This defense is special.

We are a bit short on CB depth as replacing Tyson Campbell is causing some issues.

But damn is in nice to see Mason Graham dominating the interior.

We have no shortage of D Lineman. Jared Verse is at least driving back the LT and essentially blowing up the pocket for Graham to finish the play off. Sometimes the small athletic QBs are able to escape, unfortunately.

Watson needs to clean up some reads, he can’t be missing KC on speed outs. It would be nice to get Jeudy the ball. At least he is protecting the football. 1 turnover in 3 games.

These issues will iron out with more reps.

Bryce Young can move around well and sling it too. Carolina also has a solid big body(6’5”)WR in McMillan. Aka TMAC.

It will be a solid test for this defense, still adapting to new DC and no Myles. The D-Line is very capable of creating pressure with Mason Graham taking a massive step from year 1 to year 2. McGuire also making some noise opposite of Jared Verse, who was quite against strong LT Tristan Wirfs in Tampa.

Myles Harden is way better than most of us anticipated in the nickel roll. Almost with 2 INTs off Mayfield. Our secondary is no joke. We need Tyson Campbell to get healthy. As Blackmon almost was beat for the loss against Tampa.

I believe the atmosphere will be electric in Cleveland this Sunday. And I expect a W.. Watson had something to prove. And I expect him to play like it.

@texasag1969 said:

Well thank goodness we have a person on this board who is blessed with the ability to discern truth from fabrication. Take it to the political side where they really need your expertise. ?

I apologize. I hate politics. ?

I’ll stick to sports, food+drink, and nature for as long as possible.

@texasag1969 said:

Well first get your facts right. He is not Peyton's son. Nor is he Eli's for that matter. He's Archie's grandson and Cooper's son. And furthermore Gabriel was taken way too soon and if you think he's going for a 3rd or 4th rounder, you don't understand his true value.

Even worse… so thanks for helping prove my point. He’s the son of the non QB Manning.

And Sanders was gonna be a 1st rounder according to the draft guru Mel Kiper..

Nobody knows Gabriel’s value. He played on a very bad Browns team last year.

This year, he looked good against New Englands backups, and it’s safe to say he is a more viable option than Jameis is for the Giants.

The FACT is Watson is more capable than all of the Browns QBs and any college kid with Manning for a last name.

So you better get comfortable with the truth. Or else it’s gonna be a long season for you.

I don’t even care who the owner wants. Why should any of us? It’s weird to hope/wish for the owner to sabotage his own franchise.

You (Texas?) guys think this locker room is gonna automatically respect Manning because he is Peyton’s son? He is still a child right now. Maybe he will be on Eli’s level? He is NOT Peyton.

True Browns fans just want to win, and last time I checked Watson is not on the level of Big Ben. Gabriel will likely end up traded for a 3rd or 4th rounder to a QB needy team.

Sanders is QB2. For the foreseeable future…

We need a good backup.

Tia is a main reason I will still visit the board… because a lot of fans have simply lost their wits.

@texasag1969 said:

You failed miserably to remember who the owner is and how he always obsesses over QB's. Arch is coming ready or not.

The same way I failed miserably to predict the outcome of this game.

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

@qmed said:

selecting a number 1 pic this long before the draft is stupid

Everyone seems to forget about Anhdrew Berry : THE GM 1 ?

it'a only one game....

the Browns have a lot to prove and a very long season ahead

It’s browns fans. It can not be helped.

With some time, the fans will realize we have a genius GM, and they will also realize why they are fans, and not working in the front office.

This team is loaded with talent, and is also the second youngest team in NFL next to Miami. (25.5 years avg vs 25)

There is no way a first rounder will be wasted on a QB in next years draft. We are lucky to have Sanders as a back up QB.

It’s time to stop obsessing over QBs in next years draft. Those days are over.

@calfoxwc said:

they just have to be far more aggressive - or it may be a longer day than vs the Jags. The offense wasn't watchable, they need to go ahead and put Sanders in.

https://www.rotoballer.com/nfl-week-2-qb-power-rankings-all-32-starters-2026/1927893

"No. 32: Deshaun Watson - Cleveland Browns

As long as Watson is starting for the Browns, Cleveland will struggle. Watson delivered yet another poor performance that resulted in the Browns being completely blown out in Week 1. We will see how long he has the privilege of starting."

