If the Browns want to end all the criticism, then all they have to do is win.
Even head coach Todd Monken said that months and months ago, and reiterated it during training camp.
The Browns did that on Sunday in a game for the ages, one that lasted five hours and eight minutes, courtesy of a storm delay.
They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23–19 on the road by holding them after they drove to the Cleveland 11 in the final minute.
They did so also by rallying from a 10-point deficit.
And yes, the man of the hour was heavily-criticized quarterback Deshaun Watson, who deserves all the credit in the world for getting the Browns offense jumpstarted and moving up and down the field in the second half. It wasn’t pretty at times, but there is no category in the statistical aray for pretty. It can be ugly.
Kudos to Monken for sticking with Watson. Kudos to Watson for doing what he did. Kudos ro the defense, which, after a shaky start Sunday and a poor performance last week in the opener against Jacksonville, for stepping up.
Kudos to everyone who played and coached in that game today for Cleveland. Hats off to the Browns, for they deserve all the praise in the world for hanging in there when not many people believed in them. They are commended for having a strong faith in themselves, and for circling the wagons and deciding they were going to win, no matter how long it took or how hard they had to try.
It is the first time in history that the Browns and Guardians have had a weather delay on the same day.
So, then, the story is all good in Cleveland tonight, because the Guards won 1-0 over the Athletics to hold onto the first place in the American League Central.
But the biggest story for this space is the Browns. They are 1-1 and tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who looked offensively inept for the second straight week in losing to New England, and the Baltimore Ravens, who, once again, appear to be grossly overrated in losing to the New Orleans Saints of all teams.
The Cincinnati Bengals are the class of the division at 2-0.
But enough of that for now. Celebrate the Browns. Have a pep in your step tomorrow, for as we know all too well, these opportunities haven’t happened nearlyenough in this nightmarish expansion era.
Steve King
