The Cleveland Browns got a huge comeback win in their home opener. On a day when most people expected heavy boos, Browns fans celebrated their second triumph of the season against a red-hot Carolina Panthers' offense.
The Browns were the best team on the field for most of the game, though they didn't do themselves many favors. It felt like this game should have been out of reach by halftime, yet they left the door open for Bryce Young and company.
Ultimately, the Browns took care of business when it mattered the most, including a big scoring drive to get back on top and a game-winning interception.
That said, Monken should still have four questions in mind as Cleveland turns the page to Thursday Night Football and the Pittsburgh Steelers this week.
The Browns are winning, but Todd Monken still has plenty to clean up before Thursday night
Question No. 1: How to stop moving backward?
The offensive line is a work in progress, but there's simply no excuse for such sloppy execution. Maybe they still haven't gotten used to Deshaun Watson's cadence, or maybe they just need more time, but this has to stop.
Nine of the Browns' 12 accepted penalties came on offense. The offensive line had four false starts — three of them on veteran right tackle Tytus Howard — and a holding penalty. The offense also had multiple flags thrown on them for illegal formations or shifts.
This game should not have come down to the wire the way it did. The Browns kept shooting themselves in the foot almost every time they crossed midfield.
Question No. 2: How to get Jared Verse going?
The Browns are getting what they hoped for with Mason Graham, but they still haven't gotten much production from their star pass rusher on the outside. Jared Verse is still looking for his first sack with the Browns, though he did record a season-high six pressures against Carolina, per Pro Football Focus.
The former Defensive Rookie of the Year isn't gaining much ground with his rushes, though. He's not getting through the line with the same ferocity he showed earlier in his career, and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg will have to figure out how to get him going.
Question No. 3: How to keep helping Quinshon Judkins?
As expected, Quinshon Judkins had his best game of the young season in Week 3. He turned 18 carries into 70 rushing yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. That said, it came against the league's worst run defense.
Judkins finally broke loose a couple of times, though some bad penalties erased those gains. This might be the beginning of the end of his slump — though plenty of that is also on the offensive line.
Question No. 4: How to keep Deshaun Watson in the pocket?
Last but not least, let's talk about Deshaun Watson's scrambles. That's fine when he does that with purpose, but not so much when he leaves the pocket at the first sign of pressure. More often than not, he misses a wide-open throw to try to make a play with his legs.
While it's nice to see that Watson has regained his mobility — and Monken should use that to his advantage — the Browns need their quarterback to be a passer first. His first instinct can't be to take off rather than to go through his progressions.
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