The Cleveland Browns (1-4) are nearer to the No. 1 total draft decide than they’re the playoffs 5 weeks into the 2024 season.
The Browns’ 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5 helps the concept that that would occur, too.
Deshaun Watson had one more poor displaying wherein he accomplished 15 of 28 passes for 125 yards and a landing. He completed the day with a QBR of 8.5, which is the fourth single-digit QBR game of the season by any quarterback, and second by Watson, per Seth Walder of ESPN.
That has led many to make the argument that it is time for Cleveland to bench Watson, and rightfully so.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski stated after the sport that that is not going to occur, although.
“We’re not altering quarterbacks,” Stefanski said, through Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. “We have to play higher. I would like to educate higher.”
It is clear the Browns are merely not able to admit that their determination to commerce a king’s ransom, which included three first-round picks, for Watson after which hand him a five-year, $230M absolutely assured contract was a foul one.
Nevertheless, the earlier Cleveland does that, the earlier it might probably start to make the required modifications to get again to enjoying successful soccer, which is one thing even Watson acknowledged he is not doing.
“The offense goes to go so far as I’m going,” Watson stated. “So, on the finish of the day, we’re not doing sufficient offensively. As a quarterback, you’re taking all of the strain. You’re taking all the warmth. You’re taking all of the blame. I’ve acquired to seek out methods to carry all people else together with one another, [find out] how we are able to exit right here on Sundays and remove all of the errors which are going to trigger us to get behind the eight ball and put ourselves in conditions that we do not wish to be in.”
The Browns gained simply 212 complete yards and had been 1-of-13 on third down as they misplaced their third straight sport Sunday.
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston did substitute Watson, nevertheless it appears as if it was solely as a result of the sport was out of hand at that time.
Cleveland’s 1-4 begin is the worst since Stefanski turned head coach in 2020, nevertheless it would not appear like he is able to make any modifications.
“This isn’t a one-person subject on offense,” Stefanski added. “We’ve got the fellows. We’ve got the coaches. We’ll get it mounted.”
That could be a mistake, identical to buying and selling for Watson was.
Step one to fixing an issue is recognizing that there’s one. It is time for the Browns to surrender on Watson and lower their losses in what could be the worst commerce in NFL historical past.
Cleveland goes again on the highway in Week 6 to tackle the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2).