The Cleveland Browns followed up a rough loss with a tough win. This may be their style of play while missing both starting offensive tackles, running back Nick Chubb, and tight end David Njoku.
Deshaun Watson scored a touchdown with his legs, Dustin Hopkins kicked three field goals, and the strong Browns defense managed to fend off the Jacksonville Jaguars 18-13 on Sunday.
Watson threw for 186 yards and ran for 20 more yards in his first game since being accused of sexual assault and battery by a woman in Texas over an alleged incident from October 2020. He was sacked twice, but his performance was much better compared to the 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1.
“I’m not going to say comeback performance,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “That’s just our starting quarterback out there making plays. He’s not perfect. … I thought his pocket movement, making plays off schedule, was incredible.”
Watson improved to 7-0 as a starter against Jacksonville, with the first six wins coming while he was with Houston.
“It’s amazing,” Watson said. “I was thinking that all week, actually, but I didn’t want to jinx myself, so I didn’t tell anybody.”
The Browns (1-1) controlled much of the rainy game, sacking Trevor Lawrence four times and keeping Jacksonville in check for nearly three quarters.
The Jaguars (0-2) came to life late, with Lawrence connecting with rookie Brian Thomas Jr. for 66 yards to set up a touchdown, and then adding a field goal to make it a close game.
Cleveland had a chance to finish it, but three penalties left them facing a third-and-36 from midfield. Corey Bojorquez then punted the ball inside the 2-yard line, and Alex Wright sacked Lawrence in the end zone on the next play.
