After an embarrassing 34-13 loss to the Commanders dropped the Browns to 1-4, head coach Kevin Stefanski insisted that Deshaun Watson would remain the team’s starting quarterback despite his struggles to start to the season.
“We’re not changing quarterbacks,” Stefanski said, via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi. “We need to play better. I need to coach better.”
But many of the Browns’ problems seem to start with Watson, who has posted a league-low 23.9 Total QBR (among current starters) this season while averaging fewer than 175 passing yards per game. The high-priced QB has thrown five touchdown passes and two interceptions, but his 26 sacks are a league-high. Cleveland has yet to score more than 20 points in a single game this season.
The Browns’ turmoil under center for the past two decades may have conditioned them to poor quarterback play, but Watson is reaching a new low in Cleveland. He started last year with a -0.20 EPA per dropback through Week 5, the lowest of any Browns QB to start the season since 2000, according to The Ringer’s Austin Gayle. That number has dropped to -0.30 EPA per dropback in 2024, severely hindering a Browns offense that is still without Nick Chubb as he recovers from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
But Stefanski is adamant that replacing Watson would not be a cure-all for the anemic offense, despite the presence of viable veteran backup Jameis Winston on the roster. Watson’s latest rough outing came as emergency Browns 2023 replacement Joe Flacco, who wanted to re-sign but was not part of Cleveland’s 2024 plans, posted a 359-yard passing day in a shootout loss to the Jaguars. The Browns did not make Flacco an offer and did not have a Watson benching on their radar despite his poor start through three games. While this latest effort will only intensify the calls for Winston to have a chance, Stefanski intimated this problem is beyond merely his QB1.
“This is not a one-person issue on offense,” Stefanski continued. “We have the guys. We have the coaches. We will get it fixed.”
Stefanski repeatedly emphasized the need for better coaching after Sunday’s loss, but his comments leading up to Week 5 indicate that he will remain the team’s play-caller moving forward. The Browns appeared to have multiple miscommunications on offense against the Commanders, and TV cameras caught Stefanski and Watson exchanging words after the quarterback walked off the field on fourth-and-goal. Stefanski confirmed this summer he would remain the play-caller, installing Ken Dorsey as a non-play-calling OC.
Watson is under contract in Cleveland for two more fully guaranteed seasons, with cap hits of $72.9MM in 2025 and 2026. The Browns’ second restructuring of his contract ballooned those numbers past that $72MM point, which would shatter an NFL record. The former first-round pick is facing another allegation of sexual assault after serving an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy stemming from several lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault. Barring a suspension that could allow the Browns to void Watson’s future guarantees — provided the QB did not inform them of this incident — they remain stuck with this contract.
Thank goodness! We all need to see Watson play more miserable play for that downtrodden franchise.
The ‘Factory of Sadness’ lives!
The funny thing is that homeless guy who told them to take Baker was better at evaluating QBs compared to their front office.
Trust me, Stefanski wants to bench him, he probably wanted to resign Flacco too, but this stupid ownership is calling the shots here. They are the idiots that cut Mayfield, traded for Watson, and refused to sign Flacco, holy cow!! Just keep your hands off!! Play fantasy football if you want to make stupid moves, just to see how they turn out, but leave the team alone!! I feel sorry for the fans.
Not re-signing Flacco looks worse and worse by the day. This defense just needs a competent offensive playcaller to win games. They’d all just be better off at this point with Jameis just airing it out Favre style. Go for another 30 TD/30 Ints
Why do you feel sorry for their fans? They can easily stop buying tickets and other Browns’ merchandise—same for the fans of perpetually losing teams: Jags, Jets, Cards, Chargers, etc.
In Cleveland you can support a good Guardian team instead of the losing Browns. Same holds true for most cities. If I’m a New Yorker, why would I waste money on the Jets or Giants when I could spend it on the Yankees or Rangers who can actually win?
That’s exactly right. I have no problem paying good money to watch quality play. I’m watching SportsCenter right now. In Jacksonville, it was a pretty full stadium yesterday for a 0-4 team; why?
arty goes to bed thinking about the jaguars
I live about an hour south of the stadium. I never go to their games. Miserably run franchise.
