Close again, but . . . 

There is no question the Browns' defense is statistically the best in the National Football League after three weeks, racking up otherworldly numbers. But just how good are they? They are about to find out.

The Browns' two victories this far were recorded against an injured quarterback who should not have played and an aging signal-caller who has clearly seen his best days. The one loss was a total domination by that side of the ball against a second-year quarterback in a game given away by the offense.

All that changes Sunday afternoon at home against the Baltimore Ravens, who arrive tied with the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North with a healthy -- and still exceedingly dangerous -- Lamar Jackson at the offensive helm. 

Until now, the Browns have enjoyed little success against Jackson, whose athletic exploits when not throwing forward passes has left a boatload of defenders flailing in vain while trying to get him on the ground. 

He is a running back playing quarterback; a much better runner than thrower, although he has connected on 73% of his passes this season. In eight career starts against the Browns, he has thrown for 11 touchdowns, averaged just 186 yards passing, been picked off six times and sacked 18 times. 

As a runner, he averages six yards a carry against Cleveland with four more scores. He has booked games of 90, 103 and 124 yards. He extends plays in eye-disbelieving, highlight-moment fashion. And with all the injuries in the Baltimore running backs room, he is the Baltimore offense

The Browns have yet to solve him, dropping six of the eight meetings. But on Sunday, Jackson will face a Cleveland defense he most likely will not recognize. 

The passive and somewhat bewilderingly passive defense of Joe Woods the last three seasons is history, replaced by Jim Schwartz's eye-pleasing, in-your-face, nasty, attitudinal and wildly aggressive way of shutting down opposing offenses.

Although beset by numerous injuries, the Ravens are still a huge threat, especially against the Browns. That's because Jackson is extremely capable of making plays just when it appears he has no chance.

Wide receivers Rashod Bateman and former Browns Odell Beckham Jr. won't play. Neither will cornerback Marlon Humphrey, outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, while offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is listed as doubtful, which means he probably won't play.

The Browns are hurting a little, too. Midway through this past week, Deshaun Watson stopped throwing with what is being called a throwing-shoulder contusion, picked up in last Sunday's victory over Tennessee. 

Watson says he will play, but if pre-game warmups dictate otherwise, Dorian Thompson-Robinson gets his first National Football League start with recent signee P. J.Walker moving up from the practice squad to back him up.

If it's DTR, look for head coach Kevin Stefanski to dumb down the offense, making certain the rookie keeps mistakes at a minumum with a variety of screens, misdirection plays and high percentage, chain-moving possessions. 

It was also reported Saturday that tight end David Njoku suffered burn injuries to his face and hands in a household accident trying to light a fire pit. Like Watson, Njoku says he'll play with warmups being the deciding factor. The good news is cornerback Greg Newsome II returns to the secondary.

The secondary's prime targets Sunday will be rookie Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, Devin Duvernay and tight end Mark Andrews, who is having a down year but always seems to play well against the Browns.  Wonder if Schwartz plans to spy Jackson with someone or rely on gang tackling.

And then there's Justin Tucker, the best kicker in NFL history and a shoo-in first-ballot Hall of Famer. In 22 games against the Browns, he has missed just one extra point, is 40 of 48 on field goals and amassed 168 points. He has kicked the longest field goal ever in the league, a 66-yarder to beat Detroit in 2021.

This one is close enough where a field goal could decide who rises to 3-1 and retention of the division lead or falls to 2-2. The Browns are clearly the better team. They've been the better team in every game this season. But there are factors that fly in the face of that boast. The Pittsburgh loss, for example.

The Ravens almost always come up with something different against the Browns. Whether it's a busted play by Jackson that lasts 10 or 15 seconds and somehow winds up in the Ravens' favor. Or Tucker kicking something like a 67-yard field goal on the last play of the game. 

By the way, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh isn't 35-13 against the Browns by accident. So until the Browns can completely undo that hex, or whatever you want to call it, I'm thisclose to believing what I'm seeing. Not quite there yet. Make it:

Ravens 17, Browns 14

NFL DPOY for

Garrett? Nah

To more than a few members of Browns Nation and the Cleveland media, it sure looks as though there are a large number of haters with regard to the exploits of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

After a five-tackle, 3.5-sack, five-quarterback-hits, umpteen-pressures masterpiece in the Tennessee victory last Sunday, the best Garrett could get in AFC defensive-player-of-the-week balloting was a "not-quite-good-enough."

The award went to Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard, who had seven tackles, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Which leads to the belief that as great as Garrett plays the game, he has no chance at best of pulling down the big award: NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

So what does he need to do to gain the attention of those who vote for these awards? Five sacks? A dozen quarterback hits? A couple of strip sacks and a touchdown in a Cleveland victory? Break out a cape with a big S at the end of the game? In the same game? Maybe that won't be good enough.

That's because he is penalized statistically by the position he plays. He is counted on to be a quarterback disturber, wreak havoc in opponents' backfields, make quarterbacks throw before they want. That's it. He is not versatile enough to impact or dictate the outcome of games like, for example, Pittsburgh's T. J. Watt.

Browns fans know very well how destructive the Steelers' outside linebacker can be. In 11 career games against Cleveland, Watt has 59 tackles, 16 sacks and always seems to come through with game-altering plays. The result: He is 9-1-1 against them.

Garrett and Watt entered the National Football League in 2017. So it's fair to draw comparisons. But when you compare their résumés, you realize it's not even close statistically as to who is the better player, but the player who is more impactful to his team.

In 87 career games, Garrett (6-4, 270 pounds) has a club-record 79 sacks, 271 overall tackles, 152 quarterback hits, 13 passes defensed, 14 forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered and one returned for a touchdown through the Tennessee victory last Sunday.

You also have to take into consideration he was suspended for the final six games of the 2019 season for bopping Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph on the head with the quarterback's helmet. They were 4-6 with him, 2-4 in his absence. No noticeable big difference.

Watt missed seven of the first games eight games last season with a torn pectoral muscle. The Steelers were 1-6 in those games, but were 8-2 when the 6-4, 250-pounder was healthy as they finished the season at 9-8 after beginning 2-6.

In 90 games, he has intercepted six passes, defensed 39 passes, forced 25 fumbles, recovered nine, returned one for a TD (in  week two against the Browns), and recorded 344 overall tackles, 174 quarterback hits and 83.5 sacks.

His 22.5 sacks in 2021 tied Michael Strahan's single-season record. He already has six this season, on pace for a record-shattering 34. He can be found anywhere on the field depending on the situation. He is as comfortable as a heat-seeking missile rushing the passer as he is dropping into pass coverage. 

He is arguably more important to the Steelers' success than Garrett is to the Browns' success. He is almost always near the football. Garrett is almost always near the quarterback. He does only one thing and does it well, but he is a one-trick pony.

They have two things in common. At their current pace, both are headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And neither has been to a Super Bowl title game. Garrett has the edge in the postseason. He is 1-1; Watt is winless in three games.

So who would you rather have on your team? From this angle, that's a no brainer. If Watt had been drafted by the Browns, I believe the fortunes of this franchise would have shifted 180 degrees and the last half dozen seasons would have been much more enjoyable and joyful.

They had two shots at selecting him in the opening round. After making Garrett the top overall pick, they chose instead to pass on Watt at #25 for safety Jabrill Peppers and at #29 for tight end David Njoku. The Steelers grabbed Watt immediately after Njoku fell off the board. The Cleveland GM? Sashi Brown. 

Peppers is still around, starting in the New England Patriots secondary after three seasons with the New York Giants. Njoku is in his seventh season with the Browns, still producing mediocre results. Watt, meanwhile, is a perennial Pro Bowler who seems to be getting better by the season.

