It has only been seven games, but Deshaun Watson’s 2026 season has gone better than even the most optimistic fans could have foreseen. There was a time not long ago when there might have only been one person who still believed in him, and if there was one person who still believed, it was head coach Todd Monken.
Monken took on an unenviable job and has made the most of it. He was labeled as a one-and-done head coach who would be blamed for this inevitable bad season that was going to be the end of the line for Watson, but the two of them have scrapped that idea and have a chance to completely rewrite the narrative around this franchise at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan shared a clip of Monken talking about his quarterback with the media. Monken believes that Watson can have a big game on Sunday.
“I saw it starting really with the first Pittsburgh game where I thought he played well…last game was probably his most complete game. Each week is another challenge because every defense you go against poses different challenges based on the players you’re going against and what positions, so it’s always a challenge,” Monken said.
Can Deshaun Watson build iff his first 300-yard passing game as #Browns QB Sunday v #Steelers? pic.twitter.com/0WsNoY4szE
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) October 30, 2026
Monken doesn’t always have the most succinct responses with the media, but he is incredibly honest and thoughtful with his responses. He may get a little wordy and sentimental at times, but he always has his players’ backs, and in Watson’s case, it is paying off big time.
Watson has led five game-winning drives this season and is gradually winning back a fan base that booed him out of the building in preseason. There are still some fans who will never back him due to his off-field allegations, but on the field, it’s tough to argue with the results in 2026. He’s doing so well that there are discussions about him somehow even returning as the starter next year, which would have been completely unfathomable just two months ago.
The Browns haven’t won in Pittsburgh in the regular season since 2003. They haven’t swept the Steelers since 1988. All of that can end on Sunday.
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