3 storylines to watch as Browns try and clip Ravens

No. 2: Will Deshaun Watson shake more rust off?

When the blockbuster trade was made for Deshaun Watson back in March, it was for games like this. Now, Cleveland didn’t anticipate that Watson would be suspended for the first 11 games of the season, but that was the reality and risk of it all. That prolonged Watson playing in a meaningful, high-speed NFL game to 700 days.

Last week against the Bengals, another game Watson was acquired for, he looked much better than the previous week in Houston, but it was not enough to spell Joe Burrow and company. Watson completed 26-of-42 passes for 276 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The week before, he completed just 12 passes for 131 yards and a pick.

The big question will be whether or not he can build off the solid Week 14 outing. If he is able to take another step forward, it will boost this team in a big way. After all, the Browns have only scored one offensive touchdown since Watson took over as the starting quarterback. That seems bizarre since Cleveland has the likes of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt toting the rock out of the backfield, but again, that is reality.

In the Week 7 matchup, the running attack was able to be opened up a little bit as Jacoby Brissett threw for 258 yards. If Watson can at the very least mirror that effort, the Browns should be able to have clean rushing lanes.

These final six games were all about getting Watson ready for 2023 and beyond, but it sure would be nice if the hope of the playoffs could be kept alive heading into the holiday season.