveland sports teams play on the same day, it feels like a guarantee both teams will not win. Wish that had been different on Sunday.
A day later, what are you thinking about the Browns, their Week 6 win, and the changing narratives around the team?
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