As of Week 6, the Cleveland Browns lead the AFC North, by tiebreaker, with a 4-2 record. Yeah, you read that right. This isn’t just a shocking turn; it’s a gut-punch for anyone who thought they knew the NFL, especially when you consider this is the latest the Browns have been in first place in a season since all the way back in 2014. They’re actually better than our own defending champion Seahawks, better than the supposed super-team Rams, and crushing the entire NFC South and East. How in the world did we get here?
Cleveland’s Unexpected Surge
Coming into this season, the word on Cleveland was that they were a “donut of a team” , loaded with talent everywhere except for that one critical spot, quarterback. It’s a problem that’s haunted them for decades, but it got particularly messy after their front office actually managed to stack draft picks and, even more shockingly, used them wisely. But still, Shedeur Sanders wasn’t the guy. Dillon Gabriel wasn’t the guy. Joe Flacco wasn’t the guy. So, who’s the quarterback making this happen? It’s the answer literally nobody in the league wants to hear.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Their QB
Deshaun Watson, as it turns out, is the one. He’s the quarterback able to lead the Cleveland Browns to victory, and that’s a pill the league’s got to swallow. This is a player who’s been accused of dozens of counts of sexual assault and settled 20 claims. In any other workplace, Watson would be long gone, but the NFL has this bizarre blind spot for talent that’s just too good to ignore, and Watson’s made himself right at home there. Regardless of how you or I feel , and frankly, the Browns made their feelings clear when they pursued him in the first place , Watson has met all the terms of his employment with the league. So all his past “adversity,” as the announcers now euphemistically put it, is staying in the past. From a pure football standpoint, Watson’s been a qualified success this season. He’s not dominating games, but he’s not losing them, either. He’s got seven touchdowns against two interceptions, a 92.0 passer rating, and a 63.8 percent completion rate. It’s not enough to be king, but it’s more than enough to survive.
The team’s clearly coalescing around him. Even after losing Myles Garrett via trade, that defense is still strong enough to shut down opposing offenses. Take the Baltimore game on Sunday, for example: Cleveland’s D gave up 10 points in the first quarter, then nothing for the rest of the game. That allowed Watson and the offense to just plod along, converting a critical Derrick Henry fumble into a touchdown and kicking just two field goals, including a walkoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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