And the Browns? Still trying to find the magic that made them one of the great franchises in the NFL the last half of the 20th century.

Monday leftovers

Kind of lost in the rush to suggest Deshaun Watson is slowly becoming the Deshaun Watson the Browns believed they landed with that fat contract is one pass he threw with absolute precision that triggered that thought.

It occurred on the Browns' initial possession of the second half of the 27-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans Sunday. Second play of what concluded as an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive that ate up five minutes and 34 seconds. 

Second and one at the Cleveland 24. Donovan Peoples-Jones runs a route that takes him down the right sideline with Tennessee cornerback Roger McCreary in tight coverage. Watson sees the one-on-one and lofts an arching tight spiral that drops absolutely perfectly into the waiting arms of the wide receiver.

There was nothing McCreary could do. DPJ sealed off the sideline, stretched out his arms and in came the ball. Didn't need to break stride. It was as though Watson had walked up to the big wideout and dropped the ball in a bucket. The catch and run covered 29 yards.

That's the kind of pass that is most difficult to throw, but he threaded it in perfectly despite blanket coverage. It was easily Watson's best throw of the day, a day that saw him complete 27 of 33 passes for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

It's the kind that gives one the kind of confidence to go and let it rip. In his eight previous games as the Browns' quarterback, Watson's biggest problem seemed to be lack of confidence when dropping back to throw. He was hesitant, held on to the ball too long and didn't seem to be stepping into his throws.

If a completion like that one to DPJ is the one that unlocks the kind of talent a younger Deshaun Watson had before all the trouble he encountered in Houston eventually led him to the Browns, it'll make Kevin Stefanski's job as playcaller that much easier.

There's nothing more frustrating than calling plays for your quarterback in hopes he'll be successful. Up until Sunday, Watson gave Stefanski no reason to be perfectly confident with running the offense due to his self-destructive ways with the football.

Yes, it's only one game. But it was the kind of game many fans thought would never show up because of his inconsistency for so long. We'll all find out whether this is a blip with the Baltimore Ravens and their terrific defense up next on Sunday.

***

Remember all those sensational statistics Schwartz's Marauders are ringing up this season after the first three games? Jim Schwartz is like a ringmaster out there. It's easy to see how much the players love playing for him. Here are a few more stats for you to chew on.

There are 60 minutes in a football game if overtime is not needed. That's 180 total minutes of football for the Browns to date. They have owned the football for 109 minutes and 43 seconds of those 180; the opposition a measly 70 minutes and 13 seconds, or roughly 23 minutes a game. 

One of the reasons for that lopsided stat can be found in how often the Cleveland defense shut down the opposition in three plays -- the dreaded three and out. Browns fans know all about that stat for the last 24 seasons, all for the wrong reason. Well, that worm has turned.

Not counting end of half or end of games kneeldowns, opposing teams have compiled 34 drives thus far. The Browns ended 14 of them after three plays. You want punts? How about 24 of them by the opposition. Brad Robbins of the Cincinnati Bengals drilled 10 in the season opener.

If there is one aspect of defense that can be niggled, it's turnovers. This very active defense has only two -- an interception and fumble recovery, both by safety Grant Delpit in the Pittsburgh loss. As hard as they hit, only one caused fumble. As well as they cover, just the one.

They're doing everything else so well, it's a stat that can easily overlooked. I'll bet Schwartz isn't overlooking it. He knows the importance of having a plus turnover ratio. Right now, the Browns are minus-5. 

The Steelers are tied for the lead in the AFC North with the Browns and Ravens because they are plus-4 with five takeaways in victories over the Browns and Las Vegas Raiders in the last two games. Opportunistic football cannot be undervalued.

***

It was interesting to see Stefanski utilize all three running backs Sunday. Sort of a running back by committee for what probably will be this game only. Stefanski didn't wait long to get Kareem Hunt back into action. In fact, all three appeared for at least one play in the opening series that produced a field goal.

Hunt, Pierre Strong Jr. and Jerome Ford combined for 58 yards against the strong Titans run defense with Strong leading the way late in the game when the victory was already secured: Six carries for 27 yards against by then a tired defensive line.

Hunt checked in with 13 yards in five attempts -- he also caught a pair of passes for 22 yards -- and Ford booked 18 yards in 10 tries. Ford, who is still RB1, scored twice on a 19-yard reception and short dash around the left side from three yards. 

***

Nice to see Elijah Moore more involved in the offense. The quick wide receiver is so versatile, you might say his best position is "just put the football in his hands." He touched the football a dozen times Sunday, catching all nine passes thrown his way as a receiver for 49 yards. 

He's the kind of player who can bust one at any given time, whether it's a reverse or short screen. With his speed and quickness, anything can happen. Stefanski hasn't dialed up a deep throw to him yet, but it's only a matter of time before he does. 

***

Finally . . . Love the wrinkle Stefanski has come up with in short-yardage situations. Initially, he used center Nick Harris (6-0, 295 pounds) as the up man for blocking in front of the running back. Lately, he has gone with tight end Harrison Bryant (6-5, 230) and been successful. . . . The reason Amari Cooper was cheated out of a touchdown late in the second quarter: After making a terrific catch near midfield, the side judge ruled Cooper stepped out of bounds. Replay showed he did not, but the whistle stopped play and it was not reviewable. The possession wound up in a Dustin Hopkins 52-yard field goal. . . One final defensive stat and promise that's it: Opposing quarterbacks have connected on 49% (42 of 86) of their passes for 418 yards (139 per) and the only touchdown given up by the D this season.

Nickname time

After what happened at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday afternoon, it's time to give the Browns defense a nickname, one that perfectly fits this unit that has taken the National Fotball League by storm this season. I think I've got one. 

Marauder (noun) Plunderer, pillager, ravager, spoiler. If that's not it, it sure is good enough to describe what that side of the football has done to its first three opponents this season. Call them Schwartz's Marauders.

In the first three games this season, opponents have totaled -- totaled! -- 21 first downs, only 491 yards,  just 156 yards on the ground and 335 through the air, scored just one touchdown and have converted only eight of 41 third downs.

That's some special defense and it's all because the Browns were wise beyond belief to hire Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator. Best move of the season. By far.

Schwartz's smothering crew once again played against the Titans as though their hair was on fire. They pillaged, ravaged and plundered Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans offense en route to a dominant 27-3 thumping, one of the Browns' easiest victories in years. Totally neutered them.

Myles Garrett was unstoppable all day, making Tannehill his personal rag doll with 3.5 sacks, five tackles (four solo), five quarterback hits and a whole bunch of hurries. 

It seemed as though there was a magnet in the football that drew the immediate attention of all 11 Cleveland defenders not only on the ground, but through the air as well. Titans runners were swallowed up by the aggressive line. Tannehill completed only 13 passes and each one of the receptions had company within seconds. The tackling was text book.

If not for Elijah Moore losing a fumble at the Cleveland 17 late in the first quarter, this would have been a shutout. The transition defense clamped down and forced a 44-yard field goal by Nick Folk that created a 3-3 tie early in the second quarter.

For the first time this season, the defense got help from the offense. Deshaun Watson played his best game in a Browns uniform after eight subpar performances, looking a lot more like he played in his early Houston Texans days.

He was cool, confident, got the ball out on time, was as accurate as he's ever been in a Cleveland uniform and was completely in control with one notable brain-dead moment that monetarily spoiled a pretty good afternoon.

