Opinions can change very quickly on the NFL, simply based on the most recent results. The Cleveland Browns may have changed the narrative surrounding them with just one victory.
The Browns rallied to upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, with Deshaun Watson throwing two touchdown passes in the second half of the 23-19 victory. Cleveland’s defense, which was overwhelmed in an embarrassing Week 1 loss, held Baker Mayfield to just one touchdown and kept him out of the end zone in the final moments.
With that in mind, even one of their harshest critics is starting to come around, and what Richard Sherman said about the Browns might surprise you, agreeing that there might be hope in Cleveland after all.
“I think if Deshaun Watson can play this level of football and his defense can play this level of football, [there’s hope in Cleveland]. They got three sacks in this game. That’s what it’s going to come down to. Now, Deshaun Watson has to be a good player. He has to protect the ball. I thought he was pretty efficient, pretty solid in this game. I thought his receivers and tight ends didn’t do him any favors. I thought there were a number of catchable footballs that didn’t end up in catches. But yeah, I think this team showed some life today. They showed some life. Showed some things that I think show what they’re capable of if they just execute. And I’m sure Todd Monken appreciated that,” Sherman said.
Heading toward Week 1, Sherman said the Browns made a massive mistake hiring Todd Monken as their head coach instead of former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The move led to Schwartz’s resignation, leaving them without a big reason for their defensive success of the past three seasons.
Sherman, a former NFL defensive back who is now a studio panelist on Thursday Night Football, also begrudgingly accepted the fact that Watson would be their starting quarterback, based on his massive contract. Now, after a winning performance on both sides of the ball, Sherman is willing to give the Browns some credit.
Monken was more than happy to fire back at those who took shots at his team following Week 1, taking aim at Mike Tomlin in particular. The 60-year-old showed he can get a team to rally around each other, which bodes well for the rest of the season.
Now, it is worth remembering that the Browns were 1-1 to begin the 2024 season and finished with just three victories. But based on this big road win and other results around the AFC North, including losses by the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland could be in a better position than anyone might have thought.
Now, the Browns have to guard against a letdown in their home opener against the Carolina Panthers, or the opinions about them could shift again.
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