The 14 year old girls make their dads take them to the games to watch Trevor Lawrence?
Before yesterday the Colts had lost 9 straight in Jacksonville so that probably explains how an 0-4 team drew good attendance.
OK, arty, how about a little reality? Jax beat Indy with a last-minute FG (and the Jaguars have to leave early for London with Hurricane Milton heading toward Florida). Jets are 2nd in AFC East and their MNF vs. Buffalo is for the division lead. Arizona fought back to win at San Francisco. Chargers are the better of the 2 Los Angeles teams.
Meanwhile, Cleveland is on course to run the table vs. NFC East. Loss to Dallas, loss to Giants, loss at Washington, potential loss at Philly.
Reality from a Jets fan, ha! You may have missed the standings.
Jets (as always sub.500) 2-3. And your beloved QB has an ankle sprain to accompany his three picks yesterday. I can’t wait to see your team blow a ton of picks on Adams and still lose. It’s going to happen.
Jags(!) Are you serious? 1-4.
AZ also under .500 (2-3).
I would like to bet you that the Browns run the table! Do you not watch football? Only comment here.
My mind is not brainwashed by excessive consumption of tabloids, talk radio, and Sportsball TV. Cleveland are shyte and the way they’ve played proves it.
You can always read the Daily Mail if you want to worship the Super League.
Your mind is brainwashed, thinking the Jets’ are a relevant football team.
That franchise is darn near 100 games UNDER .500! 408 wins, 500 losses, and 8 ties
Frankly, your team should have had the nickname ‘The Factory of Sadness’.
Arty who is your favorite team? I’m not trolling or being a smart ass. I truly have no idea. Never see you say anything positive about any team or player. Just dog on players teams and fans. So I’m genuinely curious if you even have a favorite team or just live for negativity.
It was the Redskins, but Dan killed them for me well over a decade ago. I do dog on bad teams and players, why not? What do you want me to say about how great continually bad teams are? Same for players like the media does? The only teams that got poor reviews this offseason was NE & Panthers. While everyone knows over half the league will be +/-.500.
Using this article, I’m 51, when have the Browns been good?
The Browns were decent in the years before leaving for Baltimore and winning a world championship.
@arty Yes around half the league will be .500 or lower that is some good first grade math. I am not saying I want you to say good or bad things about any team. All I said was that you are a very negative person who is always talking down every team and player. So I was wondering if you even had a favorite team. Turns out I was right that you don’t. But the team you did root for was the laughingstock of the league the last 30 years which is quite ironic. If it were me and something made me that angry that all I did was spew negativity I would probably find something else to do. But maybe when I’m 51 all I will want to do is sit around complaining about everything in a comment section. Doubtful because that sounds like a truly dreadful existence. But who knows maybe.
I guess you missed the Skins 3 SB wins during the 80’s, and 90’s, then.
Besides, it’s fun watching adults scream and cry over their teams even though they know they’ll lose! This Chucky guy, for example, he says it ad nauseam that his beloved Jets took down Bill B. Yet Bill is +15 games over .500 against them. I’ll always mock that ignorance.
30 years ago was 1994. So no I didn’t miss anything there is actually a reason I said 30 years. I understand though math can be hard for some people. Especially old clowns who get their rocks off by spewing negativity in comment sections all day every day. Pretty sad.
Since I’m older than you, my childhood started sooner. I guess that’s a little hard to understand. I never bandwagon to other teams like so many do. It’s funny how you don’t see as many Pat’s fans these days as much as you do Chiefs fans these days. That’s sadness to me, not being loyal.
The same goes for college. All of a sudden, everyone loves UGA but not Clemson or Bama. I bet that’s you, flipping to only winning teams. Spineless losers.
Because one of my huge pet peeves is band-wagon fans!! If you’re a fan of a team when they are good, (and I know in the Browns case, you have to go way back), you stay loyal. Or at least I do. Where are all of those Patriot fans now? So, yes. I feel sorry for the loyal Browns fans.
In other words, it would cost too much for the franchise to admit the terrible mistake they made with the trade. Rather than deal with the sunk cost and move on, they’re going to bury their heads in the sand and pretend Watson is going to magically become not awful.