Midway through what turned out to be a nine-play 75-yard scoring drive following Folk's field goal, Watson was trapped in the backfield near midfield on first down. Instead of throwing the ball away or taking the sack, he tried to get the ball as he was falling to Moore, who was directly behind him. The wide receiver fortunately recovered the ball.

Benefiting from a 37-yard pass interference call on the next play, Watson hooked up with Jerome Ford from 19 yards four plays later after the running back, who was flanked left, ran a stop and go route and was wide open in the end zone.

Watson was just getting started. He completed all three passes in the following possession, including a 25-yarder to Amari Cooper that help set up Dustin Hopkins' second field goal of the gane from 52-yards, his second connection from beyond midfield this season.

Ford, who shared running back duties with Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong Jr., climaxed an 11-play, 85-yard drive with his second score of the afternoon, a three-yard sprint to the pylon off left tackle. Watson set him up with a well-executed 10-yard RPO run right up the gut.

Watson and Cooper later collaborated on a 43-yard connection midway through the final quarter after the wide receiver ran a straight go route directly between deep double coverage and neither defender made a move.

Watson missed on only six of his 33 throws for 289 yards and the two touchdowns, but was sacked three times. He was so good, head coach Kevin Stefanski gave him the rest of the afternoon off and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson had the huddle on the last possession.

And I can't find anything negative to say about special teams. It seems to be a slow process with that unit, although Hopkins sure has been terrific in relief of he who shall not be mentioned. All together Sunday, it was a confluence of solid football.

It's been a very long while since the Browns put together such a game where fans are breathing easier midway through the third quarter, not having to worry -- and think -- about what's going to happen to spoil everything. It was a worry-free three hours.

Usually one of the three units that screws up. Not on this day. The defense from the line all the way through to the backfield was its aggressive, nasty self. They controlled every facet of the game. About as close to perfection as you can get.

One of the concerns entering the season on defense was how well the linebackers perform. Based on three games, I don't think there are any lingering concerns. Schwartz has turned them loose. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki are flying all over the place and making plays.

With the offense slowly coming around in spite of one glaring weakness on the line, the 2-1 record they take into next Sunday's home game against the Baltimore Ravens, with whom they share first place in the AFC North, is beginning to make that game look winnable.

The Ravens have yet to meet Schwartz's Marauders.

Must win? You bet

It is not too early to suggest Sunday's Browns-Tennessee Titans game represents a fork in the road for the Browns. Yes, it's just game three, but it has become a must-win game. Going down the wrong road makes it so.

The Browns have already lost a game they should have won. They should be 2-0 entering this one. Another loss drops them to 1-2 with the unbeaten Baltimore Ravens arriving a week from Sunday. They do not want to be 1-2 at that point, which makes this . . . yep, a must-win situation.

Of course that's thinking negatively, but there are too many warning signs with this offense, which has become extremely offensive in the first two games. Having the terrific defense rescue their brethren on the other side of the ball on a weekly basis is not the way to play winning football.

Besides, this is a trap game. By that I mean a lot of fans probably think last Monday's loss in Pittsburgh was an aberration, totally unexpected after the huge season-opening victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. And the Titans have slipped a little, joining the Browns last season at 7-10.

The Browns are the definitely the better team on paper. The Titans peaked a couple of years ago and are treading water. All the more reason to casually put this one in the win column. One important factor screams "whoa."

Deshaun Watson is playing like a $230 million mistake. Wait. Isn't that a little harsh? Not the way he's quarterbacking this so-called exciting offense. Where's the innovation? Where's the creativity, the imagination? Even more important, where's the execution?

And to think there are still three years and 15 more games remaining on Watson's fully-guaranteed contract. Yikes! Besides, who can the Browns pawn this guy off on if this expensive gamble totally falls apart?

No, I'm not writing him off. Still too early. Right now with Nick Chubb gone for the season, how Watson performs the rest of the way will determine how close the Browns come to playing football in January. It's all on him. Not certain he has the stones to handle all that pressure.

The jury is still out on whether he is capable of elevating his game to the point where he makes plays when making plays is required. The question is why he hasn't thus far. Why isn't he more like the Pro Bowl quarterback a few years ago in Houston? The answer is wafting out there somewhere.

Maybe it's me, but there seems to be a disconnect between Watson and head coach Kevin Stefanski on game days. We have been led to believe the two put their heads together during the offseason with Stefanski bending more than usual toward designing plays that catered favorably to Watson's talents. Still waiting.

When the (sarcasm alert) esteemed (end sarcasm alert) playcaller for the Browns chose to open the Steelers game with a little flare pass to a second-string tight end (!) in tight coverage, you have to wonder what he was thinking. That it was mishandled by that second-string tight end (!) and wound up in the Cleveland end zone is moot. Puzzling call.

Now factor in Watson and his receivers by and large having trouble establishing a symbiotic relationship with, of course, the exception of Amari Cooper. Rhythm and timing with all the others are way off. They shouldn't be at this stage.

That brings us to Sunday's game. The best way to attack the Titans, who have split their first two games, is through the air. Their secondary has surrendered 563 yards (282 yards per) against Derek Carr of New Orleans and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Two petty good quarterbacks. Watson several years ago lived in the same talent neighborhood as Carr and Herbert. This a perfect opportunity for Stefanski to attack the Tennessee secondary to show total confidence his shaky quarterback can do the job.  

Time to find out whether Watson is still capable of having a big game through the air against the vulnerable Titans secondary. Time to bring Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Njoku and rookie Cedric Tillman into the game plan 

Now flip that coin and you notice the Titans are just as stingy on the ground as the Browns with a defensive front that also enjoys harassing opposing quarterbacks. Ball security, at which Watson is abysmally failing this season, needs massive correcting. Six turnovers in two games is unforgivable.

The Browns need Watson to turn in a performance that inspires confidence in the huddle, at the same time easing fans' concerns this could turn into yet another frustratingly-long season. Right now, there is no evidence to firmly believe that is possible.

This one could very well wind up in a dull low-scoring field-goal battle between veteran journeymen Nick Folk of the Titans and Dustin Hopkins with neither team reaching the red zone.

The Cleveland defense continues to pile up impressive stats, mainly because the Titans no longer are a threat on offense. Neither, for that matter, is the Cleveland offense.

So until Watson stops hurting his team more than helping it, picking the Browns to win remains an  exercise is futility. It will be another slog between the 20s with the Browns, heading down the wrong road, continuing to underachieve on offense and fans screaming for Stefanski to relinquish playcalling duties to offensive-coordinator-in name-only Alex Van Pelt. Make it:

Folk 15, Hopkins 12

Smart move

Signing Kareem Hunt to replace Nick Chubb was a no-brainer by the Browns Wednesday in the wake of Chubb's devastating knee injury during Monday night's loss in Pittsburgh. It made perfect sense.

Hunt played for his hometown team the last four seasons, is extremely familiar with the offense's playbook, still lives in the area and remained a free agent after being let go by the Browns following the 2022 season. It appears as though they did not attempt to bring anyone else in. 

The Browns let Hunt test free agency after he twice asked for a new contract or looked to be traded last season. The Browns instead kept him around. Hard feelings was the outgrowth. It appears those feelings have been soothed.

Hunt, 28, signed a one-year contract worth up to $4 million, according to reports, and initially will work behind Jerome Ford, who will make his starting National Football League debut Sunday at home against the Tennessee Titans.

It has been reported Hunt's visit was more than just a visit. The Browns strangely worked him out. It was as though they needed to see what he could do now even though his previous four-year stint wasn't enough proof. Perhaps it's because he hasn't touched a football in a while and they wanted to test his stamina.

