So who are the Cleveland Browns, actually?
Photo Courtesy of Erik Drost- Wikimedia Commons
Overcoming a blowout Week One loss, the 3-1 Cleveland Browns rely on clutch fourth-quarter comebacks and rookie wideout Denzel Boston to stay tied atop the AFC North.
At the start of the National Football League (NFL) season, observers were not wrong to expect another miserable season from the Cleveland Browns. Just prior to kickoff, the team traded former Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams and was in the midst of public controversy after naming Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback. Following a 34-10 deconstruction on the road by the Jacksonville Jaguars, it seemed like it was to be another long season for the fans of Cleveland.
Then something unexpected happened: the Browns started winning.
In fact, following the Jacksonville loss, the Browns won their next three games, and as of the start of week five of the NFL, they are currently tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the best record in the AFC North division at 3-1. On Oct.1 , the Browns survived a nail-biter against division rival Pittsburgh Steelers to improve that win streak to three games. The deciding factor in that game: the Browns’ recent ability to put together fourth-quarter comebacks.
Cleveland, who held a 21-10 lead at halftime, allowed the Steelers to rally and tie at 24, with a little under two minutes remaining to play. It was then that Watson led the final drive that resulted in the game-winning 56-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt, the longest successful kick of his career. The Thursday night game against the Steelers was the third game for the Browns that was decided by a margin of roughly three points, following a 23-19 away victory in week two against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a 21-18 home victory against the Carolina Panthers. Though the Browns now hold their first 3-1 start since 2021, one might ask: is this recent success sustainable?
The story of the Browns over the past few years begins entirely with one man: quarterback Deshaun Watson. In 2022, the Cleveland Browns made a massive trade for Watson, who was on the Houston Texans at the time. The deal, which gave the Texans six draft picks over three years—first and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024, and first and third-round picks in 2023—is considered one of the worst in NFL history. The Browns made the trade for Watson to move on from Baker Mayfield, despite him leading Cleveland to their first playoff game and win since 1995 before he was essentially forced out of the organization. Mayfield’s last season in Cleveland ended with an 8-9 record, and the Browns put their full faith in Watson.
That faith was misguided. Watson, since being traded to the Browns, has not started more than seven games. Throughout those games, he has been charitably described as “inconsistent.” The quarterback rating (QBR) is a metric used to determine how much a quarterback’s performance mattered to a team’s success, with a 50 being average and 75 indicating elite play. This metric indicates that Watson has been an active detriment to the Browns when on the field.
In three short years for Cleveland, Watson has not had a Quarterback Rating (QBR) greater than 45. In fact, Watson received a 21.0 QBR through seven games in 2024 after tearing his Achilles tendon (an injury that sidelined him for the 2025 season as well). The team’s most recent playoff berth also came with Watson off the field, when Joe Flacco led the team in 2023. Though he has been playing cleaner football, Watson only sports a 58.4 QBR through four weeks. If not for him, then what explains the Browns’ recent success?
The hallmark of the modern Cleveland Browns has always been the defense. That remains true for the early part of the 2026 season as well. Returning to the Thursday night game against the Steelers, the Browns began to put up a fight after cornerback Denzel Ward intercepted a pass from Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The game ultimately ended after Rodgers threw a Hail Mary, which was also picked off by safety Grant Delpit. The Browns also sacked Rodgers five times over the course of the game. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is currently top five in the league in sacks with four (however, he is currently dealing with an MCL/ankle injury), and former Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger is top 15 in the league for total tackles, being credited with 35 (12 solo, 23 assisted).
The Browns offense has been surprisingly solid as well. Denzel Boston, who was a second-round pick receiver in this year’s draft, has been having an incredible rookie year. Against Pittsburgh, Boston caught four passes for 89 total yards, and is eleventh in the league for receiving yards with 284, all off 13 receptions. This also makes Boston number one among all rookies for receiving, with teammate K.C. Concepcion at third with 144 yards. Tight end Harold Fannin has also impressed so far this season, with a completion percentage of 88.4 off 23 targets, third in the league. Fannin has also caught three touchdowns, which ties him for second against five other tight ends.
The unfortunate truth of the early season, however, is that there are stories across the league that have not yet been told. This means that, with regard to the Browns, who they are as a team and what they accomplish in 2026 is still unknown. Head coach Todd Monken, after defeating the Steelers, stated that “the best part about continuing to win is that the next one matters.” The Browns look to create some distance in the AFC North standings, as they attempt to continue their win streak on Oct. 11 on the road against the New York Jets.