Todd Monken didn’t hold back one bit after the Browns’ Week 2 win over the Buccaneers, letting out a fiery roar that echoed all the way to Pittsburgh: “Browns are gonna Browns. F— that! The guys took that to heart.” This wasn’t just a coach talking; this was Monken, in his first win as an NFL head coach, drawing a line in the sand and signaling a huge shift for a franchise that’s been, well, the Browns for a long time.
Browns Defense Ate Their Lunch
You could feel the intensity on Sunday. The Browns absolutely played inspired football against the Buccaneers, and it started with their defense. They went after former Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield relentlessly, sacking him three times and holding him to a measly 182 yards. To cap it off, they even snagged an interception from him. It was a suffocating performance, the kind that makes you sit up and take notice. On offense, Deshaun Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler from his Texans days, delivered a vintage performance. He diced up the Bucs’ defense, going 24 of 30 for 238 yards with two touchdowns and zero picks. Not only that, but he also finished the game as Cleveland’s leading rusher. Talk about stepping up when it mattered!
From Turmoil to Triumph
Monken’s initial months as head coach have been anything but smooth. He watched GM Andrew Berry trade away Myles Garrett, and then had to constantly defend his decision to start Watson over Shedeur Sanders. His head coaching debut in Week 1 was a disaster, with the Jaguars walloping the Browns. So, this Week 2 win wasn’t just a notch in the win column; it was a defiant statement. It was a reason to celebrate, not just for him, but for a franchise that needed a serious shot of pride. The original “Browns is the Browns” diss, uttered by then-Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster back in January 2021 before a playoff game the Browns ironically won 48-37, has clearly been hanging over the team. Monken’s reaction shows they are done with that narrative.
Tomlin’s Lasting Motivation
Even though Mike Tomlin isn’t coaching anymore, he still gets under people’s skin. Tomlin, to his credit, just laughed off Monken’s passionate response, saying, “I’m glad that I can still motivate, although I’m not coaching anymore.” It’s almost poetic that Tomlin’s former team, the Steelers, looked like the “modern day version of the Browns” on Sunday, scoring only three points and getting outscored by New England’s defense in a brutal 20-3 loss that evened their record at 1-1. Monken has his own history with Tomlin and the Steelers, too. As the Ravens’ offensive coordinator from 2023-25, he faced Tomlin’s squad seven times. After getting swept in 2023, he helped the Ravens beat them twice late in 2024, including a decisive AFC wild card win. His tenure in Baltimore ended in Pittsburgh a year later after a missed field goal. This Week 2 win, and Monken’s epic response, isn’t just about the Bucs; it’s a direct challenge to a perceived weakness, and it lights a fire under the whole team. This is a coach, and a team, saying they aren’t going to be pushed around anymore. The season is early, but this kind of attitude can carry a team a long way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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