Somewhat limited playing behind Chubb, Hunt booked 2,847 yards from scrimmage in those four seasons  with 23 touchdowns. He is still dangerous as a third-down receiver and a definite red-zone threat the closer he gets to the goal line. He will also spell Ford when the youngster needs a break.

It's more reassuring to know Hunt is now behind Ford instead of the not-quite-ready Pierre Strong Jr., who was acquired in a trade with New England in late August for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. 

Hunt's style of running falls somewhere between Chubb and Ford. He is more of a slasher with arms and legs flying as he runs, often utilizing quick changes of direction to avoid tackles. He's also known for fighting relentlessly for every yard.

It will be interesting to see how head coach Kevin Stefanski utilizes his talents. His versatility and experience are the kinds of qualities that enable the playcaller to dial up just about anything when he's in the huddle.

This is also an emotional move for Hunt, who developed a close relationship with Chubb. His friend's misfortune had to have had a profound effect on that relationship. The fact he was still available was karma-like. Some things are just meant to happen.

Tuesday leftovers

Is it too early to ask why Deshaun Watson looks nothing like an elite National Football League quarterback? The resounding answer is no.

We're only two games into the 2023 season and the Browns' offense, believed by many to be one of the team's strengths, looks ordinary. And that's being kind. 

Watson has looked nothing like the Pro Bowl quarterback who lit up opposing defenses with the Houston Texans several years ago. You can generously forgive his six-game stint last season due to rust if you want. Not this, though. Not after two games.

We were told out of training camp that the Cleveland offense would be different, wide-open and exciting this season. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and Watson worked together to make certain the new playbook better fit the $230 million man's skill set.

Still waiting. What we've seen thus far in no way resembles anything remotely close to different, wide open and exciting. It looks more like a slightly updated version of what we saw from Watson last season. Evidently Stefanski and his quarterback operate on different wavelengths on game days.

So what's the problem? First of all, the offensive line is not performing like one of the NFL's best units. Makes no difference whether Watson is under center or in shotgun. He sees opposing defensive linemen reaching him way too soon to feel comfortable. 

Most of the pressure arrives off the edges, where tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and rookie Dawand Jones operate. The strength of this unit is the interior trio of center Ethan Pocic and guards Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio. No problem there.

Wills is soft in pass protection. Always has been. He can be bullied, He has booked two extremely subpar games as Watson's blind-side protector thus far. This is his fourth season as assistant coach Bill Callahan's student and he has advanced all the way to mediocre. Still can't figure out why the Browns exercised his fifth-year option.

It was Wills who was victimized by a speed rush by Alex Highsmith that enabled the Steelers defensive end to strip sack Watson from behind, enabling the incomparable T..J. Watt to scoop up the ball and romp 17 yards to what turned out to be the winning score.midway through the fourth quarter.

Jones anchors the right side of the line. After just two games, it's not too early to suggest he right now is ahead of Wills with regard to development. He had a few good moments against Watt in pass pro Monday night, but struggled as the game progressed. He'll be fine by week 18.

Making matters worse, Watson's pocket presence is awful. If the ball is not out within three seconds, he more often than not panics and leaves the security of the pocket. His first instinct is to run. That's doing opposing defenses a favor.

In the wake of the devastating loss of running back Nick Chubb Monday night, this franchise desperately needs Watson more than ever to be the quarterback that lured the Browns in his direction after falling out of love with Baker Mayfield. 

Instead of predicting a bells-and-whistles offense that excites fans, it might be better if Stefanski finds ways for Watson to get the ball out within three seconds. He's got good receivers. Use them. Create safe, high-percentage passes that keep the chains moving. It's sort of like going back to basics.

Watson has also reached a stage in his career where ball security has become problematic. He gifted the Steelers three times (two fumbles and a pick), two of which wound up in the Cleveland end zone. It's hard to win games when self-destruction gets in the way.

"I've got to protect the ball," he said in a duh! moment after the loss. "We're not putting it on anyone else. Put it on me. I can take the full blame. I can take the criticism and I'm going to do that." How humbling.

There are only 17 games in a season in the NFL. That's 17 opportunities to win. Each game is precious in its own way. The difference between winning and losing is often razor-thin. It was borne out Monday night.

The Steelers didn't win that game as much as the Browns lost it. Losses like that is what gave birth to the notion that "Cleveland is Cleveland" and "Browns is the Browns."

With Chubb gone, it's time for Watson to step up in a major way and take charge. If he continues to play ordinary football, though, you can bet there will be a public outcry of major proportions that will land in the laps of the Haslams.

***

Judging from his performance Monday night against the Steelers, it's fair to assume Stefanski is comfortable with moving Jerome Ford to RB1. The slightly smaller Ford is an entirely different type of runner than Chubb.

Chubb is much more of a grinder working between the tackles, looking for small holes, breaking numerous tackles along the way. And when he's in the open, he turns on his surprising speed to outrun defenders. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's sudden.

Ford is more of a slithery runner whose speed enables him to get to the edge quickly and turn upfield. He does not appear to have tackle-breaking ability, although he hasn't played enough to be certain if that is the case. The second-year pro has very good hands and should help Watson with checkdowns, swing passes, circle routes or dumpoffs. 

It will be interesting to see what General Manager Andrew Berry does in his search to replace Chubb on the roster. One of his first interviews reportedly was with Kareem Hunt, who was let go by the Browns last spring after four years in his hometown. He became a free agent and went unsigned.

***

The Browns' defense for the second straight game was masterful. Under ordinary circumstances, their performance would have been the key element to a victory. But when you play in Pittsburgh, there are no such things as ordinary circumstances.

While they sacked Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett just twice, they made him feel just as uncomfortable as the Steelers did Watson and completely shut down the running game.  

Check out these two-game figures: The opposition has totaled just 15 first downs, 392 yards of total offense, converted only six of 29 third-down opportunities, run only 107 plays (the Browns have run 155) and owned the football for just 48:42 (to the Browns' 71:18).

There is nothing better for this side of the football than an offense that doesn't keep getting in the way of itself. It's extremely frustrating to see solid work by this defense go unrewarded. If Stefanski either doesn't or can't fix this, Monday night's result will happen again and that seat he's sitting on will get warmer by the week.

***

Finally . . . After watching Watt and his men mistreat the Cleveland offense Monday night, is there any question he is the best defensive player in the NFL right now? His instincts are off the chart. He sometimes knows what plays are coming. He said postgame that he knew what play the Browns would run that led to the strip sack of Watson and subsequent touchdown. . . . Myles Garrett is a terrific pass rusher, but he's nowhere near Watt's league for NFL defensive player of the year conversation. . . . Question of the week: What gives with wide receiver Elijah Moore? Wasn't he supposed to play a major role in this offense? Quick answer: He's carried the ball three times for 24 yards and caught six passes (three each game) for 79 yards and no touchdowns. That's nine touches for 103 yards. The problem is he has been targeted 16 times. He was not happy with how little he was used with the New York Jets last season. How long will it be before he becomes a malcontent with the Browns?

Not surprising

Deshaun Watson, probably still a little hungover on the good feeling that emerged from the Browns' decisive season-opening victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, eagerly looked forward to Monday night's visit to Pittsburgh on national television.

"It's an awesome opportunity for us to show the world what we've got and what we can be," he said boastfully. "It's definitely going to be a tough task and I think we have the team that can go in there and do it."

Bulletin: No they don't. Not yet. Not by a long shot. Not after a 26-22 beating led by a Steelers defense that showed the Browns what relentless down-and-dirty football mixed with opportunism really is. 

