As Week 2 arrives, Browns fans have a few games to keep one eye on beyond Cleveland’s own matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The one that may matter most from a Browns perspective comes Monday night, when the Los Angeles Rams try to avoid an 0-2 start against the New York Giants. The Rams are already coming off a Week 1 loss, and with DE Myles Garrett now on injured reserve after surgery, another setback could have a major effect on Cleveland’s future draft position.
Sunday’s Bengals-Texans matchup is another one worth circling. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EST, and it offers an early read on two AFC teams that could shape the conference race.
Houston is trying to bounce back after a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills and make the case that it belongs among the AFC’s real contenders. Cincinnati, meanwhile, opened with a 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be looking to keep its momentum rolling.
It’s still early, but this game could say something about both teams’ postseason chances.
Later in the weekend, the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs meet on Sunday Night Football in a game that could also matter in the AFC race. Kansas City is coming off a 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, who nearly reached the Super Bowl last season, and the Chiefs will be trying to show they’re still the standard in the conference as Patrick Mahomes returns from his injury. The Colts, despite a difficult loss to the Baltimore Ravens, remain a team that could still be in the mix this season.
In Other News...
Browns Rookie Tackle Faces A Tough Truth After Uneven Debut
Spencer Fanos first game at left tackle for the Browns came with the kind of immediate stress test that can shape how a rookie is viewed around here. Against the Jaguars, he ran into a tough matchup and spent plenty of snaps dealing with pressure, with Deshaun Watsons play style only adding to the challenge. It was the sort of debut that reminded everyone how unforgiving the position can be, especially when a young lineman is being asked to hold up in less-than-ideal circumstances.
The reviews reflected that reality, with analysts offering mixed assessments of how Fano handled the assignment and where the pressures came from. For Cleveland, the bigger question is not whether the debut was uneven but how quickly he can translate a rough start into growth. The Browns do not need perfection from a rookie tackle right away, but they do need signs that he can adapt, clean up the leaks and keep improving as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Put Browns Fans Through Another Brutal Spotlight
Deshaun Watsons latest press conference only widened the spotlight on a Browns season that already feels like it is under a microscope. After the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson drew criticism from Stephen A. Smith, who took aim at the quarterbacks play and said the focus should be on what happens on the field, not on complaints about media attention.
Watson is still lined up to start Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the patience around him is not exactly limitless. For Cleveland, the bigger issue is simple: if the performance does not improve quickly, the conversation around Watson is only going to get louder, and the questions about his place as the starter will keep following the Browns everywhere they go. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Is Making An Old Browns Mistake Look Even Worse
Josh Allens fast start to the 2026 season is only adding to the old ache around the Browns quarterback history. Through two games, the Bills star has piled up nine total touchdowns and 582 passing yards, a reminder of how different things might have looked in Cleveland had the draft gone another way back in 2018. Instead, the Browns chose Baker Mayfield, and the franchise has spent years living with the familiar churn that comes from missing on the most important position in the sport.
The latest surge from Allen has also revived a curious little footnote from that draft cycle, when Jenna Jameson reportedly urged the Browns to take him before the selection was made. It is anecdotal, not an official team position, but it fits the broader pattern in Cleveland: the warning signs were there, the debate was real, and the consequences still linger. Every big Allen performance now works like a fresh reminder of how expensive quarterback instability can be when a team gets the decision wrong. [Read more 🡒]