CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson tried to blame the media for his preseason and Week 1 struggles by saying there was “this expectation that I’m supposed to throw 400 yards, five touchdowns every week.”
asserted
I → try → yards
Passing for 238 yards, two touchdowns and not committing a turnover will suffice.
asserted
Passing → pass → turnover
While there are still plenty of flaws in Watson’s game after two starts, he did enough while getting important contributions from his receivers to get his first regular-season win as a starter in two years as the Cleveland Browns rallied for a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
asserted
Browns → be → Sunday
Whether it was a sign that Watson can improve and build on a turnover-free performance or that the Browns got their second wind after a 2 hour, 12 minute rain delay to make a late defensive stand remains to be seen.
asserted
got → improve → stand
“Do I love dealing with it every week?
asserted
I → love → it
You guys keep asking, which is a lot of fun, but the reality is, of course,” coach Todd Monken said Monday when asked if he is hoping Watson can quiet the weekly quarterback questions.
asserted
Watson → keep → questions
“There’s a lot of football left in him, he just hasn’t played in a while.
asserted
he → ’ → while
And learning our system and trying to get him consistent with his drops and his reads is part of the process.”
asserted
him → learn → process
There will be plenty of eye-rolling after Monken referred to Watson, a 10-year veteran, as a “young player.”
asserted
Monken → refer → player
While there was improvement from last week’s 34-10 loss at Jacksonville, there are areas that he needs to catch up on after missing nearly two years.
asserted
he → be → years
Watson completed 24 of 30 passes, but he had only four attempts downfield (11 yards or more).
asserted
he → complete → attempts
Even though the downfield attempts were limited, he was 3 of 4 for 91 yards and a touchdown.
asserted
he → limit → yards
Cleveland’s receivers generated 163 yards after the catch.
asserted
receivers → generate → catch
Denzel Boston had 42 yards after the catch on his 55-yard TD, while tight end Blake Whiteheart turned a 3-yard crossing route into a 17-yard touchdown to give the Browns the lead.
asserted
Whiteheart → have → lead
As Monken noted, Watson needs to be better in his reads, which have been slow while he often hasn’t looked comfortable in the pocket.
asserted
he → note → pocket
“It’s a players’ game, and we’ve got a lot to clean up, coaching and playing, and we took a giant step from Week 1 to Week 2.
asserted
we → ’ → Week
The message when we come back Wednesday is, ‘So what, now what?’
asserted
we → come → ?
Are we willing to take that same jump?
asserted
we → take → jump
Or is it now, all of a sudden, we’ve arrived, because it’s week to week,” Monken said.
asserted
Monken → arrive → week
What’s working
Rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston have got off to great starts.
asserted
receivers → work → starts
Concepcion, the 24th overall pick in the NFL draft, leads the team with 10 receptions, including six on Sunday, while Boston has a team-high 254 yards.
asserted
Boston → lead → yards
The second-round pick has two touchdowns, including a 55-yard score on Sunday where he caught it at the Bucs 42 on a post route and eluded three would-be tacklers.
asserted
he → have → tacklers
What needs help
The run game.
asserted
needs → need → help
The Browns and Cowboys are the only teams not to have a rush of 12 yards or more through the first two weeks.
asserted
Browns → have → weeks
Cleveland’s 2.9 yards per carry is second-worst in the league and its 26.3% success rate on run plays (staying ahead of the chains) is the third-lowest.
asserted
rate → stay → chains
Second-year running back Quinshon Judkins has 54 yards on 24 carries.
asserted
Judkins → have → carries
Nickel cornerback Myles Harden bounced back with his first career interception, five tackles and two passes defensed.
asserted
Harden → bounce → interception
The pick set up a field goal.
asserted
pick → set → goal
Offensive right tackle Tytus Howard struggled in pass protection, allowing one sack and three pressures.
asserted
Howard → struggle → sack
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (ankle, hip) was injured in the first half and came back briefly in the third quarter before sitting out the rest of the game.
asserted
Campbell → injure → game
He made three on Sunday — two from 34 yards and one from 50.
asserted
He → make → 50
Up next
The Browns face Carolina on Sunday in their home opener.
asserted
Browns → face → opener
Cleveland has won the past two meetings, including 26-24 in the 2022 opener on Cade York’s 58-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining.
asserted
Cleveland → win → seconds
The Aporia