Adding to the misery of the evening was the probable loss of running back Nick Chubb for the season with a significant knee injury on the second play of the second quarter. Apparently it was so repulsive, ABC refused to show a replay. Chubb had gained 64 yards on 10 carries up to that point.

Jerome Ford, who caught a three-yard scoring pass from Watson shortly after the injury, gained 106 yards on 16 carries after taking over for Chubb. It included a 69-yard sprint down the left sideline to the Pittsburgh one after being trapped by Steelers linebacker T. J. Watt during a sweep right.

Pierre Strong Jr. needed two cracks for the touchdown and added a two-pointer to give the Browns a 22-19 lead early in the third quarter while Ford caught his breath.

Not only did the Steelers beat up on Watson all evening (six sacks, 11 hits and too numerous to count hurries), it produced more points than their offense, scoring touchdowns on two of their four takeaways. 

Watson might think his defense is good, but after the beating he took, he should have a different idea following the game. He found out in a hurry an intensity level that not only rivals the Browns' on that side of the ball, it exceeds it.

The Browns came up with two takeaways of their own, but produced just a Dustin Hopkins field goal from the 43. He later missed another 43-yarder, but was successful on one from 55 yards in the late stages of the first half.

The Pittsburgh offense never got untracked against the aggressive Cleveland defense. The Steelers' running game was basically shut down and quarterback Kenny Pickett had trouble finding open receivers. They recorded just nine first downs and ran only 53 plays to the Browns' 81.

Pickett finally broke through for the only time all evening after defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for one of the few times dialed up a zone defense early in the second quarter. It was the perfect play call for that look.

Pickett took full advantage, hitting George Pickens in stride at about the Pittsburgh 45 in the middle of the zone -- there wasn't a Browns defender within 20 yards -- and the wide receiver sprinted untouched the rest of the way. The play covered 71 yards and gave the Steelers their first lead of the game at 16-11. It was not a blown coverage, Just a well-executed play.

The evening began with defensive end Alex Highsmith's pick 6 on a deflected pass by Harrison Bryant on the very first play of the game, and concluded with linebacker T. J. Watt scooping up the second of two Watson fumbles, caused by a Highsmith strip sack, and sprinting 17 yards to take the lead for good with seven minutes left in regulation.

Watson for the second week in a row looked ordinary. Some of it was due to a unrelenting pass rush by the Steelers' defensive line as well as a performance by the offensive line that fell well short of being a factor and needs to be reassessed. 

This isn't what the Browns expected when they lured (bribed?) him with a $230 million fully-guaranteed contract. Last season's poor showing was blamed on rust after a 700-day absence from the National Football League wars. If this continues, excuses should not be tolerated.

The Cleveland quarterback also clearly is not familiar with the Browns' nightmarish history in Pittsburgh, where strange things in this rivalry occur. He should be now.

For example, the Steelers entered the fourth quarter on the short end of a 22-19 score and manufactured negative seven yards of offense. And won the game on Watt's first touchdown as a pro.

Finally, a lot of Browns fans will carp about the non-call on Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. who was clearly tugging at Donovan Jones-Peoples' jersey as the the Cleveland wide receiver failed to make a catch on a fourth-down prayer in the final minute. No flag was thrown. 

And if one had been heaved, the outcome quite probably would have been the same. No, this game was lost because the offense could not take care of the football. It was lost because the offensive line could not take care of its quarterback. It was lost because it could not make a play when one was needed.

So what have the Browns got? A very good team that should win a lot of games this season. What they need and seem to be missing this early in the season is someone to lead this defense like Watt leads the Steelers'.

What they need is a player like Watt. That would have made a difference Monday night.

But it's Pittsburgh . . . 

Winning a game of professional football in Pittsburgh has baffled many National Football League teams over the years. At the top of that list reside the Cleveland Browns. 

Browns fans know misery awaits whenever the Steelers in Pittsburgh are next on the schedule, which they are Monday night on national television. They have grown accustomed to the reality that emerging with a victory there is virtually hopeless.

Winning in Pittsburgh occurs as often as twin rainbows. It's not always a matter of one team having better talent than the other. It often comes down to events within the game itself that affect the outcome. Strange occurrences that ultimately tilt the final outcome in the direction of the home team

The Steelers have dominated the Browns over the last 40 years or so as no other series in the history of the NFL. The current Browns, for example, have won only one regular-season game there (way back in '03). 

I remember that game well. I was lying in agony in a hospital bed trying to pass a kidney stone, watching in total disbelief as Tim Couch imitated Otto Graham and the defense stifled the Pittsburgh offense in a 33-13 demolition. 

The Steelers made Ben Roethlisberger their top draft pick in the 2004 college draft and the rest is . . . well, you know where this is going. The big guy from Lima, Ohio, made the Browns his personal toy,  accounting for the major share of the misery Browns Nation has suffered.

It has reached the point where Browns fans all but forfeit the victory to the Steelers in their minds because they know all too well something will happen to affect the outcome in the Steelers' favor. A flag here, a costly missed assignment there. Think blown coverages and missed open-field tackles.

I originally was going to share some gaudy stats about how one-sided this rivalry became. It's time to stop beating Browns fans over the head with all the spectacular statistics the Steelers have compiled against them over the last half century. Only one his time.

Mike Tomlin has been the Steelers' head coach since 2007. Monday night will be his 17th regular-season home game against the Browns. He is unbeaten in the first 16. That 48-37 shocker over the Steelers in the 2020 season was a wild-card playoff game.

So what can we expect from the Browns this time? Arriving in Pittsburgh with a 1-0 record is a good start.  Being reasonably healthy helps, too. The mind-set after the 24-3 victory in the season opener seems to have resonated all week long at practice.

Right now, this is an extremely confident team. But there are enough members still around who know what it's like to play in Pittsburgh and the pitfalls that await. Yes, the Steelers were scorched last Sunday in their season debut by the San Francisco 49ers, but that was then and these are the Browns.

You never know, for example, when second-year Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett will go all- Roethlisberger and torch an unsuspecting victim. Or Nick Chubb,  who never fumbles, will be stripped of the ball at a critical juncture. Or if Dawand Jones performs like a rookie offensive tackle against Steelers superstar linebacker T. J. Watt.

Dustin Hopkins debuted as the new kicker for the Browns against the Bengals and was perfect on three field goals. Who's to say he doesn't turn into Cade York for this game? Or sure-handed Donovan Peoples-Jones muffs and loses a punt deep in Cleveland territory late in a close game. 

This is Pittsburgh. Do not forget that.

When the Browns play in Pittsburgh, I have seen way too many bizarre occurrences that cause a Browns loss. I won't believe victory has been achieved until there are zeroes on the scoreboard clock. Even in that playoff victory, the feeling was so surreal, it took a moment or two for belief to set in.

Oh, one more fact regarding this game. The Steelers last lost a Monday night game at home on Oct. 10, 1991. That unbeaten streak now stands at 20 games and includes victories over the old Browns in 1995 and reborn Browns in 2002.

Until all that changes, there is no way I can pick against the Steelers, who unbelievably are 2.5-point dogs at home. The Browns are truly the better team now. But the visiting team, despite being the better team here,  does not always win in Pittsburgh on a Monday night. But it'll be close. Make it:

Steelers 19, Browns 17

Mid-week thoughts

It's hard -- no, make that stunning -- to think the Cleveland Browns, many years ago one of the grand franchises of the National Football League, have not won their first two games of any season since 1993.

You read that right. It has been 27 seasons -- not counting the forced three-year absence by the NFL from 1996-98 -- since this once-proud franchise has been unbeaten after the first two games of the season, adding to its embarrassing recent history.

