Winning has a way of covering up problems. A team can stack victories while quietly carrying habits that will eventually cost it, and the best coaches refuse to let the scoreboard hide what they see on film. Cleveland is riding a 2-game winning streak and sitting at 2-1. Todd Monken made it clear after Sunday’s win that he is not satisfied.
ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi shared Monken’s reaction to the start during his postgame press conference.
“We’re going to be a damn good football team once Browns stop hurting Browns,” Monken said.
Backwards hat Todd Monken on Cleveland’s 2-1 start: “We’re going to be a damn good football team once Browns stop hurting Browns.” pic.twitter.com/9c66Kw8W6Y
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) September 27, 2026
Monken was pointing at the self-inflicted mistakes that nearly let the Carolina Panthers steal a win. The Browns were flagged 12 times for 85 yards, and 10 of those penalties came in the first half alone.
Many of them were the kind that drive coaches crazy. False starts and illegal formations kept wiping out plays before they even started, putting the offense behind the chains and forcing Deshaun Watson into long-yardage situations over and over again.
The impact showed up across the stat sheet. Cleveland converted just 5 of 15 3rd downs, punted 5 times and was held scoreless in both the 1st and 3rd quarters. The Panthers outgained the Browns 362-259, and a lost fumble only added to the frustration.
The pre-snap flags were especially hard to accept at home. Crowd noise is supposed to be a problem for the visiting offense, not the one wearing brown and orange.
Some of this comes with the territory. The Browns are starting 5 new offensive linemen, including rookies Spencer Fano and Austin Barber, and leaning on first-year receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion in a new offense. Communication issues are common for a group that young.
Monken is not using that as an excuse, though. His message was about what this team can become once it stops beating itself.
There was reason for optimism in how the game ended. The Browns drew just 2 flags after halftime, and the offense responded by putting up 11 points in the 4th quarter to win it.
The rest of the team is giving Monken plenty to work with. The defense held a Carolina offense that averaged 33.5 points through 2 weeks to a single touchdown, Mason Graham wrecked the game with 2 sacks, and the running game produced 131 yards.
That is why his comment reads as both a warning and a promise. Cleveland has won its last 2 games by a combined 7 points, and that margin will not always break its way if the penalties keep piling up.
If the Browns clean up the mistakes, Monken believes the ceiling is much higher than 2-1. Based on what this team has shown over the last 2 weeks, it is hard to argue with him.
NEXT: Video Shows Todd Monken Celebrating With Fans After Sunday's Win
