Deshaun Watson’s latest postgame message sounded a lot different from the one that turned Browns fans against him before the season.
That earlier public rant made it seem like a return to Cleveland would be impossible, but Todd Monken still handed Watson the Week 1 job shortly after. The Browns then got a little breathing room with back-to-back road games to open the season, and by the time the home opener arrived against Carolina in Week 3, the boos were already creeping in. Winning, though, has a way of smoothing over almost anything.
By Week 6, the Dawg Pound made its feelings clear again after Watson and the offense produced only 24 passing yards in the first half. But after another comeback win, Watson didn’t answer the noise with another confrontation. This time, he sounded like a quarterback who finally gets the mood in Cleveland.
“These are games the fan base is always going to remember. I know they want better play and we want better play also,” Watson said.
“We have to provide that for them early on in the games. But regardless, getting those victories, especially against a division rival in our home stadium, is very, very big.”
That’s a far cry from the version of Watson who said he didn’t know whether he could handle the boos and negativity.
The Browns are 4-2 with Watson at quarterback, and all the chatter about a possible benching has disappeared. As strange as it sounds, there’s even a path where Cleveland brings him back this offseason, even if it’s only for one year.
Still, the record doesn’t tell the whole story. Watson hasn’t been cleanly carrying this offense.
At times, the Browns have looked like a team winning despite him, not because of him. Having real playmakers and a head coach willing to take chances can cover for a lot.
His limitations continue to show up in the offense, but for now he’s still the guy in charge. A quarterback who has won four of six games, including two against division opponents, is not getting pushed aside.
Watson has earned criticism for the way he has handled much of his Browns tenure, and fans are fully within their rights to feel the way they do about his off-field issues. But the NFL is a results business, and results tend to change the conversation fast.
On Sunday, Browns fans had plenty to grumble about for more than 30 minutes. Then the game turned, the cheers took over, and Watson seemed to absorb the lesson: in Cleveland, the crowd will absolutely hold him accountable, but it will also reward him if he keeps delivering wins.
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