The Cleveland Browns rolled into Jacksonville loaded with optimism, thinking their offensive line and skill players would elevate Deshaun Watson to new heights. Instead, what went down on the field was a total disaster. After the first quarter, it was clear they were in for a brutal afternoon; the Jaguars just walked all over them in every facet of the game, even out-disciplining them on penalties.
The Defense Vanished, QB Not the Only Issue
Sure, Deshaun Watson was an issue, there’s no doubt about that. But let’s be real, the quarterback position wasn’t the real killer here. This defense was supposed to be the backbone of the team this season, and against the Jaguars, they couldn’t get any heat on the passer, they couldn’t defend the pass to save their lives, and the Jaguars’ run game was physical and straight up ran over their tacklers. Jared Verse having zero pressures? That’s just flat out alarming, and it cannot happen again. You just can’t expect the quarterback to do everything when the defense caves like that.
First-Year Coach Todd Monken Already on the Hot Seat?
This blowout loss to the Jaguars means the Browns’ season is NOT getting any easier. Week 2 sees them battling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then they face the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers. All those teams looked good in Week 1, unlike… well, you know. First-year head coach Todd Monken is going to need to make major, major adjustments if they want to be competitive in September, let alone the rest of the season. If not, this could quickly turn into a one and done scenario for him.
Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is already huge for this team, followed by matchups against the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Those are teams that looked sharp. Cleveland needs to find answers, fast, or Monken’s first season could quickly spiral out of control.
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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