Last Sunday in Las Vegas Nevada the Cleveland Browns had a disappointing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 20-16. There is plenty of blame to go around for the loss and the 1-3 start to the Browns 2024 season. Some will blame head coach Kevin Stefanski, others blame the assistant coaches. Which is fair to criticize them based on the team results. What is not fair is to put the blame squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Watson has been the subject of much criticism this season. Some of that criticism is justified. But yesterday’s loss was not on him. In fact, the last 3 games he has started for the Cleveland Browns his stats are good. In week 2 the Browns won in Jacksonville and Watson was 22-34 for 186 yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 0 interceptions, and with a quarterback rating of 78.8. In week 3 against the Giants, Deshaun Watson was 21 of 37 for 196 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and with a quarterback rating of 89.5. He was also sacked 8 times. And then there was the Raiders game in week 4.

In week 4 at Las Vegas Watson had his best completion percentage of the season. He was 24 for 32 with a completion percentage of 75%. He had 1 touchdown and 1 interception with 176 passing yards. Even though that interception was not on Deshaun Watson. Amari Cooper should have caught the pass, and the ball deflected into the hands of a Raider defensive back. Also, a questionable holding penalty called back a 90-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Copper. If that play would have stood, Watson would have had over 250 passing yards and quarterback rating in the 90’s. Even worse is podcasters and journalists using still pictures on X to critique Watson.

Last Sunday night Jeff Lloyd from the Locked-on Browns podcast posted a still picture of the critical 4th down play with 41 seconds left in the game. Watson was sacked and the game was over at that point. The still picture showed an open Jerry Jeudy. But that is not fair to do that. A sill picture doesn’t tell the story of the whole play. Watson didn’t have time on that play to see Jeudy. I have seen the same tactic used against Joe Burrow when the Bengals lost the Super Bowl to the Rams. And that was not fair either.

There’s your ball game pic.twitter.com/WfykOrk1tC

— Jeff-LJ-Lloyd (@Jeff_LJ_Lloyd) September 29, 2024

Right now, the Browns are 1-3 and the offense is stagnant at best. They lead the NFL in dropped passes and the offensive line lost 4 starters due to injuries. To solely blame the disappointing start to the season on Deshaun Watson is not only short sighted it is wrong too.