CLEVELAND — Browns fans are growing impatient. In Year 3 of the Deshaun Watson era, it feels like more of the same, with an opening game marred by poor performance and a lackluster offense. Despite Watson being healthy and a revamped team structure aimed at his strengths, Sunday’s 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys showcased a team unprepared for the season.
Critical decisions missed the mark, such as Watson’s lack of preseason play, leaving him rusty after nearly 300 days since his last game due to a broken shoulder. This led to a disjointed offense that looked anything but ready. The quarterback’s minus-0.36 EPA/play highlighted his struggles, compounded by an underwhelming completion percentage of less than 64 percent.
Watson faced an onslaught, with 17 hits (the most in Week 1) and six sacks. Miscommunication on protection often stemmed from Watson holding the ball too long; he averaged 4.16 seconds to throw under pressure and 4.87 seconds on sacks. Blaming the offensive line for protection issues is misleading when Watson has consistently been slow to release the ball.
The problem runs deeper than external factors. It’s about rhythm, timing, and Watson’s ability to process the field. His inaccuracy was highlighted by throws that missed open receivers downfield.
Watson faced personal adversity with the recent death of his estranged father, yet he refused to use it as an excuse for the team’s dismal performance. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and the organization remain hopeful that Watson will eventually justify their $230 million investment.
But how much longer must they wait?
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