Of course, you have to win the first game of the season in order to accomplish this apparently difficult task. That, too, has been a huge problem, especially since this iteration of the Browns has done that only thrice since its rebirth in 1999. The first two were followed by a loss, including last season.

An interesting scenario accompanies the latest opportunity to bury another jinx. After a dominating display of power defensive football over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers await them for game two Monday night at home.

Yep, the very same Pittsburgh Steelers who have bedeviled the Browns for the better part of the last 50 years. Couldn't have been any of the other 30 teams against whom the Browns have enjoyed at least a modest amount of success. Had to be the Steelers. How dramatic.

From an entertainment standpoint, it's the perfect matchup between storied and bitter AFC North rivals. And in front of a national television audience no less. Numerous terrific story lines for ESPN to dwell on about two teams that do not like each other.

Playing in Pittsburgh has been nightmarish at best, hideously embarrassing at worst for the Browns. Since 1999, they are 3-23 in the Steel City. The Steelers always seem to find a way to win whenever the Browns come to town to the point where Cleveland fans are shocked by a victory.

The Browns no doubt are feeling pretty good about themselves right now after Sunday's impressive victory. The Steelers, meanwhile, are coming off a 30-7 pounding at home against San Francisco Sunday. Now what are the odds the Steelers are going to lose two in a row at home?

Exactly. 

That Bengals victory had better be in the Browns' rear-view mirror. The Steelers have a psychological edge because, well, because they don't think the Browns can beat them at home no matter what happened last Sunday. No way Cleveland can come in and dominate for a second straight week.

That mind-set oftentimes can make a difference in the outcome of a game. The Steelers will be without defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, who has tortured Cleveland offenses seemingly forever. Makes no difference, they believe. They somehow will find a way to win.

This rivalry is so lopsided it honestly cannot be called a rivalry anymore. Until the Browns find a way to change that, nothing will change. They're an embarrassing 7-17-1 at home against them since '99.

Monday night will be a perfect litmus test for the Browns to determine just how seriously they should be taken this season. Knocking off the Bengals as easily as they did got plenty of attention around the NFL. But the Steelers at home? That's a different story. One can only imagine what a Cleveland victory Monday night would do.

That 1993 Browns, by the way, won their first three games -- Cincinnati and San Francisco at home and in Los Angeles against the Raiders -- under head coach Bill Belichick. Came back from 13-0 and 16-3 deficits to win, 19-16, in that one, scoring all their points in the fourth quarter

It was a season that ultimately produced the story of the year not only on the Cleveland sports landscape, but the entire NFL universe. That's right, it'll be 30 years since that Nov. 8 day the Browns waived Bernie Kosar for what was termed "diminishing skills."

Initially, Kosar was benched for Vinny Testaverde, but returned to the lineup when when Testaverde went down with an injury. In a 29-14 home loss to the Denver Broncos the week after the second bye of the season, Kosar threw for two scores, but was sacked six times. The next day, he was gone, replaced by Todd Philcox until Testaverde returned.

The Browns finished 7-9 that season.

Monday leftovers

The next-man-up mantra in football arrived early for Dawand Jones Sunday as the rookie offensive tackle  watched the Browns' offense struggle against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener.

On the club's fourth series early in the second quarter, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson inadvertently rolled into offensive tackle Jack Conklin's left knee and tore his ACL and MCL, ending his season.

Without question a huge loss. Conklin is the club's second-best offensive lineman. Twenty-two snaps into the 2023 season and the oft-injured veteran was through. Head coach Kevin Stefanski without hesitation tapped Jones over third-year tackle James Hudson III to replace him.

Why not Hudson? Because he was strictly a defensive linemen until he switched to the other side of the football in his final year at the University of Cincinnati. He is still learning the position.

Jones was not only the right choice, he was the only choice. He has played offensive right tackle since he was in high school. And at 6-8 and 375 pounds, he is the perfect fit (roadblock?) to anchor the strong side of the formation.

Dominating for a couple of seasons with the exceptionally talented Ohio State offensive line prepared Jones for the National Football League wars. He booked 52 snaps against the Bengals and looked like he belonged.

He was perfect in pass protection, utilizing a strong anchoring drop step that enabled him to properly engage whoever was assigned to get up close and personal with Deshaun Watson. No one got even close to the quarterback's area code.

The former high school basketball player's nimble feet allow him, in spite of his extraordinary size, to change directions easily and keep himself squared up. It's something that can't be taught. His athleticism comes naturally.

Where he might encounter trouble initially is in the ground game, where he will be asked to pull and lead sweeps to his side or advance beyond the line of scrimmage and pick off a linebacker or defensive back at the second level.

His first big test is Monday night on national television in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, who are nursing a 30-9 bruising by San Francisco in their home opener Sunday. Conklin and position coach Bill Callahan can give Jones a lot of advice in dealing with superstar linebacker T. J. Watt.

The former NFL defensive player of the year got off to a spectacular start against the 49ers with five solo tackles, five quarterback hits on Brock Purdy, all three of the Steelers' sacks and a fumble recovery as his team was blown away. He has recorded 80.5 sacks in six seasons and one game despite missing seven games last season with a torn pectoral muscle.

The guess here is Jones will receive plenty of help with the five-time Pro Bowler from either a blocking tight end and occasional assistance from a running back other than Nick Chubb. 

***

While the defense was sending a message to the rest of the NFL with their amazing performance against the Bengals, the final outcome revealed there's still a lot of work to be done with the other side of the football.

Maybe rain was the causal factor, but that's an easy excuse. This offense was on and off all day. Short periods where it looked as though it was ready to explode, it fizzled due to a mistake. First it was losing a double fumble, first by Watson and then running back Jerome Ford. Then it was an interception of a tipped pass by Watson.

They basically stopped themselves. They marched up and down the field in the first half spinning their  wheels, cashing in only on the first of Dustin Hopkins three field goals before stringing together a nine-play, 67-yard drive in the final minute to reach the end zone,

The struggle continued in the second half and only a generous gift from Bengals head coach Zac Taylor,  fed up with his offense, decided to gamble on fourth down deep in Cincy territory and lost. Three plays and 18 yards later, the Cleveland offense wrapped up the game.

The big problem is the passing game, where timing is vitally important toward achieving success. Watson's timing with his receivers was spotty at best. He twice missed Marquise Goodwin deep as the speedy wide receiver broke into the clear.

Granted it's only one game and it won't rain every Sunday. It becomes a big concern if that timing and rhythm do not mesh by the time the bye week rolls around. Right now, it appears as though all the fireworks Watson promised from this revamped offense are nothing more than firecrackers with moist wicks. 

***

Enough cannot be said about the terrific showing of the Browns' secondary, playing almost joyously in Jim Schwartz's aggressive approach. Rarely was the passive zone defense fans have been saddled with the last three season deployed.

No, it was mostly man and occasional press coverage against a pretty good set of Bengals receivers that neutralized them. A combination of a strong effort from the defensive line, causing Cincy quarterback Joe Burrow to throw early and disrupt the timing, and some aggressive coverage made it look easy.

The top four tacklers were Grant Delpit, Greg Newsome II, Denzel Ward and Ray McLeod, who accounted for 21 tackles of which 13 were solo. McLeod, Delpit and Newsome played all 55 snaps. Martin Emerson Jr., the fifth member of that productive unit, had only one solo tackle, but hounded Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins all afternoon and shut him out.

***

The Browns' defense did not produce a takeaway, but was outstanding after each turnover by the offense. They forced a punt after the double fumble by Watson and Ford, and limited the Cincinnati offense to just a long field goal after the Watson pick near midfield.

