Todd Monken was about to be a one-and-done head coach. Deshaun Watson was about to be benched. The Cleveland Browns were about to flirt with the first 0-17 season in NFL history.
What a difference a week makes.
With a wild upset win over old friend Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Browns silenced multiple narratives, at least for a little while. The start of the game was a little shaky, but Monken’s group made a statement with a near-flawless second half.
The Monday morning discourse about the Browns should sound a whole lot different after their 23-19 win, and the head coach and quarterback will be front and center — for all the right reasons.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from the Browns’ galvanizing Week 2 win.
Cleveland showed some serious resolve in a comeback that could mean more than one win
Winner No. 1
Deshaun Watson - QB
NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the pre-game rumors that another poor performance from Watson could lead to yet another quarterback change in Cleveland, but Watson put an emphatic end to any Shedeur Sanders speculation on Sunday.
Watson was efficient in leading the Browns to scores on three of their four second-half possessions. Cleveland’s offense quickly erased a 10-point deficit in the third quarter and then put together a gritty 12-play scoring drive in the fourth to take the lead.
Watson played turnover-free ball, completed 80 percent of his passes, and was more effective down the field as the game went on. After working his way back from a twice-torn Achilles tendon, he earned himself a victory lap.
Winner No. 2
Todd Monken - HC
Monken’s day wasn’t perfect. There were too many penalties in the first half, and Monken made a questionable decision to go for it on fourth-and-short from his own territory late in the second quarter (the attempt failed and led to points for Tampa Bay).
But Monken, too, should feel good about this one. His offense didn’t blink after Mayfield led a scoring drive to open the third quarter for a 16-6 lead. His defense was ready to protect the lead after inclement weather suspended the game for two hours during Tampa Bay’s final possession.
Monken caught some heat after Cleveland was uncompetitive in the season opener at Jacksonville, but this was much better. His Browns can really build off Sunday’s second half.
Winner No. 3
Denzel Boston - WR
Two games in, Boston is already making a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s turned 11 targets into seven catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He’s got touchdown grabs of 46 and 55 yards and is averaging an even 22 yards per reception.
It’s been an elite start for Boston, who might be the most popular fantasy football waiver wire addition after this one. He’s clearly Cleveland’s No. 1 wideout (more on that later).
Winner No. 4
Myles Harden - CB
Harden was a pleasant surprise in this game. The Browns likely went so zone-heavy against the Jaguars to help protect their third-year slot corner, who was having a hard time sticking with Parker Washington.
Tampa Bay had plenty of options to exploit Cleveland's issue in the slot, starting with veteran Chris Godwin. But Harden stepped up, came up with a huge interception in the first half, and was also solid in the run game with three stuffs, per Pro Football Focus.
Winner No. 5
Mason Graham - DT
Cleveland’s top pass rusher shouldn’t be an interior defensive lineman, but here we are. Graham affected the pocket yet again and now leads the team in both sacks (2) and tackles for loss (3).
Plenty predicted a breakout season for Cleveland’s No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 draft, and Graham is off and running.
Loser No. 1
The entire running game
The Buccaneers have a veteran-laden group, and Vita Vea always makes the sledding tough, but the Browns likely entered this game hoping to get the running game on track. It’s back to the drawing board.
Quinshon Judkins rushed 12 times for 21 yards and is now averaging 2.25 yards per carry on the season. Watson, at age 31 coming off two Achilles surgeries, is Cleveland’s leading rusher.
The Browns won’t survive if they can’t figure out how to run the football, and right now it’s ugly.
Loser No. 2
Jared Verse - DE
Verse is too good not to make a significant impact, and he’s probably helping more than the box score shows by taking on additional chip blocks and double teams. But Sunday was another quiet one for the Browns’ new edge defender.
Verse did record one tackle for loss and had a hit on Mayfield. He hasn’t truly arrived yet, and maybe the breakout is coming during one of Cleveland's upcoming home games.
Loser No. 3
Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy finished without a catch on Sunday and was called out during the broadcast for running a bad route on his lone target.
The Browns are paying $13.5 million for Jeudy this season, and the veteran is well behind Boston and fellow rookie KC Concepcion in the current pecking order. General manager Andrew Berry called Jeudy the team’s “bell cow” back in the spring, but he’s been anything but through two games.
Jeudy has two catches for 26 yards on five total targets on the season.
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