The Browns and their fans waited almost nine months to see Deshaun Watson in a real game for them. It's been much longer wait than that for Watson. (Cleveland Browns)
Is Deshaun Watson’s debut the start of something big for the Browns?
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
HOUSTON, TX
Four downs on Browns (4-7) v. Houston Texans (1-9-1)
First down: Introducing QB34.
Finally, what everyone’s been waiting for since the Browns stunned the NFL with the biggest trade in a generation on March 18 – Deshaun Watson in a Browns uniform, executing Kevin Stefanski’s offense in a real game. If you think it’s a long time coming, consider what Watson must be feeling. He has waited 700 days to play in an NFL game again. His last game was Jan 3. 2021 for the same Houston Texans he will oppose on Sunday. In his last game, Watson passed for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but the Texans came up short, as usual in that 4-12 season, by the score of 41-38 to the Tennessee Titans. Watson then missed the entire 2021 season after he requested a trade. The Browns team Watson takes over now – after an 11-game suspension and weeks of behavioral counseling – is more loaded with talent than what Watson was last saddled with. Watson has practiced for three weeks with the Browns, but only took over the No. 1 offense in this week’s three practices. So it’s unrealistic for him to be in mid-season form, of course. “There will be some rust to knock off. It is football, which he has done his whole life so hopefully, he knocks it off quickly,” said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Watson isn’t conceding anything. “We will have to see Sunday, honestly,” Watson said. “It might take time or it might not take time. I just want to go out there, do what I want to do and make plays as much as I possibly can. Two years is definitely a long time, but at the same time, I have been doing this since I was six years old. Just like riding a bike, I am going to go out there, just find the pedals, get my transition going and then let everything come to me, don’t press it and don’t make anything bigger than what it really is.” For the record, Watson will be the 34th quarterback to start a game for the Browns in their expansion era. They paid $230 million guaranteed over the next five seasons for Watson to change his mind and waive his no-trade clause with Houston, and then paid the Texans six draft choices, including three No. 1s to finalize the deal. So the Browns don’t expect to suit up QB35 in the foreseeable future.
Second down: Better late than never.
It’s not too late for Watson to begin repaying the Browns for their generosity, patience, understanding and support. He can start by lifting them out of a deep hole created by their defense and special teams. If Watson can lead a run-the-table finish by the Browns in the last six games, they would have a chance at the playoffs. A 10-7 record would win the AFC North division on tie-breaker as long as the Ravens (7-4) and Bengals (7-4) each lose three of their remaining six games. An AFC wild card berth at 10-7 would depend on head-to-head tie-breakers that do not favor the Browns because of previous losses to the Jets, Chargers, Dolphins, Patriots and Bills. If Watson could lead the Browns even above the .500 mark, it would go a long way towards repairing the division in the ranks of their fans caused by the unsavory allegations made against him. “I think my biggest responsibility is just doing what the scheme allows me to do, and that is executing the gameplan, getting the ball to the playmakers’ hands and just try to win and try to put up points, more points than the other opponent,” Watson said. “We can’t focus on the next game, we can’t focus on two games or three games down the road. We have to worry about being 1-0 this week and focus on that.” Oddsmakers and analytic Websites have quoted the Browns’ probability of winning their division at roughly 3.7 percent.
Third down: J.D. awakened.
The long-anticipated arrival of Watson + his first return to Houston since he left the Texans in a trade in 2019 energized defensive end Jadeveon Clowney this week. Clowney’s second season with the Browns has been underwhelming, but he came alive late in the win against Tampa Bay with a half-sack of Tom Brady – the first time Clowney’s even assisted on a quarterback takedown since Week 2. Clowney said in June that the acquisition of Watson was the biggest reason he re-signed a second year with the Browns. They were teammates in Houston in 2017 and 2018. The Texans won the AFC South with an 11-5 record in 2018. On Friday, Clowney told reporters why he loved playing with Watson. “It’s the energy,” he said. “We go out there and score, we go out there and get a three-and-out, give it back to him, he’ll put up big points. On the D-line, if you get guys who can put up points, all you’re doing is rushing the passer. It’s the way we want to be.”
Fourth down: One-man band.
The Texans are 30th in scoring (15.8 points per game) and have gone five games in a row with fewer than 20 points. They’re now starting journeyman Kyle Allen at quarterback ahead of one-time franchise hopeful Davis Mills and their best receiver, Brandin Cooks, is out with a calf injury. It’s no wonder that all week the Browns’ defense put a bulls-eye on running back Dameon Pierce. Pierce, 5-10 and 218 pounds, is ninth overall and first among rookies with 788 rushing yards. “He is a load to bring down. You see him running away from people and break tackles,” said Stefanski. “He is a physical back. He is downhill. He has quickness. I think he is second in the NFL in broken tackles, fourth in yards after contact. He is a handful, and you’re going to need multiple guys to tackle him,” said defensive coordinator Joe Woods. “He can dust you and he can run you over,” said linebacker Sione Takitaki. “Brings a lot to the table. We’re well aware of him.”
The pick: Browns 34, Texans 13.
My record: 4-7.
