The Cleveland Browns are officially on a winning streak. Todd Monken's team continues to put its ugly season opener in the rearview mirror, this time completing another comeback to take down the Carolina Panthers, 21-18.
It wasn't easy, and it wasn't always pretty, but the Browns took care of business. The defense is getting into a groove, and while the offense is still a work in progress — especially the offensive line — the record shows 2-1.
Choosing winners and losers can feel a bit nitpicky after such a gutsy win in the home opener, but someone has to do it.
Without further ado, let's talk about the eight biggest factors from this game, both good and bad.
The Browns are finding ways to win even with plenty left to clean up
Winner: Mason Graham
While everyone's still fixated on Jared Verse and whether he'll finally get his first sack, Graham continues to wreak havoc. The second-year breakout is real, and he's playing at an All-Pro caliber level right now.
Graham is now up to four sacks in three games. As it turns out, not sharing the field with Myles Garrett has helped his production. He finished the game with seven total tackles (four solo) and a couple of sacks.
Loser: Offensive line
While it's easy to understand that a new-look offensive line might struggle early on, this is officially becoming a concern. The Browns did a passable job in the blocking game, but penalties are too big an issue.
This passing game has enough problems as it is. Having the offensive line constantly walk backward doesn't help. Whether it's a rookie like Austin Barber, a veteran like Tytus Howard, or a problem with the cadence, they have to get things cleaned up.
Winner: Todd Monken
Monken needed this one. He was under heavy fire for the decision to start Deshaun Watson, especially after the terrible season opener. Not even taking down Baker Mayfield was enough to silence the critics.
Now, the team is 2-1, including two comeback wins, and they survived a home opener that could've turned ugly in the stands. He also dodged a huge bullet with that game-winning interception after unnecessarily going for it on their final drive.
Loser: KC Concepcion
Concepcion was mostly a decoy and a non-factor in this one. The passing game never got into a groove, and the team didn't put the ball in Concepcion's hands as often as they did in Weeks 1 and 2.
This wasn't entirely on the rookie, though, and there will be growing pains throughout the course of the season. If anything, fellow rookie Denzel Boston was also a bystander until Watson found him for a big gain late in the game.
Winner: Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson's pocket presence is still a problem, and he got away with multiple would-be interceptions, especially in the first half. That said, he did seal the deal with a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter that erased an 18-13 deficit.
To his credit, Watson looks much more elusive than he did in the past. He's scrambling more often, and while it's not always with purpose, that type of mobility should help open up the rest of his game.
Loser: Malachi Corley
Malachi Corley made the Browns' roster for his ability to contribute to trick plays and on special teams. He hasn't done any of the first, and he put his team into a troubling position when he did the latter.
Corley fumbled the ball and gave the Panthers great field position on the first play of the second half. With so many options to return punts and kicks, this is the type of miscue that could get Corley cut.
Winner: Harold Fannin Jr.
Fannin is an absolute force, and the more the Browns get him involved, the easier life will be for whoever is under center. Fannin has the best hands on the team, and he's a true yards-after-catch specialist.
The second-year tight end finished the game with seven catches on a team-high nine targets for 51 yards and two scores. He's heating up, with 12 catches for 105 yards over the past two weeks.
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