Sometimes, it's the little things like that that quietly play a major role in victories. You don't often see teams with two giveaways and no takeaways winning games. In this case, solid transition defense saved the offense's butt.

***

Ya gotta love how much fun the defensive line is having. On a few occasions Sunday, Myles Garrett stood ramrod straight a yard or so behind the line in the middle of the formation before the snap, looking more like a middle linebacker to further confuse the Bengals' blocking. Another time or two, Garrett and fellow defensive end Za'Darius Smith lined up side by side. That's double trouble. 

Confusion seems to be the key so far. Make it difficult for opposing offensive lines to figure out what the Browns are doing and who to block. And then there are the numerous blitz packages Schwartz likes to employ, throwing in a linebacker here, a safety there. It really is fun to watch as opposing offensive linemen frantically gesticulate in an effort to make certain everyone knows his assignment.

***

Finally . . . The Browns hit Burrow 10 times. Garrett and Smith had four each. . . . Watson targeted nine different receivers against the Bengals. Elijah Moore and Amari Cooper each had seven. . . . Sure looks as though Chubb is going to be a big part of the passing game. He caught all four passes for 21 yards mostly on swing passes and checkdowns. . . . Those of you who suggested Corey Bojorquez was the reason Cade York had so much trouble kicking, the punter was the holder for all three of Dustin Hopkins' field goals Sunday -- all right down the middle.

Most impressive

Did you see that coming? Neither did I. And neither did the Cincinnati Bengals, who were thoroughly manhandled, dismantled and dominated by the Browns Sunday in the season opener by the lakefront, a 24-3 walloping that was a whole lot worse than the final score indicates.

This was overwhelmingly a 60-minute clinic conducted on domination by a superbly-prepared team in all three phases of the game, most notably by a smothering defense that played hair-on-fire football all afternoon. The Cincinnati offense looked like a punch-drunk fighter who had no idea where he was.

There was no way the Browns were going to come even close to losing this one. Those "wait, they'll find a way to screw things up and lose" moments never arrived. Never came close. It was a classic example of  imposing their will on the Bengals.

It was as near a perfect afternoon of football by the Browns as you can imagine. Just about everything worked. There were no threatening moments that in the past have brought misery to this fan base. Everyone did his job.

So how dominating was the Cleveland defense? Limiting one of the National Football League's best offenses to just three points is a feat in and of itself. And the numbers get even more startlingly impressive.

The Bengals owned the football on 13 occasions, 10 of which ended in a Brad Robbins punt. Dwell in that for a moment. Seven possessions were of the three-and-out variety. Dwell on. Drives were over seemingly before they got started. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow looked dazed and clueless.

Jim Schwartz's defense was ubiquitous. They arrived in the close proximity of the football with stunning quickness. The tackling was solid. The pass rush was fierce and in the face of Burrow, who was often forced to deliver the ball before he wanted.

He booked a career-low 82 yards on a 14-for-32 misty-rain afternoon as his record against Cleveland fell to 1-5. Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, the outstanding trio of Bengals wide receivers, were shut down all day by a relentless Cleveland secondary. They were targeted 20 times with only seven connections totaling 49 yards. Higgins amazingly was blanked on his eight targets.

The Bengals had only six first downs (still dwelling?), gained 142 yards from scrimmage  -- this an offense capable of gaining that kind of yardage in a quarter -- and had the football for just 24 minutes. Thorough might be understating it. How about 2-for-15 on third down?

The Browns also won the field-position battle, punter Corey Bojorquez's booming first-half punts pinning the Bengals offense dangerously close to their goal line. The closest they got to the Browns' goal line was the 24-yard line on their first possession of the second half. It set up the only Bengals points of the afternoon, a 42-yard Evan McPherson field goal.

The Cleveland offense, meanwhile, threatened on a couple of occasions in the first half before finally putting points on the board early in the second quarter on the first of three Dustin Hopkins field goals, this one a 42-yarder right down the middle. Subsequent attempts from 34 and 43 were equally true.

Deshaun Watson showed very little of the fireworks he predicted, completing just half of his 20 throws for 85 yards in the first half, winding up 16-of-29 for 154 yards. But he made up for it with a brilliantly-conceived -- and executed -- 13-yard scoring run in the final seconds of the first half.

With trips right on second and 10, running back Jerome Ford joined them to form a diamond-shaped formation. Watson took the shotgun snap and immediately headed in the opposite direction, picked up blocks from Wyatt Teller and Amari Cooper and dove into the end zone.

They also had the luxury of spending a lot of time in Bengals territory, running 36 of their 72 snaps on that side of the 50. The 10-0 halftime margin was never in jeopardy, as it turned out, because Schwartz's army turned it on even more in the final 30 minutes. 

The frustration Bengals head coach Zac Taylor must have been experiencing evidently pushed him to commit a serious blunder by going for it on fourth and four at his 31-yard line with about 11 minutes left in the final quarter and trailing by just 16-3. The Browns apparently took it personally.

Myles Garrett, who played every position on the defensive line at one time or another, dropped Burrow for a 13-yard loss, gift-wrapping the final touchdown of the afternoon. After Nick Chubb, who pounded out 106 yards on 18 carries, gouged out 15 of those yards, Watson's short connection with tight end Harrison Bryant from the three put the game out of reach. Watson successfully sneaked the two-point try.

After a performance like this, it's time to play it's-only-one-game time. Does this type of performance engender thoughts of being comfortable enough to expect this kind of football for the next 16 games? Really?

Naysayers will argue this was an aberration. Won't happen again. Enjoy it while you can. Considering the history of this team over the last 25 years, that's a good argument.

Yes, it was only one game. But what a game it was as the Browns thumbed their collective noses at what had become an opening-game disaster since 1999. They genuinely and refreshingly looked like a very good football team for 60 minutes.

But an aberration? I'm not quite ready to go that far yet. It's going to take similar performances a week from Monday night in Pittsburgh and the next two home games against Tennessee and Baltimore to convince me to believe what I saw against the Bengals was anything but.

Opening-day hex?

As a general rule, the opening weekend of any National Football League regular season is clearly one of the league's numerous highlights. The weekend brims with excitement and anticipation.

The planet's most popular sport is back. Everyone is unbeaten and, for the most part, healthy. It's one of the sports calendar's biggest and most celebrated events of the year. 

Unless you're a fan of the Cleveland Browns.

Since 1999, when the franchise rejoined the NFL wars after an undeserved three-year absence, season-opening victories have been virtually absent, acting as a precursor to what has been a generation of abjectly awful football. 

Sunday's season opener at home against the Cincinnati Bengals marks the 25th anniversary since the return. The Browns are 2-21-1 in that time. Makes no difference where they open. They are 1-15-1 at home and 1-6 on the road. 

They were winless in the latter category until last season when a rookie placekicker drilled a miraculous game-winning 58-yard field goal in the final seconds down in Carolina. That one broke an 18-game  winless streak in opening games. Hmmm. What ever happened to that guy?

Home advantage? What's that? There is no such thing. Along the lakefront, it's almost non-existent. And now it's the Bengals' turn to extend the Browns' current winless streak at home in these games to 12 games. 

Okay, enough about these numbers. About Sunday's game.

From what we're all hearing out of training camp the past several weeks, it's going to be a whole lot different look with the Browns this season. What we saw in those four exhibition games from both sides of the football was vanilla compared to what awaits we've been told.

Entertaining, fan-pleasing high-tech, high-energy offense with footballs filling the air. Speed, quickness, play-making ability galore. And that's just the offense.  

Defensively, the unit you see this season will in no way resemble the passive unit that last season pretty much cost the Browns a revisit to the postseason. From what we know about him, aggression is more than just another word in the dictionary to Jim Schwartz. It personifies the new coordinator's approach to the game.

