At 1-4, the Browns are in a complete state of disarray. Everything is on the table, including Kevin Stefanski handing over his playing duties to Ken Dorsey.
CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson repeatedly paused while searching for answers as elusive as a third down.
After the latest embarrassment, a 34-13 loss Sunday at Washington, Cleveland’s beleaguered and battered quarterback, who has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this season while being sacked a team-leading 26 times league behind an offensive line held together by conduit. tape, was peppered with questions about everything troubling the Browns.
“I don’t know,” Watson said when asked why the team was committing so many critical penalties and driving stops.
Watson had a similar response on several other topics.
The Browns are in a state of complete disarray. Nothing works. Everything is on the table.
Five games into what was considered a breakthrough season for Watson, the Browns have the lowest-rated offense in the NFL, a defense that can’t tackle and a fan base ready to revolt at the next dropped pass.
After players spent last week promising improvement and going so far as to say the playoffs were still within their reach, the Browns (1-4) were soundly beaten in every facet by the Commanders and their dynamic rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
Watson didn’t look comfortable in the pocket — again — and that’s not entirely his fault as protection breakdowns remain rampant. But he also bailed too early and ran into a few sacks. He missed open receivers and didn’t raise the level of play of his teammates – a requirement for a franchise quarterback.
He doesn’t look or act like one.
Watson went 15 of 28 for 125 yards with one touchdown, lost a fumble and posted a passer rating of 77.2 against the Commodores, who entered the game with the worst defense in the league.
The performance was so mediocre, so mediocre that Stefanski was asked if he would bench his $230 million QB.
He said no during his postgame press conference Sunday, and Stefanski reiterated that stance during a Zoom call Monday.
“I need to coach better,” he said. “As offensive coaches, we have to coach better. As players, we have to play better. Deshaun can play better. He will play better. He’s obviously had good moments and then there are times where we have to better play him.
“He is determined to improve.”
That’s all well and good, but moving forward, Stefanski may have no choice but to bench Watson in favor of backup Jameis Winston, who might be able to provide a spark to an offense lacking full firepower.
It may not be Stefanski or general manager Andrew Berry’s call, as owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam are the ones who mortgaged the team’s short-term future by signing Watson to his fully guaranteed deal .
Stefanski also needs to give serious thought to handing over playing duties to coordinator Ken Dorsey. It’s a move he’s resisted in the past, but one that could allow him to deal with the many other issues plaguing his team.
“There are a bunch of different things we want to look at,” Stefanski said.
Right now, the Browns are tough to watch.
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What works
There is not a single aspect of the team that performs at a winning or competitive level.
What needs help
The list is long, but the offense fits priorities #1, 2 and 3.
The Browns tore apart their offense this offseason, bringing in Dorsey, who was fired in Buffalo last season, to design a system that better suited Watson’s style. It hasn’t produced results — Cleveland’s offense is last, averaging 239.4 yards per game.
On the other end of the spectrum, Baltimore is averaging 447.6 yards.
Store
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was the only bright spot Sunday and even he had some tough times.
Owusu-Koramoah forced two turnovers, intercepting a Daniels pass near the goal line and releasing the ball from a Washington running back on the opening possession of the second half.
Stock falling
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. was beaten badly for a 41-yard TD reception by Dyami Brown late in the first half and missed several tackles.
Receiver Jerry Jeudy dropped a TD pass in the end zone during a sequence in which the Browns were also called for a false start and too many men on the field, forcing the team to score a basket.
Rookie right guard Zak Zinter, while replacing the injured Wyatt Teller, was slow to make a key block on an early fourth-down play near midfield. He also struggled with some dropbacks, contributing to Watson’s sacks seven times.
Injuries
Stefanski is awaiting MRI results on tight end David Njoku (knee), center Ethan Pocic (knee) and cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring).
Key figures
19 — Third consecutive downs in a two-game stretch in which the Browns failed to convert a first down. Cleveland started 0 of 12 on Sunday.
What’s next
A third straight road trip, this one Sunday in Philadelphia in what was supposed to be a joyful homecoming for Stefanski but became a game of desperation.