A plan made by clowns is at least good for a laugh, I guess.
I don’t give a Flying J what anyone else thinks. We all know who the real Pilot of this disaster is.
Did the Browns have to do a Diesel Fuel Rebate Scam to pay Watson?
Karma is blinder than (unrequested) love but it can still find it’s way to Cleveland.
Enjoy.
In other news Browns not planning to have a good offense
Hmmm…WWBBD?
Mumble.
Haslam made this mess, he needs to clean it up. And soon. Jimmy & Dee need to concentrate on the team and not on a new domed stadium.
Haslam needs to sell the team. Browns will never win anything with Haslam around.
At this point the Browns might as well keep rolling with Watson. They’re not coming back from a 1-4 start and they have to pay him regardless. Suffer through this atrocity the rest of the way and enjoy the top 3 pick in the draft
Finish 3–14 and draft a successor after Watsons deal fades. Someone like Carson Beck, Shadeur Sanders or Jalen Milroe
shadeur even comes with a lame duck head coach! perfect for cleveland.
Haha
Kirsten
That made me laugh. I say I hope Seattle doesn’t take Sanders because his over hyped dad will come with the pick. If he can worm his way onto the team he can leave Colorado and pretend he was a great coach there. I get tired of seeing his stupid face all over TV. One of the few D players that would run out of bounds to avoid a hit. You see offensive players do it but few on D. When he did make a hit the O player usually made the contact. He could cover but at a time when players hit and tried to cause pain he was like a pee wee player first starting afraid of contact.
Browns deserve everything they get by signing this pos scumbag.
I’ve been a Browns fan since the 1960’s, and have decided to remain a fan. But I will be taking time off until Watson and Andrew Berry are gone.
Insane, the team clearly hates Watson. Not sure there’s ever been a more hated active player.
I would trust my 4 year old niece with a football club before I’d trust the browns owners with one.
You’d think the fans would boo this guy mercilessly every snap until he’s replaced. I mean, it’s Cleveland and they’re not known for being a quiet fanbase
Not sure if Watson completely lost all his skills or he knows the money is guaranteed and is just going through the motions to collect it? Either way it’s a travesty what the Browns fans have to endure with this guy under center.
I think he is going through the motions. Has enough money to pay off the girls he rubs his member on. The ones he hires for a massage. No reason to do more than just below the min. Hopes to get released and sail off into the massage parlor with a happy ending.
Jimmy Haslam needs to sell the team and take Deshaun with him. There’s no way the Browns can be successful with that meddling fool owning the team.
Watson will be cut with 1 or 1.5 years left. Yes, I know it’s guaranteed. They can’t cut Watson now or that would be admitting that the 5 year guaranteed contract was a mistake. It’s too early *for the Browns* to admit that right now.
Top 5 worst trade/contract NFL history.
It’s top 1 in all of North American sports. Considering NFL contracts don’t need to have guaranteed money attached, what they gave up, and they let Baker and Flacco walk. They went above and beyond to solidify their ineptitude.
The Panthers benched their QB….THEN won their next game…
What is going on in Cleveland…they are a Rolling Dumpster Fire and a complete Disaster
The gift that keeps on giving. Guess Cleveland forgot that Watson quit on the Texans and thus might do the same again if things didn’t go his way…
That’s true, he shut it down because he wasn’t allowed to make the calls on personnel moves, like this is the guy that makes sound decisions and should be trusted with them. It was all downhill for him from there, until of course the idiot Browns 2.0 that saved him with a ridiculous contract offer after he initially blew them off and disrespected them but changed his mind when they offered up new terms.
Garbage results from a garbage person at QB they’re stuck with since they owe him so much $$$.
I disagree. I think all Watson needs is a #1 WR like Adams.
Sincerely,
A Raiders fan
For 3 firsts? Hahahahaha as a Texans fan I absolutely am thrilled with how it all turned out.
That Watson contract was so obviously wrong headed, at the time, that this isn’t really very surprising. (understatement)
What, the coach can’t keep his job if he benches the guy?
Denver took a bold step in getting rid of their locker room cancer. Cleveland should do the same.
Browns gonna brown.
He wants to get fired