Coming back from a major injury is about more than getting cleared to play. A quarterback has to prove that his body can hold up, that his instincts are still sharp and that he can handle the pressure of a big moment. Those questions followed Deshaun Watson into Cleveland’s home opener. One of the NFL’s top film analysts believes Watson answered nearly all of them.
Brian Baldinger shared his breakdown of Watson’s performance, writing, “.@Panthers @Browns @deshaunwatson answered a lot of questions in this home opener…Nothing feels better in this business than when you are stacking W’s.”
“Deshaun Watson’s return to Cleveland. How would it go? Let’s go through a checklist. The legs look good. Legs are good, check. You trust Deshaun Watson on 4th and 3? Yeah, to throw the ball to KC Concepcion here on timing. Stick throw on timing, check. They always say: calm feet, calm mind. The feet are calm. They’re on the ground. Playmaking ability, let’s just see what he has down 18-13. Navigate the pocket. Keep the eyes up. Find your tight end, Harold Fannin. Bam! I haven’t seen a crowd in Cleveland react like that in a long, long time. Deshaun Watson answered a lot of questions in that game,” Baldinger said.
.@Panthers @Browns @deshaunwatson answered a lot of questions in this home opener…Nothing feels better in this business than when you are stacking W's. #dawgpound #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/txAkd5QpJ0
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 30, 2026
Watson missed all of 2025 after multiple Achilles surgeries, and there was real doubt about whether he could still move the way he once did. He ran 11 times for 45 yards against Carolina and now has 105 rushing yards this season.
The 4th-and-3 throw to Concepcion shows something different. It was not a highlight play, but converting on a short, timed throw in a critical spot is exactly what coaches look for. The Browns went 2 for 3 on 4th down Sunday, and Todd Monken clearly trusted Watson to deliver in those moments.
Calm feet might be the most encouraging item on the list. Watson was sacked 5 times in the opener at Jacksonville but has been taken down just twice in each of the last 2 games. He is navigating the pocket better, keeping his eyes downfield and not bailing out of clean pockets.
That set up the moment everyone will remember. Trailing 18-13, Watson slid away from pressure, stayed patient and found Fannin for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:48 left. He then connected with Denzel Boston on the 2-point conversion to finish off the 21-18 win.
The late-game production has also made history. Watson became the first Browns quarterback since Brian Sipe in 1980 to throw a go-ahead, game-winning touchdown pass in the final 4 minutes of regulation in consecutive games.
That does not mean every issue is solved. Watson averaged under 5 yards per attempt against Carolina, and the passing game still needs to create more big plays downfield.
But Baldinger’s final point is the one that matters most for the Browns. Stacking wins changes how a team feels about itself, and Watson has now led back-to-back victories heading into Thursday’s primetime matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If he checks every box again on a national stage, the questions about whether Watson can still be a winning quarterback in Cleveland may finally start to go away.
NEXT: Browns Have History On Their Side Against Steelers On Thursday
