Monday leftovers

In some ways, it's fascinating to see how fans and a few members of the media react after a Browns victory. Take Sunday's 24-10 road triumph against the Washington Commanders for example.

At halftime, most everyone in -- or associated with -- Browns Nation no doubt were moaning at various levels of anger and frustration after watching them pretty much go through the motions in the first 30 minutes. It was cringeworthy, embarrassing.

Fast forward to after the same game, about an hour later, and you'd swear the fans and media couldn't wait for the start of the 2023 National Football League season. All it took was a solid second half from all three units. It was truly complementary football, a rarity for the Browns this season.

Deshaun Watson played easily his best game -- no, make that half -- of the season, immediately kick-starting conversation about what loomed for the elite quarterback. His break-out three-touchdown half in just his fifth game back from suspension prompted crazy, wonderful thoughts and dreams of the future.

The NFL's most frustrated fan base -- and it's not even close -- has been teased so badly and so often by this franchise over the years, they'll glom on to just about anything positive at this point. They thought the two-decade-long days of gloom and doom were finally over after the surprising 11-5 season in 2020.

The last two mediocre seasons erased that notion. The Browns haven't been terrible in that span. They just haven't learned how to play up their talent quotient, dropping games along the way they should win and occasionally upsetting stronger opponents.

They began this season with a momentum of hope created by a defense that shocked just about everyone by playing top-10 football statistically in the second half of the 2021 season. Add that to an already superior offense and it's off to the races and back in the postseason, right?

With few exceptions, the 2022 defense that started was the pretty much same that finished last season. Coordinator Joe Woods and head coach Kevin Stefanski were sanguine in anticipation of great success. It didn't take long to discover success from the previous season does not necessarily carry over to the next season.

If we're pointing fingers of guilt as to why the Browns will finish under .500 and in the AFC North cellar this season for the umpteenth time in this century, all fingers are directed at the defense. 

Just about everything fell apart, especially in the secondary. Blown assignments, thought to have been corrected last season, resurfaced and became commonplace. Then a plethora of injuries robbed the defense of most of its veteran linebackers. Ball game.

So now you see why I believe Watson's performance in the second half against Washington will have no impact whatsoever on how the offense operates in 2023. It's nice for one game. And that's the point.  It's just one game. 

This carryover-to-the-next-season nonsense is the stuff of public relations. Gotta keep the Browns relevant and in the spotlight, and the fans brimming with hope. Let's see what it's like Sunday after the season finale in Pittsburgh.

Too much is going to happen from a personnel standpoint during what could be --  should be? -- an active offseason that'll reshape the roster and coaching staff (not Stefanski). The bet here is this front office is in trouble if there's a third straight disappointing season.

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Watson's throwing was spotty all afternoon Sunday.  He received no help from his receivers in the first half, during which he was sacked four times. His offensive line gave him plenty of time to throw, but the inability of receivers to adjust and become available had to frustrate.

On the first of Watson's three scoring throws in the second half, though, Amari Cooper helped by grabbing a 10-yard stick-route at the Washington 36 on third down, pivoting and breaking a tackle, then running untouched the rest of the way down the sideline. 

The second on the next possession was the prettiest because of its perfect execution. Donovan Peoples-Jones lined up slot left at the Washington 13-yard line on another third down. He ran a shallow cross left to right into a vacant area created by a clear-out. Watson hit him in stride from about eight yards and the rest was easy. Just like it was drawn up.

You could almost see it coming.Watson had delivered his best two passes on the afternoon to set up this touchdown, clicking on darts of 28 yards to Cooper and 21 more to tight end David Njoku. It was a brief glimpse of what the Browns expect from him the next four seasons.

Touchdown number three on the next possession was basic reading and then taking advantage of a zone defense. First down at the Washington 33. Cooper immediately recognized the defense. So did Watson. Cooper found the soft spot about 20 yards downfield. The ball arrived with well-timed precision and Cooper barged his way into the end zone 

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Finally . . . Nick Chubb needs 47 yards against the Steelers next Sunday to establish a personal best in yards gained from scrimmage and has a good chance -- he needs 52 yards -- to join Jim Brown in the 1,500-yard club. Brown did it three times -- 1,527 in 12 games in his second season (1957), 1,544 in his final season (1965) in 14 games and a club-record 1,863 yards in 1963 in 14 games. . . . The Cleveland defense, which had only eight takeaways in the first 11 games (4-7 record), have stormed back with 11 in the last five games (3-2). . . . The offense has turned the ball over to the opposition at least once in 12 of the 16 games.