Brian Baldinger Says Browns’ Success Hinges On One Factor

Cleveland has generated plenty of positive buzz since Sunday’s comeback win, from rookie milestones to strong quarterback grades to national analysts defending the coaching staff’s decisions. One respected former offensive lineman turned analyst zeroed in on the single factor he believes will determine whether this early success carries forward. Brian Baldinger broke down his evaluation of the Browns during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan.

Baldinger identified what needs to happen for Cleveland’s offense to remain effective going forward.

“They’ve got a lot of young players that they’re trying to feed and they’re talented. If they can run the ball better, I think it’s sustainable here. Carolina will be a much better challenge than Tampa, but I think it’s sustainable, especially if they can run. There’s just so much play-action that they use, so when you’re running the ball, it’s gonna be a little bit more believable when you put the belly into Quinshon or whoever’s carrying,” Baldinger said.

"They've got a lot of young players that they're trying to feed and they're talented. If they can run the ball better, I think it's sustainable here."

🚨 @BaldyNFL w/ @KenCarman and @SportsBoyTony on what he saw from the #Browns in the win over the #Buccaneers going into Week 3… pic.twitter.com/aVCfQ6bPCY

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 23, 2026

Baldinger’s point about the run game is a fair one, as the team has struggled to run the ball in the first two weeks of the season. Quinshon Judkins has managed modest production so far, finishing with 33 yards on 12 carries in Week 1 and 21 yards on 12 carries against Tampa Bay, numbers that reflect an offensive line still working through run-blocking issues.

Cleveland’s passing attack has leaned heavily on play fakes to create the kind of open throwing lanes that produced some of their early scores.  Those concepts only stay effective if opposing defenses respect the threat of the run, and an offense that cannot consistently move the ball on the ground eventually loses that leverage no matter how well the quarterback is throwing.

Boston, KC Concepcion and Harold Fannin give Cleveland legitimate playmakers to build around, and Watson’s improved second-half performance showed real chemistry developing with those targets. Sustaining that connection through a full season comes down to whether the offensive line can create enough push on early downs to keep defenses honest.

Carolina presents a tougher measuring stick than Tampa Bay, and how Cleveland’s run game performs in that matchup will offer an early answer to the question being raised.