General Manager Andrew Berry provided Schwartz with what amounts to a brand-new defensive line to  help Myles Garrett with Za'Darius Smith, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, and  veteran help in the deep secondary with Juan Thornhill and Ray McLeod. You can expect fewer blown coverages this season from that unit. 

Back to the offense. 

Deshaun Watson, who has the huddle for the entire season, has boasted, almost to the point of bragging, that "fireworks" are in the forecast. I'm kind of anxious to see how stodgy conservative playcaller Kevin Stefanski makes his offense of the last two seasons look ordinary.

"It's been great," Watson said recently of the new look. "It's been fun. It's been very exciting. And I think (Stefanski) is excited about getting into this week. I am, too." Somehow, I can't envision the even-keeled, unflappable head coach getting excited. Maybe a slight smile.

Watson realizes he has a lot to prove after a disappointing six-game stretch last season after serving a league-imposed 11-game suspension. "I want to go out there and prove it," he said, "not just for people in general, but for myself because that's the type of competitor I am."

No more excuses for subpar performances by Watson in the passing game, not with a talent-laden receivers like  Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin and tight end David Njoku in his arsenal.

Now does that mean less Nick Chubb? Can't imagine limiting touches to one of the game's top running backs. If anything, we might see Chubb more active in the short passing game with Stefanski's desire to spread the ball around.

The Bengals, meanwhile, have joined the league's elite in the last few years under Joe Burrow. That doesn't impress the Browns, who have won eight of the last 10 meetings. Burrow lost his first four starts against Cleveland before winning last December in Cincinnati.

He's coming off a calf strain that caused him to miss training camp, but he has been green-flagged for this one and his entire troika of wide receivers is healthy. The biggest change -- and I do mean biggest -- on that side of the ball is 6-8, 345-pound Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle. Garrett will be his responsibility. FYI, the Browns have sacked Burrow 18 times in the five games.

As for the Bengals' defense the last few seasons, color them solid, not spectacular. Rarely make mistakes. But they might be a little vulnerable at safety after losing both starting safeties in the offseason.

Bottom line time: As a long-time follower and fan of the Browns, all this talk out of training camp about being entirely different from last season intrigues me. The talent level and versatility up and down the roster is convincing.

But then I remember it's opening day. Only one home victory -- a 20-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on opening day all the way back on Sept. 12, 2004 under quarterback Jeff Garcia in a season that ended with a 4-12 record -- to show for the last 24 years. 

Yes, this is a hell of a team now. Although many signs point toward winning Sunday, I just cannot dismiss the opening-game dark cloud this franchise lives under. I need to be convinced. Cade York is now on the Tennessee Titans' practice squad. He won't make a difference anyway. Make it:

Bengals 31, Browns 17

Where goest thou, Browns?

The 2023 Cleveland Browns are the most mystifying team in the National Football League. That is not a rhetorical statement. It is pure fact.

No one, not Kevin Stefanski, not Andrew Berry, not Dee and Jimmy Haslam III have any idea what will unfold in the next 18 weeks. They can hope, but that's about it.

What we know for certain is this edition of the Browns hasn't been this strong since the perennial playoff-seeking Browns of the mid- and late-1980s. It is a roster dripping with talent. And yet there are nagging suspicions that linger deep enough where doubts play games with your mind.

On the one hand, it is marvelously accomplished enough to ostensibly (gonna use that word a lot here) write the feel-good comeback story of the season. It is also a franchise that has miserably underachieved during the last generation and could ostensibly do it again.

It is quite capable of winning just a handful of games, say seven like last season, or winning as many as 10 or 11. The positives clearly lean toward the latter. But previous history begs to differ. Positive outcomes and Cleveland Browns in the same sentence or thought is an oxymoron.

Breaking it down . . . 

***

Offense: Quite capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. Strong line working in front of a dynamic backfield featuring arguably the best running back in the NFL in Nick Chubb, a beefed-up and vastly improved receivers corps and a couple of reliable pass-catching tight ends.

All led by the biggest puzzle of all, a Jekyll/Hyde quarterback whose performance, fairly or unfairly, will determine the fate of this woebegone franchise. One man, one goal, one starved fan base yearning for any kind of joy beyond the regular season.

Deshaun Watson early in his career was a brilliant quarterback for the Houston Texans until he wound up in a massive amount of trouble off the field. That's how he wound up with the Browns last year after being bribed by the Haslams that Cleveland was where he should be.

Watson's suspension-filled first season was a disaster. Couldn't have gone any worse. Looked nothing like his days in Houston. That was his Mr. Hyde persona.  But that was then. And by virtue of his descent to mediocrity, no one knows what to expect now. It's strictly a guess.

Watson bragged recently that the 2023 offense will look nothing like last season's stodgy edition. "It's going to be great," he declared. "I think Kevin (Stefanski) is on the edge of wanting to call some things. There are a lot of things that are going to look very different."

And then he teased with this. "Once Sept. 10 (the season opener at home against the Cincinnati Bengals) comes around, it is going to be fireworks," he said. "That's the plan. Don't hold anything back. Let it all loose. We want to go out there and have fun doing it."

Media reports out of Berea indicate everything is running smoothly on this side of the ball. Everyone looks good. Ready to begin the march ostensibly toward late-January football. 

I don't believe a word of it. I believe my eyes when the real games are played. Not what someone else observes in practice. That's the way I think. Can't help myself. I'm a half-empty sort. What my eyes see in person reveals a lot more.

If it's Watson's Dr. Jekyll persona and turns out that way, so much the better. Everyone prospers.

***

Defense: Capable of shutting down opposing teams with a new coordinator and a renewed and very refreshing aggressive approach. Last season, the passive pass.defense was primarily responsible for the 7-10 finish, blowing three very winnable games that greased the departure of coordinator Joe Woods.

New coordinator Jim Schwartz is from the old school, which teaches that if the opposing quarterback is on his back, he cannot throw the football. And with a brand new line surrounding the peerless Myles Garrett, that ostensibly will happen a lot this season.

General Manager Andrew Berry helped his new coordinator by importing Za'Darius Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo to help Garrett, and tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris to ostensibly plug up a middle that resembled the Red Sea after Moses did his thing.

Add a loaded secondary and very active athletic linebackers and you have a formula that can't be any worse than last season. 

It's fairly certain Schwartz will work autonomously. That will free up Stefanski, who was constantly badgered as the head coach with questions last season about the leaks in the secondary that cost games. Now he can concentrate on the offense, knowing Schwartz has everything under control.

That's a plus because Stefanski is probably sitting on a seat warming on a daily basis. Temperature of that seat will be determined after the Oct. 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens at home. Think job security.

***

Special teams: The only negative here is based on what transpired during training camp. Hello Dustin Hopkins. Welcome to the graveyard of placekickers in the NFL. Hope you last longer than Cade York. Your best Phil Dawson impression would be nice.

New coordinator Bubba Ventrone, who arrived with sterling credentials, is off to an interesting start. He lost his return specialist when Jakeem Grant tore up a knee tendon on the first kickoff of the exhibition season. Then he lost York, who melted down like a piece of Velveeta.

His return teams on kickoffs and punts need a little polishing, opposing teams in the exhibition season frequently establishing good field position. Other than that, can't complain.

***

Overall, the talent is unquestionably there. The big difference, the big separator, is knowing how to win. You can't teach that. It's a feeling. It's an attitude. It's a test of wills. It's imposing your will on opponents. Learn how to do that and you've won at least half the battle. The talent is present.