The Cleveland Browns' honeymoon continues. Week 1 looks like a distant memory, and Todd Monken's team is now sitting atop the AFC North and tied for the most wins in pro football. What a time to be alive!
The Browns have already come close to their projected win total, and while it hasn't been perfect, they've earned all of those wins. This is not a fluke.
That said, there's still plenty of football to be played.
As much as the Browns have every right to feel great about themselves and celebrate after their third consecutive win, they must also work on their flaws and the few things holding them back. Here, we ask five questions Monken still needs to answer entering Cleveland's mini bye week.
The Browns are 3-1, but their hot start hasn't erased every concern
How to deal with Mason Graham's injury?
Mason Graham missed most of the win with what an MRI confirmed to be an MCL sprain, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, which should sideline Graham for multiple weeks.
That means the Browns will need some depth players to step up. Maliek Collins and Mike Hall Jr. balled out against the Steelers, and Adin Huntington recorded a sack and four pressures in extended action. Cleveland also has Sam Kamara on the practice squad, so some internal options are there.
Can the running game get going?
The offensive line is looking better by the day. Penalties aside, the line is giving Deshaun Watson time to move in the pocket, and the run-blocking has been trending in the right direction.
The Browns haven't found much success running the ball from under center, so they've had to resort to riskier plays out of the shotgun. They're still a work in progress, and there's been some improvement. But the clock is ticking.
What to make of Jerry Jeudy?
For most of the game, Jerry Jeudy was out there just doing cardio (again). Then, he came up huge in the clutch with two massive grabs during the Browns' game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
That alone justified keeping Jeudy on the roster over trading him this summer. He hasn't been the most reliable pass catcher, but he's a veteran nonetheless.
This still feels like a fluid situation. If Jeudy won't be featured in the offense, can the Browns justify keeping him over the opportunity to recoup draft assets ahead of this year's trade deadline?
Is it time to trim the QB room?
Most people (including yours truly) predicted the Browns would bench Deshaun Watson early in the season, perhaps even by now. Four games into the regular season, that doesn't sound realistic. So, will they really want to keep four quarterbacks on the roster?
Dillon Gabriel is eligible to come off injured reserve next week. Shedeur Sanders is still valuable as the team's top backup, and the coaching staff is high on Taylen Green.
With the lack of depth on defense, one of Cleveland's reserve quarterbacks may have to go — and all three of them could have suitors.
How many more penalties?
This is getting ridiculous now. Things were so bad that the Browns' defense drew three flags on the same play in Week 4. That's not winning football, even though Monken's team continues to find ways to win close games.
Pre-snap issues are normal with a new offensive line, and the Browns were slightly better with that this time around. Even so, we're talking about 14 penalties in a single game, including two late defensive penalties that nearly cost the team a win. This has to stop.
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