Honestly. I can not blame any fans for losing faith. I’m not sure why or how I have so much. Enjoy this glorious W.

I know I am.

Wow… Up 4 points with a lighting delay. This is the type of stuff you can’t make up.

This board is also very quiet. I am either dreaming, or every Browns fan is drunk out of their minds by now. I am glad I am not one of the 99.5% of NFL fans who wrote off #4.

The haters should be silenced by this performance. And if not, I genuinely pity them.

What a time to be a Cleveland Browns fan.

@kvoethe said:

How can we not get a yard??? No push..grrrr

Judkins maybe should have leaped for that first down.

It looked like he tried to go low.

Great play by Hickman. Lurking Godwin on the quick slant and then tracking down baker on third and 7. So underrated.

I am starting to think we got blessed to get matched up with the Jags in the first week. Instead of the Buccaneers first.

I am excited to watch this game with some brand new air conditioning at home. Florida is hot.

The whole team(coaches included) should look a lot better playing in the FL heat this week. As they won’t be shocked by it.

On offense, I expect a run game today. No turnovers. Hopefully QB doesn’t wear a visor to blame his INTs on. Skill players need to protect the rock.

Control the clock, but also take deep shots here and there when the opportunities open up.

On defense, I expect more man coverage with some zone sprinkled in. Got to mix in some well timed blitzes to throw Baker off his game. It would be great to get in Mayfield’s head.

Real basic shht that hopefully Coach Monken had his focus on during the week.

P.S. I will not be attending another Browns game unless the record is over .500. Or it is opening week after a winning season.

It cannot be justified.

If you all are not aware, the Jags are basically the hottest team in football.

Let’s not all throw in the towel on the second youngest team in the NFL on the second week of the season. Have a pair of balls, Browns fans. We will be alright.

Brand new O LIne. Brand new rookie WRs, a DC who doesn’t know when to call man coverage vs when to call zone, a QB who hasn’t played in 3 years, and a defense adjusting to losing Myles Garrett…. Vs a Jaguars team who will certainly makes the playoffs…

if any browns fans are bummed after that, I do not know what to tell them.

Well the only time I went to a Browns game that they won was here in Jacksonville. Some of you all might remember that legendary day.

It will be nice to have Dawand Jones back.

He is capable on either side.

@orion said:

I'm predicting a pedestrian year for our D. I don't think the impact that Garrett had on our D is being taken into the equation correctly. We won 2 games to division rivals at the end of last season because of Myles Garrett. And he only had ONE sack in those two games. Just his mere presence on one side of the LOS had those 2 QB's running scared in the other direction. Opposing coaches game plan all week on him.

And losing Alex Wright is a big loss at DE. We've been without him before, but this year we really needed him. I don't think we'll be a top 10 D...even though we have some good pieces.

You don't think the NFL record breaker for sacks is properly being accounted for?? I guess that makes sense. I just see it different.

Mason Graham and Maleik Collins make for a stud interior DL. Graham has barely scratched the surface and this defense could not stop the run once Collins got hurt..

Insert a young talented Jared Verse. McGuire showed flashes, entering year 4 now. I'll stay on the glass half full side.(Alex Wright had 6.5 sacks over last 2 seasons)

Away from the D-Line, young players like McNeil-Warren(fumble forcing machine) to combine with Delpit...and Hickman aka Pickman.

A nasty injury bug on defense would likely take this defense out of the top 20. Healthy? LOTS of turnovers...

Again, complimentary football.

The offense will hopefully be capable of scoring/winning the time of possession battle for once to allow the defense to stay off the field.

@texasag1969 said:

So they are competing for QB 3 rather than fine tuning starters before game 1. OK.

The QBs needed their opportunity.

My opinion of Gabriel is a lot higher than it was before this game. He even started the game with a lame pass, and I was thinking “So BAD”

Luckily he got hot and showed the NFL what he is capable of.

the offseason was for “tuning” and selecting QB1

@orion said:

I don't know that we really that. Our pass rush is going to be a shadow of what it was.

It will be a Garrett-less pass rush. Do not underestimate the rest of that defense.

Complimentary football is a beautiful thing.