The Cleveland Browns are sitting at a surprising 3-1 record after Week 4, snagging a huge 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday. Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected this kind of start from the Dawg Pound this season. Deshaun Watson has been balling out for three straight games, but let’s be real, a huge chunk of that credit has to go to the young guns lighting it up at wide receiver.
Cleveland’s Rookie WRs Are Straight Up Ballers
General manager Andrew Berry might have pulled off one of the biggest steals in the draft, picking wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston just 15 selections apart. These guys are not just promising; they’re already playing like high-end targets in their first year. On Thursday against the Steelers, Concepcion and Boston combined for a ridiculous 153 yards, proving they are the top two receivers on that squad right now. Concepcion is pure juice, creating big plays after the catch, while Boston is a legitimate, big-bodied X-receiver who was leading all rookies in receiving yards before Week 4 even kicked off. Seriously, Jerry Jeudy is practically an afterthought now. Watson might be playing better than anyone expected, but he’s getting some serious help from these two talented young pass-catchers.
Injuries and Struggles Rock Both Sides of the Ball
While the offense is soaring, the Browns took a gut punch with Mason Graham’s injury on Thursday. The second-year interior tackle, last year’s fifth overall pick, left the game after getting his left leg rolled up and didn’t return. Graham had been nearly unblockable for the first three weeks, a consistently disruptive force since Myles Garrett moved on. Maliek Collins and Mike Hall Jr. stepped up and made plays, but Graham was performing at an elite level, and any absence is gonna hit that defensive front hard. It also puts a glaring spotlight on Jared Verse, who still hasn’t recorded a sack and needs to find his footing as the defensive tone-setter.
Over on the Pittsburgh side, it’s the same old story for their passing game. Wide receivers just cannot create easy throws for 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Everything in their aerial attack feels like pulling teeth because the team’s targets flat-out lack explosive traits. Opponents are absolutely keying in on DK Metcalf, doing everything they can to limit his options, and outside of him, the Steelers are just desperate for someone, anyone, to make a play. General manager Omar Khan tried to fix this last season, bringing in veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard. Their combined output against Cleveland? A measly 26 yards. Sumer Sports’ Sam Bruchhaus dropped a stat bomb after three quarters: Steelers receivers created separation on only 14.7 percent of their routes. Rodgers is practically being asked to make a perfect throw every single time he drops back. Thank goodness for Jaylen Warren, who remains a bright spot in their running game, because that passing game is just brutal to watch.
This early 3-1 start for the Browns, fueled by those electrifying rookie receivers, is setting a whole new vibe for their season. Can they keep it going, especially with Graham’s injury creating a huge hole on defense? And for the Steelers, it’s a desperate search for answers in the passing game. We’ll be watching to see if Rodgers can find some help, or if the “bright spot” that is Jaylen Warren will be the only thing worth talking about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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