Browns fans are still holding on, but the grip has loosened a bit after back-to-back losses.
That’s the latest read from the fan confidence meter, which dipped another 3 percentage points this week to 57%. It’s not a dramatic slide, but it does reflect the mood around a team that has gone from early-season doubt to real optimism and now back into a shakier stretch.
The confidence arc has moved all over the place during Cleveland’s 5-4 start. It opened with a harsh drop after the loss to the Jaguars, when plenty of fans were wondering whether this team could even win a game this year.
Then came the bounce: a Week 3 win over the Buccaneers changed the tone, and the momentum kept building as Deshaun Watson played better than expected. Confidence climbed even higher after Cleveland beat the division-rival Ravens, especially with the Steelers already in the win column.
But the mood has cooled again after losses to Pittsburgh and New Orleans, marking the first time this season the Browns have dropped two straight.
The Texans, meanwhile, are sitting at 24% fan confidence in the direction of their team.
This week’s other big question was at quarterback: who should start against Houston, Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? Todd Monken is going with Watson, but fans were still asked to weigh in after last week’s situation.
Watson got the nod from 59% of voters, while 41% preferred Sanders.
That split matters because it gives a clear snapshot of where the fan base stands heading into a crucial stretch. If Watson struggles during the upcoming four-game home run, that support could shift quickly.
One fan who backed Watson put it this way:
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.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Can Enjoy The Ravens Latest AFC North Misstep
Baltimores latest move at the NFL trade deadline brought Jacoby Brissett into the fold at the cost of a fourth-round pick, a deal that only adds to the scrutiny around a team already trying to keep its footing in the AFC North. From a Browns perspective, it is the kind of rival misstep that is easy to notice, especially when the Ravens are dealing with salary cap pressure and a front office that has given critics plenty to question.
The bigger issue for Baltimore is not just the price of the trade, but what it says about where the franchise is headed. With Lamar Jacksons injury situation and contract status still hanging over everything, the Ravens are trying to solve immediate problems while also protecting their long-term outlook, and those goals do not always line up neatly. For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder that the division race can turn on more than what happens on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Finally Punish A Texans Weakness Fans Need To See
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One of the names to watch on the Houston side is Kamari Lassiter, part of a defensive backfield that will be tested by a Browns offense looking for any opening it can get. The bigger question is whether Cleveland can take advantage of a Texans defense that has shown some vulnerability when games get close and the pressure rises. If the Browns are going to make this one uncomfortable, the path likely runs straight through that secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face Another Lineup Shakeup Before Texans Showdown
The Browns are dealing with another round of lineup uncertainty as they head into their Week 10 matchup with the Texans, with a few key names popping up on the injury report. Rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston is listed as questionable because of a toe injury, while safety Ronnie Hickman and fullback Mike Burton have already been ruled out with a concussion and a calf injury, respectively.
Hickmans absence is the one that could ripple most through the defense, since Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is expected to step into a bigger role in his place. For a Cleveland team trying to keep its footing as the schedule tightens, the timing of these changes adds another layer of challenge before a game that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]