Losing streaks have a way of putting everyone under the microscope. After 2 straight defeats, the questions about the Browns are getting louder, from the quarterback position to the offensive line to the run game. Sunday’s home game against the Houston Texans offers a chance to quiet some of that noise. For that to happen, a couple of key players on offense have to deliver.
Deshaun Watson and Quinshon Judkins are the 2 who face the most pressure heading into the weekend.
Watson is back under center after missing the Saints game while in the concussion protocol. Todd Monken never wavered on his starter, and many still believe Watson gives the Browns a better chance to win. Still, plenty of people disagree.
Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and 2 touchdowns in New Orleans, and if Watson struggles and the Browns drop a 3rd straight game, the calls for Sanders will only grow.
Watson’s late-game magic is not in question. He leads the NFL with 5 game-winning drives. The concern is everything before the 4th quarter. He ranks 28th in QBR, and PFF has him at a 54.0 passing grade. His last start was the 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh, when he was sacked 8 times and the offense never found the end zone.
The Texans will not make it easy. The Browns’ line has allowed 13 sacks over the last 2 games. A clean, efficient game early would go a long way toward ending the quarterback debate for now.
That is where Judkins comes in. The best way to protect Watson is a run game that keeps the Texans honest, and right now the Browns do not have one. Judkins has 385 yards on 116 carries this season, an average of just 3.3 yards per carry. He has been under 3 yards per carry in each of the last 2 games.
His role is already shrinking. Dylan Sampson played 47 offensive snaps in New Orleans compared with 25 for Judkins. Judkins is also well below the league average in both yards after contact and avoided tackles.
The blocking has not helped, but the lead back still has to make the first defender miss, and Judkins has not done that often enough. He ran for 827 yards as a rookie, so the Browns know he is capable of more.
A strong game from both players could flip the mood quickly. The Browns are 3-0 at home and have not started 4-0 in Cleveland since 1963. If Watson starts fast and Judkins gets the ground game going, that streak could reach 4 on Sunday.
NEXT: Browns Insider Has A Creative Fix For Slow Offensive Starts
